Preview: Sassuolo vs. Empoli - prediction, team news, lineups

Sassuolo play host to Empoli on Sunday afternoon looking to build on their dramatic victory at Juventus earlier this week.

While the home side occupy ninth position in the Serie A standings, the visitors are two points adrift in 11th spot after a period of poor form.

Match preview

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If they want to break into the top seven of Italian football, Sassuolo need to find far more consistency than they have shown over recent seasons.

Regular wins have been in relatively short supply during the opening of this campaign, but Tuesday's stunning triumph at Juventus may kickstart a prolonged upturn in form.

Maxime Lopez's winner has moved Sassuolo into ninth spot, just one point short of their most recent opponents and four adrift of fifth-placed Atalanta BC.

With three favourable fixtures to come either side of the November international break, Alessio Dionisi's side knows that this is the time for I Neroverdi to further extend their run of wins.

Domenico Berardi continues to play a key role for Sassuolo, the playmaker contributing a goal or assist in five of his last six appearances.

While the club sit safely in the mid-table positions, Empoli supporters will have few complaints with how their season is progressing.

Their latest three defeats will also be put into context, those setbacks coming against Roma, Atalanta and Inter Milan respectively.

Nevertheless, collecting points from just four of their 10 matches is a trend which must improve in the long term and Aurelio Andreazzoli is aware that there will be value in getting draws on the board in the future.

On a positive note, Empoli head into this contest with one of the best away records in Serie A, a total of nine points coming from their four fixtures on the road.

Andreazzoli will be hoping that Andrea Pinamonti can build on his recent double at Salernitana, the forward now having three goals from five appearances.

Team News

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While Dionisi made substitutions against Juventus with the focus being on fresh legs, a couple of players may benefit with a start in this game.

Jeremy Toljan could return at right-back, taking the spot of Mert Muldur, while Gianluca Scamacca is an option in the final third.

Empoli will be without Samuel Ricci after the young midfielder was sent off against Inter.

Nicolas Haas, who was brought on soon after his dismissal, is expected to get the nod over Liam Henderson in his place.

Leonardo Mancuso is competing with Patrick Cutrone for a spot in the final third.

Sassuolo possible starting lineup:
Consigli; Toljan, Ayhan, Ferrari, Rogerio; Frattesi, Lopez, Traore; Berardi, Defrel, Raspadori

Empoli possible starting lineup:
Vicario; Stojanovic, Ismajli, Luperto, Parisi; Bajrami, Haas, Bandinelli; Zurkowski; Cutrone, Pinamonti

We say: Sassuolo 3-1 Empoli

Having found some form of late, we can only back Sassuolo to prevail from this contest. While it may be a case of after the Lord Mayor's show for a time, their attacking quality should shine through at some stage.

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