Lazio vs. Empoli: the derby of COVID-free teams

Lazio and Empoli meet at the Stadio Olimpico today and, ironically, they are the only two Serie A clubs without a single COVID case in their squads.

It kicks off at 13.30 UK time.

More than 80 Serie A players are currently positive for COVID, but none of them plays for the Biancocelesti or the Tuscans.

Empoli had registered three cases during the break, but all of them had negative swab tests yesterday.

Lazio will also see their best scorer Ciro Immobile return to the starting XI, while Empoli’s Andrea Pinamonti will try to improve his record for goals in Serie A. The Inter loanee has netted seven league goals so far this season, his previous record was five.

Lazio are the team with the most goals scored at home this season (25), but Empoli have collected more points away (17 in 9 games) than at home (10 in 10).

COVID chaos in Serie A: which games are cancelled and what happens today

Four Serie A games have been called off today because of COVID outbreaks at Bologna, Torino, Salernitana and Udinese.

Their opponents (Inter, Atalanta, Venezia and Fiorentina) will show up for the games as Lega Serie A hasn’t officially postponed them. They will likely get 3-0 wins by default, but games will later be rescheduled.

Probable line-ups

Lazio (4-3-3): Strakosha; Marusic, Luiz Felipe, Acerbi, Hysaj; Milinkovic-Savic, Cataldi, L Alberto; Pedro, Immobile, F Anderson.

Empoli (4-3-1-2): Vicario; Stojanovic, Ismajli, Luperto, Parisi; Henderson, Ricci, Bandinelli; Bajrami; Di Francesco, Pinamonti.