Empoli: decisive challenge against Verona for salvation in Serie A

EMPOLIWhat a fifth set it is. Continuing with the tennis metaphor already used by Roberto D'Aversa to describe this final rush of theEmpoli, beating Parma and Monza the Azzurri have come back from two sets to zero and are now ready to play everything in the last one, the one on Sunday at 20.45pm at the Carlo Castellani-Computer Gross Arena against Verona of the former Paolo Zanetti. Yes indeed, because in the end the League of Serie A has opted to divide the final day into three blocks with the fight for Europe and salvation on Sunday. "We played a great second half and deservedly won," the Italian coach commented in the post-match in Monza. "Now, as in the Grand Slam challenges, we are missing the third set with Verona that could lead us to achieve a miraculous salvation. These guys are giving me 200 percent so I am proud of the group I am coaching, regardless of the final result." And so twelve months later, last year it was Sunday 26 May when Empoli achieved the historic third consecutive salvation in Serie A by defeating Roma 2-1 in the 93rd minute, the club of president Fabrizio Corsi is once again in the situation of playing for yet another 'miraculous' permanence in the category in the last 90 minutes. With great awareness: by winning, captain Grassi and his teammates would at least ensure the play-off, thus avoiding direct relegation. By reaching 34 points, Empoli would be level with Verona, against whom they would play the final double 'do or die' match if Lecce were to win at the Olimpico against Lazio and Parma in Bergamo against Atalanta. In fact, if three teams were to end up with the same number of points, the Salento team would be saved thanks to the best head-to-head standings. Indeed, if Parma were to draw, there would be four teams tied, but in this case, in addition to Lecce, Empoli would be saved by virtue of the head-to-head standings. Football has taught us that anything can happen on the pitch, but by beating the Scaligeri, D'Aversa's team would be 90 percent safe: honestly, it's difficult to think that both Parma and Lecce would be able to win. In fact, even just one of the two draws would be enough for them to mathematically finish behind Empoli with the already relegated Monza and Venezia. "Now let's focus on the last match - confirmed D'Aversa -, we will work hard during the week to achieve our goal and give great joy to our wonderful fans". But the Azzurri could also be saved directly by drawing (a result, this, that could also lead to a play-off with Venezia or Parma), in the event of a defeat for Lecce and a failure for Venezia to win against Juve. With the same combination of results then Fazzini and his teammates would not be mathematically relegated even if they lost against Verona, but they would still have their last chance of salvation in a play-off with Lecce.

Simone Cioni