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Empoli v Lazio
2021-22 Serie A
Matchday 1
21 August 2021
Stadio Carlo Castellani, Empoli
20:45 CAT
Lazio will chase an opening-day Serie A victory when they face hosts Empoli at the Stadio Carlo Castellani in Tuscany on the evening of Saturday 21 August, kick-off at 20:45 CAT. The match is one of 10 spread across 21-23 August in the first Matchday of the
2021-22 Serie A season.
Empoli are back in the top-flight league after relegation to Serie B in 2019. They won last season’s second-tier championship by four points from fellow automatic promoted club Salernitana and will be targeting a stay in Serie A as their main objective.
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Manager Aurelio Andreazzoli knows that facing Lazio and Juventus in their opening two games is a tough welcome back to the top division, but believes that having the right attitude will be key: “
First two games against Lazio and Juve? Not bad, right? If you approach these teams with the fear of losing you have already lost.”
Lazio finished a disappointing sixth in Serie A last season, missing out on the top four (and therefore the UEFA Champions League) by a hefty 10 points. Manager Simone Inzaghi left the club in the off-season to replace Antonio Conte, which has seen the enigmatic Maurizio Sarri take up the reins at Le Aquile.
Veteran midfielder Lucas Leiva hopes the players can adapt quickly to their new manager’s methods: “Let's rest, let's get ready to start the season well. The key is the availability of the group to learn a different module, it is normal that there will be errors but we have had a good pre-season camp. If we want to learn we can do great things.”
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In head-to-head stats, Empoli and Lazio have met in 22 matches across all competitions since 2004. Le Aquile have claimed 13 wins compared to four for Gli Azzurri, with five games ending in draws.
The teams last met in Serie A in the 2018-19season, with Lazio winning 1-0 both in Empoli in September 2018 and in Rome in February 2019.
Empoli v Lazio – Head-to-head
Matches played: 22
Empoli wins: 4
Lazio wins: 13
Draws: 5
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