Monza vs Empoli Prediction: Back-to-back wins for Azzurri Empolesi

Monza's relegation to Serie B was confirmed earlier this month, but Empoli, only one position above I Biancorossi, kept their survival hopes alive with a 2-1 victory over Parma last Saturday.

The two bottom sides meet at Stadio Brianteo on Sunday (19:45), and you can build up to the action by checking out my Monza vs Empoli prediction below, accompanied by all the latest match odds and team news.

Team News

Monza wing-back Pedro Pereira is suspended after picking up his 10th yellow card of the league campaign last Sunday, while Matteo Pessina, Armando Izzo, Luca Caldirola (all thigh), Roberto Gagliardini, Silvere Ganvoula, Danilo D'Ambrosio and Dany Mota (all unspecified) could miss out due to injury.

Football Odds

Keita Balde returned from a three-game absence to score the winner in Udine, and he must now be a candidate to be restored to the starting XI.

For the visitors, Nicolas Haas, Christian Kouame, Youssef Maleh, Pietro Pellegri, Saba Sazonov and Szymon Zurkowski (all knee) are sidelined.

However, Lorenzo Colombo is back after serving a suspension last Saturday.

Monza vs Empoli Odds

Monza have picked up just eight points from 54 on offer at home this season, and Sunday's hosts are 4/1 underdogs for this game, implying a 20% probability of success, while Empoli are 8/11, or a 57.9% chance, to record back-to-back wins.

The draw is priced at 5/2, both teams to score at 11/10, and over 2.5 total goals at 6/5.

Match Result & Total Goals Over/Under 3.5 - Empoli & Under 3.5 @ 6/5

Monza defied all logic to beat Udinese last weekend, ending a six-game losing streak in fine fashion to record a first victory since January 13.

Perhaps they're now playing with a freedom that wasn't afforded to them pre-relegation, so this game might not be as straightforward as Empoli might have thought it would be this time last week.

Still, you'd expect the visitors to get the job done on Sunday, particularly after their own morale-boosting win last time out.

Empoli's victory over Parma was their first since December 8, highlighting just how tough they have found things in the last five months, but there is now light at the end of the tunnel, particularly when you look at their remaining fixtures compared to those of their rivals.

Monza away and Verona at home is about as kind as you can get for your two final games, and Empoli will be targeting wins in both.

I considered backing the visitors to win to nil on Sunday, considering Monza are the division's second-lowest scorers with 27 goals and went four games without one before breaking that barren spell last weekend.

However, given their success in Udine and the fact that this contest is something of a free hit, I'm not overly confident of an Empoli clean sheet.

Three of Monza's last five matches have seen just a single goal scored, though, and nine of Empoli's last 10 have gone under 3.5, so at 6/5, I'm backing Azzurri Empolesi to win and under 3.5 goals at 6/5.

Team With Most Booking Points - Empoli @ 5/4

Monza (77) have picked up 11 more yellow cards in Serie A this season than Empoli (66), but Azzurri Empolesi (seven) have received six more reds than I Biancorossi (one), with only Lazio (also seven) seeing as many players dismissed.

Backing a dismissal for the away side on Sunday could be an interesting angle, particularly at the 7/1 price offered, but I'm opting for the more cautious line of Empoli to be the team with the most booking points.

Monza have received the fewest booking points in two of their last three games, and it's the game state that has ultimately led me to plump for this selection.

Empoli will be leaving it all on the line in their quest for a victory that would significantly aid their survival ambitions, meaning they could make some robust and tactical challenges, while time-wasting could be on the agenda if they hold the advantage.

Offers

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