Fiorentina vs Empoli Prediction: La Viola to land much-needed win

Fiorentina put their Serie A top-four aspirations to the side when they take on Tuscan rivals Empoli in the last 16 of the Coppa Italia on Wednesday (20:00 GMT, Premier Player). Fiorentina's most recent league contest with Inter Milan on Sunday was abandoned after 16 minutes following the on-pitch collapse of La Viola midfielder Edoardo Bove, who has since remained in hospital and is undergoing tests, but the situation will have naturally shaken players in both camps.

The hosts will turn their attention away from Serie A and to the Coppa Italia on Wednesday, though, as they prepare to welcome Empoli to the Stadio Artemio Franchi, and you can build up to the action by checking out my Fiorentina vs Empoli prediction below.

Team News

Home boss Raffaele Palladino could rotate his team with forward Moise Kean potentially set to drop out.

Football Odds

For the visitors, they have a lengthy injury list, with Szymon Zurkowski, Tyronne Ebuehi, Saba Sazonov and Jacopo Fazzini all definitely ruled out.

Fiorentina vs Empoli Odds

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

Fiorentina are 2/5 favourites to win the match, giving the hosts an implied probability of 71.4%, while the draw is 3/1 and an Empoli victory is 6/1.

Over 2.5 goals is 4/5, while unders is 10/11 and both teams to score is priced at 1/1.

Match Result & Total Goals Over/Under 3.5 - Fiorentina & Under 3.5 Goals @ 21/20

Fiorentina took their time to get going under Palladino this season, but a run of seven consecutive league wins has propelled them into top-four contention in Serie A.

With the game on Sunday having been abandoned, they have an identical record with Inter Milan of eight wins, four draws, and one defeat from their 13 league matches and they are a tough nut to crack.

Empoli, meanwhile, are down in the mid-table positions, but they should not be ruled out completely with Palladino expected to ring the changes for this game.

Palladino has rotated personnel regularly given the club's involvement in the Conference League and that has generally still yielded results - they have won three of their four games in the competition.

That said, they only just edged Pafos 3-2 last Thursday and were 2-0 winners over Welsh club The New Saints at the start of October.

A comprehensive victory for La Viola therefore looks unlikely and they may have to settle for a low-scoring win.

These sides drew 0-0 in their league battle in September with the game generating just one shot on target.

And while Fiorentina have since improved dramatically and should win this game, goals could again be at a premium.

Anytime Goalscorer - Jonathan Ikone (FIO) @ 5/2

Kean is the obvious pick to score in Fiorentina matches this season, but given he could be left out for this contest, other players are worth considering.

Jonathan Ikone has been a regular component of the team in the Conference League, scoring three goals in four matches in the continental competition.

He has been less crucial in the league, but should get a runout in this game and is worth backing at a nice price of 5/2 to find the net.

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