Roma vs Empoli Prediction: Dybala to get first dibs after midweek dramatics

AS Roma and Empoli were both involved in goalless draws last weekend - let's hope for some more entertainment when the sides meet at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday (19:45).

Below you can find my Roma vs Empoli prediction and all the latest team news ahead of this Serie A clash in Rome.

Team News

Leandro Paredes was suspended for Roma's 0-0 draw at Cagliari on the opening weekend of the 2024/25 Serie A season, but the Argentina international is free to return this weekend, and he could replace summer signing Enzo Le Fee in the starting XI.

Paredes' compatriot Paulo Dybala is another potential inclusion from the start after the 30-year-old was restricted to a substitute appearance last Sunday; the former Juventus star has since committed his future to the club, rejecting lucrative overtures from Saudi Arabia, which should strengthen his chances of being handed a start against Empoli.

Football Odds

Empoli are also boosted by the return of a player from suspension, midfielder Alberto Grassi, who could replace Liam Henderson in Sunday's starting XI.

Tyronne Ebuehi, Samuele Perisan and Szymon Zurkowski remain injured for the visitors.

Roma vs Empoli Odds

*Please click on the link above to be taken to the main Roma vs Empoli page on betfred.com (or app) for all the live betting prices on this match.

Roma are 1/2 to beat Empoli for the seventh-straight time at home, giving them an implied win probability of 66.7%, while the visitors are 11/2, or a 15.4% chance, to beat I Giallorossi at the Olimpico for the first time in their history.

The draw is available at 16/5, both teams to score at 10/11 and over 2.5 total goals at 4/5.

Paulo Dybala First Scorer @ 9/2

Despite Roma going trophyless in his first two seasons at the club, Dybala has made himself something of a hero amongst supporters. The Argentine playmaker scored 12 and registered six assists in his first Serie A campaign with I Giallorossi before upping those statistics to 13 and nine respectively last term.

Dybala was expected to leave this summer, with widespread reports as recently as this week that he was headed for the Middle East, but he has instead decided to stay in Rome, and he's sure to get a warm reception on Sunday.

He was used from the bench last weekend but after Roma stuttered to a goalless draw at Cagliari, I would expect Dybala to start against Empoli in a bid to inject some creativity and penetration into the attack.

Dybala has a good record against Empoli, scoring three times across four appearances for Roma, including a brace in a 7-0 demolition last time out at the Olimpico. He struck the first goal of the game in that September 2023 contest from the penalty spot and was also first on target in a 2-1 victory away to Empoli a year prior.

The crowd will be well behind him on Sunday, and I think that will inspire him to get himself first on the scoresheet.

Half-Time/Full-Time - Roma/Roma @ 5/4

Roma were beaten 2-1 by Empoli in their most recent meeting, a final-day showdown at the Stadio Carlo Castellani. I'm not paying too much mind to that result, though, as Empoli needed a win to survive relegation, while Roma had little to play for.

This is a fixture Roma had dominated previously, winning eight in a row before that defeat in May. In seven of them, they were leading at half-time, including all five at home.

It took Dybala less than two minutes to strike from the spot last September and an effort from Renato Sanches and an own-goal from Grassi had the hosts three up at half-time.

I'm not sure whether they will coast the first half in quite the same way on Sunday, but I do at least think they will be in the lead heading into the interval, and should be able to hold out against a side that scored just 29 times last season - the lowest total in Serie A, including the relegated clubs.

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