Empoli, decisive step in the race for salvation: 2-1 at Castellani

Empoli, 10 May 2025 – An important step in the race-salvation.Empoli returns to victory after 5 months (the last success, 4-1 in Verona on 8 December), beating Parma 2-1 at the “Castellani” in the advance of the third-last day of the Serie A championship. With this victory, the second home victory after the one obtained on 4 November 2024 against As an, President Corsi's team rises to 28 points in the standings, in fourth-last position (but Lecce and Venice must play).

D'Aversa opts for Cacace up front and Marianucci in defence: they initially remain on the bench solbakken and Goglichidze. Important returns among the Azzurri: Grassi and Henderson in midfield, Esposito in attack. Nervous first half, with both teams cautious: Parma plays controlled football,Empoli is based on long throws and quick counter-attacks. In the 11th minute Empoli took the lead with their first real chance to score: a low corner from Henderson from the right, Fazzini he arrives running, coordinates himself very well and puts the ball into the net with a strong and precise right foot.

At 21' Emilia close to equalising: cross from the right by Hainaut, Pilgrim very free, he heads the ball with a sure shot, but sends it out of the field. The turning point comes in the 31st minute: a serious mistake by Valenti, already cautioned, who blatantly holds Esposito on the edge of the area. Locksmiths he sends him off for a second yellow card. Parma is therefore left numerically inferior. The second half sees Parma grinding out football and Empoli passive. In the 12th minute, Henderson's dangerous shot is grazed by Keita, with the ball ending in a corner kick.

Fazzini tries unsuccessfully on the corner kick. At 28' Hernani's cross is headed by the new entrant Djuric and beats Vasquez. At 36' a nice free kick by Hernani from the left, the Colombian goalkeeper punches it away. At 38' a left-footed shot by Marianucci that ends up over the crossbar. At 41' Anjorin makes the “Castellani” explode with joy: a curling conclusion from distance that ends up in the top corner to Suzuki's left. At 50' Konate goes on the counterattack, arrives within sixteen meters and tests the goalkeeper. Now for theEmpoli the calendar is going downhill: Monza away and Verona at home. Staying in the top league is more than possible.  

TABLE EMPOLI – PARMA 2-1 EMPOLI (3-4-2-1): Vasquez; Marianucci, Ismaijli, Viti; Gyasi, Grassi (26' st Anjorin), Henderson (39' st Solbakken), Pezzella; Fazzini, Cacace (32' st Sambia); Esposito (39' st Konate). Subs: Silvestri, Seghetti, Brancolini, Goglichidze, Kovalenko, De Sciglio, Ebuehi, Tosto, Campaniello. Coach: D'Aversa. PARMA (3-4-2-1): Suzuki; Delprato, Leoni, Valenti; Hainaut, Keita, Sohm (20' st Hernani), Valeri; Bonny (32' st Balogh), Ondrejka (13' st Camara); Pellegrino (20' st Djuric). Subs: Marcone, Corvi, Benedyczak, Almqvistm Lovik, Circati, Haj, Plicco, Man. Coach: Chivu. REFEREE: Blacksmiths of Ravenna. MARKERS: 11' pt Fazzini; 28' Djuric, 41' st Anjorin. NOTES: serene evening. Valenti sent off in the 32nd minute of the first half for a second yellow card. Yellow cards: Cacace, Viti. Corners: 4-0. Recovery time: 3', 5'. Gianluca Barni