Empoli: positive signs and weaknesses to correct after the victory over Parma

At the decisive moment of the season, every detail makes the difference. Every mistake can cost you dearly, every intuition can become a lethal weapon. Empoli, fresh from the victory against Parma, has shown encouraging signs, but also weaknesses that need to be fixed quickly. Because the margin for error, now, is truly reduced to zero.

One of the worrying aspects concerns the management of lateral crosses. A problem that recurred punctually against Parma, despite the final result smiling on the Azzurri. The only real chance conceded in the first half, the one that fell to Pellegrino, came from a cross from the wing. A script that has already been seen too many times in recent outings: the goal conceded against Lazio by Dia, the cross for Mandragora's overhead kick against Fiorentina and Yeboah's touch into an empty net from a corner kick. Too often Empoli was caught unprepared on balls that came from the outside, too often the opponents had freedom of movement in the penalty area. Greater compactness is needed, more attention, more ability to read in advance where the ball will end up.

But if the defensive phase still has cracks to fix, the offensive one is showing new and positive signs. In particular, Empoli has finally started to strike even from afar. A weapon that was almost completely missing for long stretches of the season, and which is now becoming an important factor. Anjorin's last two goals came from outside the area, as did Fazzini's against Parma. Clear and encouraging signs: Empoli has rediscovered the confidence, the quality and the courage to try from afar. And if there's one thing that closed defenses fear, it's the opponents' ability to strike even when there seems to be no space.

NP