Final score

29 December 2018 15:00

Empoli
0 - 1
Inter
27' (2nd half) Balde
Referee: Federico La Penna / Linesmen: Vuoto, Marrazzo / Fourth official: Di Martino / Assistants: Di Vuolo, Guida

Minute Text commentary
48' It's all square at the break at the Castellani. Empoli 0-0 Inter
46' Politano looks to find Joao Mario on the run but overhits a touch when he would have been alone against Provedel
45' 3 minutes of stoppage time
42' Vrsaljko with a cross that reaches Politano who looks to control it rather than shoot and he wins a corner
38' Empoli are forced into a second change with Pasqual going off for Antonelli
36' Inter press but La Penna calls it back for offside
31' Asamoah picks out Keita who crosses into the middle and Rasmussen just about puts it behind for a corner
30' Politano starts from the right and cuts inside before firing, his left-foot strike is powerful but down the middle and Provedel makes the stop
28' Dangerous header from Zajc from a Pasqual corner and it flies just over the bar
24' Empoli are forced into an early change. La Gumina has a fitness issue and is replaced by Zajc
23' Icardi looks to lay the ball off for Keita but Veseli makes a last-ditch challenge
21' Dangerous Keita cross but none of his teammates are able to get on the end of it
18' Vrsaljko looks to cross the ball to Keita at the far post but it just fails to reach him
15' Traorè fires from the edge of the area but without troubling Handanovic's goal
14' A Pasqual cross strikes Politano and goes out for a corner
12' Both teams are looking to work one another out. Inter are seeing more of the ball while Empoli sit back and look to play on the break
7' Good closing down from Asamoah on Traorè, then Caputo can't get onto Acquah's through-ball and the ball goes behind
2' Keita shows his pace out wide on the left before crossing with his left but Mauro Icardi can't get to the ball
1' All set for kick-off and we are off. Forza Inter!!!
1' Luciano Spalletti's are set for one last match in 2018, visiting the Stadio Castellani in Empoli at the halfway point of the season
Minute Text commentary
48' All over! The whistle blows at the Castellani with Inter securing 3 points to bring 2018 to a close! Keita's 72nd minute goal settled it!
45' Three minutes of stoppage time are awarded
41' Zajc wins a loose ball and fires but De Vrij blocks at the cost of a corner
40' Stunning save from Provedel to keep Icardi out as the Nerazzurri almost made it 2-0!
39' Chance to make it 2-0, Keita won the ball up high, gave it to Icadi who found Politano only for him to fire over from a great position!
39' Keita makes way and Danilo D'Ambrosio enters the fray
35' Lautaro Martinez drives forward, creating space for Keita who gets a shot away but Provedel denies him a second goal
29' Empoli make a change with Mchedlidze coming on for Antonelli
28' Bennacer stops Lautaro Martinez and picks up an inevitable yellow card
27' GOALL!!! GOAAAAAL! Great effort on the turn from Keita from Vrsaljko's cross the Nerazzurri are a goal up!
26' Incredible goalline clearance from Empoli off a Lautaro Martinez backheel
23' Asamoah with the cross for Martinez who was in a good position but he's booked for a handball
22' Second change for Inter and Lautaro Martinez is on for Borja Valero
20' Zajc has a go from range but it's easy for Handanovic
16' Vrsaljko with a shot-cum-cross but Provedel was alert to it
15' Important challenge from Silvestre to prevent Keita from getting a shot away from a great position
12' Spalletti make his first change and Nainggolan is on for Vecino
10' Caputo stops it and shoots from a Provedel long ball but it's simple for Handanovic to make the save
7' Politano attempts to find Icardi with a cross but Provedel comes off his line to claim it
5' Keita is brought down by Untersee just outside the box and it's a free kick for the Nerazzurri!
2' Keita puts the ball in the back of the net but La Penna had his flag up
1' Handanovic comes out and wins the ball after Zajc got in behind
1' The second half begins with the Nerazzurri taking kick-off

Handanovic
6.66
6.66
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Icardi
5.78
5.78
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
D'Ambrosio
5.75
5.75
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Joao Mario
6.51
6.51
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Skriniar
6.64
6.64
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Valero
5.62
5.62
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Vecino
4.74
4.74
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Nainggolan
5.48
5.48
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Politano
6.27
6.27
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Martínez
6.41
6.41
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Asamoah
6.83
6.83
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
de Vrij
6.69
6.69
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Vrsaljko
5.57
5.57
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Balde
7.43
7.43
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Average rating 6.17 SEND RATINGS
3 shots on target 5
5 shots off target 1
16 fouls committed 5
4 corners 6
1 offsides 7
37% ball possession 63%

Inter have won nine of their last 10 Serie A meetings against Empoli (D1) and have managed to keep seven clean sheets in this run.

Empoli last scored a home goal in Serie A against Inter in April 2006 thanks to an own goal by Marco Materazzi: it’s now 450 minutes without scoring against them at home in the competition (D1 L4).

Empoli have won 13 points after nine Serie A home games: they've only won more at home at this stage once before; in 1986/87 (14 - considering three points a win).

The last five Empoli home matches in Serie A have seen 20 goals in total and both teams score in every game during this run (W3 D2 for Iachini’s side)

Inter have failed to win each of their last four Serie A away games (D2 L2) – this after having won all the previous four in the competition on the road.

Only Genoa (21) have conceded more goals than Empoli (16) in the first half in Serie A this season - in the same period Inter have conceded the fewest goals (two).

Inter have a joint-record tally of goals from open play crosses in Serie A this season (nine), while only Frosinone (one) have scored fewer goals than Empoli (two) following a cross.

Empoli have won three of their 16 points this season away from home: 19%; which is the worst ratio of sides in the competition in 2018-19.

Empoli striker Francesco Caputo have scored an average of 0.67 goals per home game (six goals in nine matches): Empoli's best average ever in the competition since 1994/95.

wins(12) draws(3) defeats(2)

starting lineups

Provedel 1 1 Handanovic
Veseli 5 2 Vrsaljko
Silvestre 26 6 de Vrij
Rasmussen 32 37 Skriniar
Pasqual 23 18 Asamoah
Acquah 18 8 Vecino
Bennacer 10 20 Valero
Traorè 8 15 Joao Mario
Untersee 27 11 Balde
Caputo 11 9 Icardi
La Gumina 20 16 Politano

substitutes

Terracciano 21 27 Padelli
Fulignati 99 5 Gagliardini
Brighi 4 10 Martínez
Zajc 6 13 Ranocchia
Mchedlidze 7 14 Nainggolan
Rodriguez 9 23 Miranda
Antonelli 13 29 Estevão
Capezzi 28 33 D'Ambrosio
Marcjanik 29 44 Perisic
Ucan 48 87 Candreva
Mraz 66

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