<p><strong>MILAN</strong> - Following their match against Napoli, Luciano Spalletti’s Inter side are now preparing for their final test of 2018 against Empoli on Saturday. In terms of previous meetings between the two teams, the Nerazzurri are unbeaten in their last 10 against Empoli, winning on nine occasions and keeping seven clean sheets. The Tuscan side’s only three wins against Inter have all been 1-0, the most recent coming in April 2006. The most frequent result between Inter and Empoli in the top tier is 2-0 to the Nerazzurri: with a total of four all finishing by this scoreline, including the last two.</p> <p>Empoli have not kept a clean sheet for their last 15 games in Serie A (a record for the teams currently in Serie A), picking up 13 of their 16 points at home this season – an 81 percentage that is among the highest in the league.</p> <p>In each of Empoli’s last five home games, both teams have been on the scoresheet – including a total of 20 goals from three wins and two draws. Meanwhile, Inter have not won an away game in four (two draws and two defeats), previously winning four prior to this on the road. Inter have not drawn 0-0 in their last 24 matches, and from the teams currently in Serie A, only Genoa have racked up a longer run (25).</p> <p>Empoli have hit the woodwork on 10 occasions in Serie A this season, beaten only by Napoli (11) and Roma (12). The Tuscan side have also been awarded the most penalties along with Sassuolo (four), however, only Sampdoria (33 percent, one in three) have a worse conversion rate (50 percent). Inter are the only team not to have recovered a single point from a losing position this season. Only Genoa have conceded more goals than Empoli (16) during the first half of matches, during which Inter boast the best defence (only two conceded in the same period).</p> <p>No team has scored more goals from crosses this season than Inter (nine), while only Frosinone (one) have scored fewer than Empoli (two). Inter have attempted the most crosses so far, with an average of 22.6 every game – 22 percent of these being successful. Furthermore, apart from Napoli who are level, no other team has scored more goals in the last 15 minutes of matches than Inter (12).</p> <p>As for individuals: Mauro Icardi has scored six times in five appearances against Empoli in Serie A (one goal every 66 minutes). The only side he has a better scoring rate against is Pescara (six goals in three matches, so one goal every 43 minutes). So far this calendar year, Ivan Perisic has got on the scoresheet seven times and registered five assists in Serie A. In 2017, the Croatian was involved in 27 goals in Italy’s top division (he found the back of the net 14 times and provided 13 assists). When Inter played Empoli in May 2016, Perisic both scored and registered an assist. Keita has found the back of the net once in his last two Serie A encounters against Empoli. The last time he came up against the Tusan side in the league at the Castellani, he stepped off the bench to clinch a 2-1 win for Lazio.</p> <p>As regards the goalkeepers who have played at least eight games so far this season, Samir Handanovic is leading the pack percentage-wise when it comes to saves made (79%). Antonio Candreva scored against Empoli in a Serie A match at the Meazza in February 2017. Borja Valero is the player who has had the most touches in a single league game so far the season: he came into contact with the ball 158 times against Frosinone. This was a match that Marcelo Brozovic had to sit out as a result of being suspended. Matteo Politano is the only outfield player for Inter who has played in all 18 matches in Serie A so far this season.</p> <p>Luciano Spalletti began his Serie A coaching career at Empoli. He managed 34 games in the Italian top flight, recording ten wins, seven draws and 17 defeats. As a coach, Spalletti has averaged two points from his matches against Empoli in Serie A (nine wins, three draws and three defeats). Out of the teams he has faced at least 15 times in this competition, the only side he has a better record against is Reggina (a points average of 2.06).</p> <p>Giuseppe Iachini has faced Inter on 10 occasions as a Coach, only facing Roma more times (11). Against the Nerazzurri, he’s recorded three wins, five draws and two defeats. Giuseppe Iachini and Luciano Spalletti have never shared the spoils, with both picking up two wins apiece.</p>
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