Empoli vs Bologna Predictions

• Empoli have lost six of their last seven home games
• Bologna have won eight of their last 10 matches in all competitions
• Fewer than three goals have been scored in Empoli’s last five matches

Empoli’s quarter-final win looks like a mirage

It’s hard to envisage how struggling Empoli can knock in-form Bologna out of the Coppa Italia in Tuesday’s semi-final, despite holding home advantage and having ousted Juventus in the last eight.

That result, which was achieved on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Turin, is looking like a complete outlier in the hosts’ form line with Empoli enduring particular woes at home. The Azzurri have the worst home record in Serie A and have taken only one point from their last seven matches at Stadio Carlo Castellani.

That point came from a 1-1 draw with Bologna, but the Rossoblu are in better form now than on that day in January when they had 63% possession and registered eight shots on target only for Empoli keeper Devis Vazquez to make seven saves.

Rome awaits red-hot Rossoblu

Bologna have won eight of their last 10 matches, including each of their last five, to move above Juventus into fourth place. The irony of that, in the week that ex-Bologna boss Thiago Motta was sacked by the Turin club, will not be lost on any Bologna fan.

The Rossoblu fell at the quarter-final stage under Motta last season, but should get the win they need in 90 minutes on Tuesday to book their place in the final. Empoli’s best hope of another shock will be to stack their defence and hold on for penalties again, but Vincenzo Italiano’s side have proven capable of penetrating a low block and can run out winners by a solitary goal.