Empoli vs Torino Prediction: Gli Azzurri can end rotten run

Four scoreless defeats on the bounce have dragged Empoli down into 18th in Serie A, with relegation a very realistic possibility now. They still have eight games left to salvage their status, though, with the first of those on Saturday evening at home to Torino (KO, 19:45).

The game at Stadio Carlo Castellani is live on ITVX for viewers in the UK, and you can read below for all the latest team news and match odds, as well as our Empoli vs Torino prediction.

All looked rosy for Empoli during the early first couple months of the year. Gli Azzurri lost their first two matches of 2024 but subsequently embarked on a six-match unbeaten run which saw them pick up 12 points.

But it's all come crashing down for them since the start of March, with a hat-trick of 1-0 defeats to Cagliari, AC Milan and Bologna followed by a 2-0 loss at leaders Inter on Monday. They're even in danger of dropping into 19th by the time Saturday's game rolls around, with Sassuolo moving ahead of them if they avoid defeat to Serie A whipping boys Salernitana on Friday night.

Things are much more serene on the maroon side of Turin, with Torino unbeaten in their last four matches, the most recent two of which they have won to nil. In fact, Napoli are the only side to have breached their defence in that run, and those three shutouts have contributed to a total of 15 clean sheets in Serie A this term - that's half the total number they have played and second only to Inter (19).

European qualification is also very much a possibility for Il Toro, who are six points behind sixth-placed Atalanta, albeit La Dea have played a game fewer.

Team News

Tyronne Ebuehi won't feature for Empoli again this season after suffering a season-ending knee injury last month, while Alberto Grassi looks likely to miss a sixth consecutive game due to a muscle issue.

Ardian Ismajli has missed his side's last two matches and it remains to be seen if the Albanian defender can return to action this weekend.

Torino will be without a couple of key defenders on Saturday. Perr Schuurs has been out injured since October while fellow centre-back Koffi Djidji has missed Il Toro's last two games and is doubtful once more.

Midfielders Ivan Ilic and Gvidas Gineitis are also expected to be sidelined again.

Match Odds

Empoli are 12/5 - or a 29.4% chance - to win for the first time since February 24, while Torino are 5/4 - or a 44.4% chance - to record a third-straight victory.

The draw can be backed at 11/5 and it's EVS for both teams to score.

Empoli or draw & under 2.5 goals @ 13/10

Let's deal with the goals element of this selection first. It feels like a pretty safe suggestion - as they go - given Empoli and Torino's last four have seen a maximum of two goals in each.

There wasn't much to shout about in the reverse fixture in Turin last December either, as the home side edged it 1-0 at Stadio Olimpico di Torino.

Games at Stadio Carlo Castellani do tend to be quite low-key affairs in the main, with just 29 goals scored - nine for Empoli and 20 against - in 15 Serie A contests there this season; ironically, only Torino (23 - 15 for, eight against) have witnessed fewer goals at home.

The odds of BTTS - No alone aren't particularly appealing, but we can raise them to a respectable 13/10 by adding in the double chance result on Empoli.

Is it foolish to back a side that has lost four in a row to avoid defeat? Perhaps, but their last two losses at home were by a goal to nil, and one of those was a 94th-minute winner by a Champions League-chasing Bologna side. There's no great shame in that.

Prior to those setbacks, Empoli had gone unbeaten in three at home, keeping two clean sheets in the process.

Meanwhile, before a 2-0 win at Udinese - who have the third-worst home record in Serie A - Torino had failed to win their last three away from Turin, with 1-1 draws at Sassuolo and Napoli sandwiched either side of a 3-2 defeat in the capital to AS Roma.

Another low-scoring game could be on the cards here in Empoli, with the hosts capable of picking up a vital point at least.

Correct score - 0-0 @ 13/2

Goalmouth action could be scarce on Saturday, and if you are inclined to believe the hype, backing the goalless draw may be of appeal.

Torino have drawn 33% (5/15) of their games on the road this term, with two of them - against Frosinone in December and Genoa in January - finishing 0-0.

They've had a further four goalless draws at home, bringing their season total to six. That means 20% of their matches have ended with neither side scoring in a stalemate.

Empoli, meanwhile, have seen 10% of their games end without a goal. Two of them have been at home, the most recent of which was on February 3 when Genoa came to town.

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