Torino winger Iago Falque. (Photo : Getty Images)
Lowly squad Empoli FC (5-11-6, 21 points) will try to move up the 2016-2017 Serie A season table as they host middling side Torino FC (8-7-7, 31 points) on Feb. 5, Sunday at the Stadio Carlo Castellani.
Start Time and Streaming Info
The game starts at 9:00 a.m. ET. It can be viewed live online thru FuboTV.
Empoli has actually been on a roll lately with four unbeaten performances in their last six outings. It has enabled the team to increase their lead above the bottom three relegation area to eight points as they settle in the 17th spot of the 20-team Italian top flight table.
The Azzurri snapped a three-game unbeaten run, though, after they were thrashed by bottom three team Crotone, 1-4, on the road at the Stadio Ezio Scida last Sunday, as per Football Italia.
Crotone midfielder Adrian Stoian broke the game's deadlock in the 24th minute before Empoli striker Levan Mchedlidze leveled the count in the 39th minute to make it a 1-1 tie at the break.
However, the hosts netted three more goals in the second half courtesy of a hat trick by Italian forward Diego Falcinelli in the 56th, 90th+1, and 90th+2 minutes.
Meanwhile, Torino settled to a 1-1 tie with contending team Atalanta at their home ground of Olimpico di Torino also last Sunday, Calcio Mercato reported.
Head coach Spanish winger Iago Falque netted the opening goal of the contest with a header in the 16th minute from a pass by Italian defender Antonio Barreca, giving head coach Siniša Mihajlović's side a 1-0 advantage at the half.
La Dea was then able to level the count in the 66th minute as Italian forward Andrea Petagna buried a right-footer from the center of the box off an assist by teammate Jasmin Kurtic.
It was the fourth straight winless game for Il Toro as the team is currently settled in the ninth spot of the league table.
Prediction and Predicted Lineup
The predicted result is a 2-0 romp by Torino.
Empoli starting lineup (4-3-1-2 formation): Skorupski; Veseli, Bellusci, Costa, Dimarco; Krunic, Diousse, Croce; Pucciarelli; Marilungo, Mchedlidze
Torino starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Hart; De Silvestri, Rossettini, Moretti, Barreca; Benassi, Valdifiori, Obi; Falque, Belotti, Ljajic
