US Sassuolo Calcio vs Empoli preview - Sassuolo look to build on first win

Sassuolo coach Eusebio Di Francesco is hoping his side can continue their recent revival when they host Empoli on Tuesday.

The Emilia-Romagna claimed their first victory of the season on Saturday when they beat local rivals Parma 3-1 at the Stadio Tardini.

That triumph followed their 1-1 draw against reigning champions Juventus the previous weekend and lifted Sassuolo out of the relegation zone and up to 15th place.

"This result proves that in the long run, hard work pays off," Di Francesco said. "My players handed a good performance against Parma and we deserved the victory.

"Now we must build on this result and play with the same determination that we displayed against Juve and Parma."

Sassuolo have yet to win at their Citta del Tricolore stadium and will be without defenders Paolo Cannavaro and Lorenzo Ariaudo as well as forward Simone Zaza, all out injured.

Fortunately for Sassuolo, they take on an Empoli side that has not won on the road so far.

The Tuscan outfit have won just once this season - a 3-0 triumph over Palermo - and fell 4-0 at home to Cagliari last time out to suffer their third loss of the campaign.

Empoli coach Maurizio Sarri is aware that his team, who sit 14th in the standings and are level on seven points with Sassuolo, must step up their game.

"We didn't play well against Cagliari and we deserved to lose," he said. "It's disappointing because we are a better side than we showed against Cagliari.

"The fact is that if we don't give our best in every game, we can lose against any team.

"We need to show a huge improvement, starting at Sassuolo."

The visitors are still without injured goalkeeper Luigi Sepe, so Davide Bassi will play in goal while Massimo Maccarone is set to partner Francesco Tavano in attack.