Lowly teams Empoli FC (3-10-5, 14 points) and US Citta di Palermo (2-12-4, 10 points) are scheduled to face one another in a 2016-2017 Serie A season match on Saturday, Jan. 7 at the Carlo Castellani Stadium.
Start Time and Streaming Info
The game starts at 12:00 p.m. ET. It can be viewed live online thru FuboTV.
Empoli has been struggling all season as the team is settled in the 17th spot of the Italian top flight table, only four points above the bottom three relegation zone. They have lost four of their last six outings.
Gli Azzurri is coming off a 1-2 loss to contending squad Atalanta on the road at the Atleti Azzurri d'Italia Stadium on Dec. 20 to snap a two-game unbeaten run, as per SkySports.
After a goalless first half of action, Empoli striker Levan Mchedlidze opened the scoring six minutes after the restart with a left-footed shot from the center of the box off an assist by Italian defender Federico Dimarco following a set piece situation.
However, Atalanta successful pulled off the come-from-behind win by scoring the next two goals, courtesy of Franck Kessie and Marco D'Alessandro in the 74th and 90th+4 minutes, to hand head coach Giovanni Martusciello's side their 10th loss of the season.
Meanwhile, Palermo is on a two-game unbeaten streak after nine straight losses. Despite their mini-run, the team is still in the bottom three relegation area, only a point above the bottom two teams Crotone and Pescara.
In their most recent match on Dec. 22, head coach Eugenio Corini's squad was held to a 1-1 draw by cellar-dwellers Pescara at their home field of Renzo Barbera Stadium, via Sporting Life.
The Rosanero netted the opening goal of the match with a right-footed shot by Swede striker Robin Quaison off an assist coming from Italian midfielder Alessandro Diamanti.
However, Pescara was able to find the equalizer in injury time with a goal by defender Cristiano Biraghi to force the tie and a share of a point in the overall standings.
Prediction and Predicted Lineup
The predicted result is a tough 1-0 win by Empoli.
Empoli starting lineup (4-3-1-2 formation): Skorupski; Dimarco, Costa, Cosic, Bellusci; Croce, Buchel, Tello; Diousse; Mchedlidze, Marilungo
Palermo starting lineup (3-4-2-1 formation): Posavec; Goldaniga, Gonzalez, Cionek; Aleesami, Gazzi, Jajalo, Rispoli; Nestorovski, Diamanti; Quaison