Udinese vs Empoli preview - Empoli battling odds in Serie A
Posted Saturday, August 30, 2014 by PA
Empoli travel to the Friuli stadium to face Udinese on Sunday determined to enjoy their first Serie A game in six years.
The Tuscan outfit finished runners-up to Palermo in the second division last season and will feature for the 10th time in the club's history in Italy's top flight.
Empoli coach Maurizio Sarri, who guided the team to promotion in May, will make his Serie A coaching debut this weekend.
The 55-year-old has managed the Azzurri since 2012.
"I'm very happy that finally Sarri is able to make his dream come true," Empoli president Fabrizio Corsi said.
"He faces an arduous task to guide the team to safety this season but he can always count on the club's support.
"Many people don't think we will avoid the drop but we will try to surprise everyone."
Empoli managed to hold on to star strikers Francesco Tavano and Massimo Maccarone this summer.
Both players scored a total of 37 goals during last season to help the club gain promotion.
Maccarone is unlikely to feature on Sunday, however, with the former Middlesbrough striker out with a muscular injury.
Sunday's game will mark Andrea Stramaccioni's first league game in charge of Udinese.
The former Inter Milan boss replaced Francesco Guidolin, who stepped down in May after four years in charge of the Bianconeri.
In-form Antonio Di Natale will lead Udinese's attack this weekend.
The veteran Italian forward is in great form and scored four goals in his side's 5-1 triumph over Ternana in last week's Coppa Italia game.
The hosts will be desperate to improve on their 13th-place finish last season, which saw them win just 12 and lose 18 of their 38 games.
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