Empoli confound Serie A ‘experts’

Before the 2015/16 season in Italy got underway many had expected Empoli to struggle in Serie A and the game’s critics openly said that the side could be embroiled in the fight against relegation.

At the end of the transfer window in August, the Tuscany outfit had lost their coach Maurizio Sarri. So, the ‘experts’ immediately ranked Empoli among the weakest sides in the division.

Sarri had kept Empoli afloat in recent years but in summer he left to join ambitious Napoli.

Empoli also lost the services of various key players – Daniele Rugani (Juventus), Matias Vecino (Fiorentina), Simone Verdi (Eibar) and Elseid Hysaj and Mirko Valdifiori who both followed Sarri down south to Napoli.

Indeed, the situation wasn’t promising for Empoli and their early exit in the Coppa Italia to Serie B side Vicenza did not augur well either.

But fast forward four months and the picture tells a completely different story.

In fact, Empoli have done pretty well so far and distanced themselves from the red zone, proving to be one of the most refreshing sides in the Italian league.

Before the Christmas recess, Empoli were joint-seventh with 27 points from 17 games, level with surprise package Sassuolo...