After pulling off a midweek giant-killing to reach the cup semi-finals, Empoli will aim to take that momentum into their Serie A survival fight when they visit Genoa on Sunday.
The Azzurri may head for Stadio Ferraris following a shock Coppa Italia win over Juventus, but they were thumped in the league last weekend; meanwhile, their hosts are fighting for a top-half finish.
Match preview
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Although they were ultimately beaten by a late Lautaro Martinez goal at San Siro, losing 1-0 to reigning Serie A champions Inter Milan last week, Genoa have been enjoying a fine start to life under Patrick Vieira.
While the French coach suffered defeat against his former club, his side have won all of their last three games at Marassi without conceding - a clear sign of the defensive discipline that has seen them keep clean sheets in half of their last 14 league fixtures.
The last time Genoa posted a streak of four top-flight home wins was between February and April 2016, when Gian Piero Gasperini was in charge, but they are intent on matching that run this weekend.
Vieira's men occupy 12th place in the standings and are vying with Torino and Udinese to claim a top-10 finish, so victory over one of Serie A's bottom three is expected.
Unbeaten in their last 10 games against Empoli - a run dating back almost a decade - history will certainly be on the Grifone's side.
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Indeed, Empoli's sole Serie A away win over their Ligurian hosts came in the the first of seven attempts, back in April 2008.
They come into the clubs' latest contest having upset the odds on Wednesday evening, knocking fallen giants Juventus out of the Coppa Italia on penalties.
Roberto D'Aversa's side left the home fans stunned in Turin, as they first took the lead through a fine strike from Youssef Maleh, and after conceding an equaliser midway through the second half they went on to triumph via a tense spot-kick shootout.
Breaking new ground by setting up the Tuscan club's first Coppa Italia semi-final, they will play Bologna over two legs in April, with the winner to meet either one of the Milan giants in Rome.
First, Empoli must focus on arresting their dramatic Serie A slump, having recently slipped into the bottom three: after last week's 5-0 thrashing by Atalanta BC, the Azzurri have lost their last four league games by an aggregate score of 14-1.
Six losses from seven have threatened their top-flight survival, leaving them two points adrift of safety, and since mid-December they have picked up the fewest points across Europe's top five leagues.
Team News
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Patrick Vieira is still missing Honest Ahanor (knee), Morten Thorsby (calf) and Vitinha (muscular) due to injury, but Genoa captain Milan Badelj returned to full training on Tuesday. The latter should feature in midfield, while Andrea Pinamonti leads the hosts' front line.
Over the past four seasons, Pinamonti has scored 37 league goals. That tally includes 13 while on loan at Empoli in 2021-22 - his best top-flight return to date.
As well as his home strike in December's reverse fixture - a 2-1 win for Genoa at Stadio Castellani - Empoli's Sebastiano Esposito has scored seven away goals in Serie A this season, and one more would equal a club record.
The visitors are still burdened by a significant injury list, featuring five long-term absentees. Furthermore, Mattia Viti may also miss out, while Tino Anjorin and Jacopo Fazzini have just resumed training.
Roberto D'Aversa noted the impact of fit-again defender Ardian Ismajli against Juventus, but the Albanian centre-back will not be available to helm Empoli's three-man defence.
Luca Marianucci could feature instead, after serving a two-match league ban and then dispatching the winning spot kick on Wednesday. Once again, Marco Silvestri and Devis Vasquez will vie to start between the posts.
Genoa possible starting lineup:
Leali; De Winter, Bani, Vasquez, Martin; Badelj, Frendrup; Cornet, Messias, Miretti; Pinamonti
Empoli possible starting lineup:
Vasquez; Goglichidze, Marianucci, De Sciglio; Gyasi, Henderson, Grassi, Maleh, Pezzella; Esposito, Colombo
We say: Genoa 2-0 Empoli
Genoa are a stable side under Patrick Vieira, with no worries of relegation to concern them between now and the end of the season.
By contrast, Empoli have serious issues at both ends of the pitch: they have conceded the most shots in Serie A this season, and only rock-bottom Monza have attempted fewer.
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Jonathan O'Shea
