By Anna Italia
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67% Ball Possession EMPOLI and 33% Ball Possession UDINESE
Empoli 1 – 2 Udinese 
37′ Riccardo Saponara (pen) 19′ Antonio Di Natale
. 60′ Silvan Widmer
Serie A Standing BEFORE the game:
Empoli, 17th position with 19 points and a negative goal difference of -6
Udinese, 14th position with 24 points and a nagative goal difference of -3
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | Goals | DIFF | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | Udinese | 19 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 23:26 | -3 | 24 |
| 17 | Empoli | 19 | 3 | 10 | 6 | 17:23 | -6 | 19 |
Empoli struggling to survive this season and are closer to the relegation zone. For Udinese, it is also a crucial moment to start climbing the Serie A Table or risk going down to the dreaded relegation zone. It’s a step back for Empoli losing this home game while Udinese gaining momentum with this away victory.
It is Udinese forward Antonio Di Natale to open the score in the 19th minute defeating Empoli goalkeeper with a headed shot in the bottom left corner. This is the 9th goal this season by Di Natale. The assist is by midfielder Allan Loureiro.
Referee Ghersini giving a penalty to Empoli in the 36th minute conceded by Udinese defender Danilo for a handball and getting a yellow card. Taking the penalty spot is midfielder Riccardo Saponara converting the penalty with a right footed shot in the bottom right corner. This is the first goal in Serie A by Saponara.
Empoli again down because Udinese take the lead in the 60th minute. It is midfielder Silvan Widmer to break the draw! Widmer defeating Empoli goalkeeper with a right footed shot in the top left corner with assist by midfielder Guilherme.
Things complicating for Udinese because Referee Ghersini gives the second yellow card to midfielder Panagiotis Kone making it an automatic Red Card in the 74th minute. Udinese remaining with 10 players.
Here is EMPOLI official starting lineup by coach Maurizio Sarri:
EMPOLI (4-3-1-2): Sepe; Hysaj, Rugani, Tonelli, Mário Rui; Vecino, Valdifiori, Croce; Saponara; Mche’dlidze, Pucciarelli.
Here is UDINESE official starting lineup by coach Andrea Stramaccioni:
UDINESE (3-5-1-1): Karnezīs; Piris, Danilo, Heurtaux; Widmer, Allan, Guilherme, Kone, Pasquale; Cyril Théréau; Antonio Di Natale.
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Stats AFTER the game. Top scorer for EMPOLI: Lorenzo Tonelli with 4 goals
Top scorer for UDINESE: Forward Antonio Di Natale with 9 goals
| Empoli | Goals | Goals | Udinese |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonelli, Lorenzo | 4 | 9 | Di Natale, Antonio |
| Pucciarelli, Manuel | 3 | 7 | Thereau, Cyril |
| Tavano, Francesco | 2 | 2 | Fernandes, Bruno |
| Maccarone, Massimo | 2 | 2 | Danilo |
| Rugani, Daniele | 2 | 1 | Heurtaux, Thomas |
Photo: facebook.com/empolifcofficialpage
2014 – 2015 Italian Serie A Week 20
Empoli 1 – 2 Udinese
Monday 26 January 2015
Carlo Castellani Stadium
Empoli, Italy
19:00
Referee: GHERSINI
Assistants: TASSO – PEGORIN
Fourth Official: CARIOLATO
ADD1: RUSSO
ADD2: AURELIANO
Goals: 19′ Antonio Di Natale (U), 37′ Riccardo Saponara (E)(pen), 60′ Widmer (U)
Official formations – lineups:
EMPOLI (4-3-1-2): Sepe; Hysaj, Rugani, Tonelli, Mário Rui; Vecino, Valdifiori, Croce; Saponara; Mche’dlidze, Pucciarelli.
Subs.: Bassi; Laurini, El Hadji, Bianchetti, Barba, Brillante, Signorelli, Zieliński, Laxalt, Verdi, Tavano, Rovini, Maccarone.
Coach: Maurizio Sarri.
UDINESE (3-5-1-1): Karnezīs; Piris, Danilo, Heurtaux; Widmer, Allan, Guilherme, Kone, Pasquale; Cyril Théréau; Antonio Di Natale.
Subs.: Scuffet, Meret, Bubnjić, Faraoni, Gabriel Silva, Hallberg, Jadson, Jaadi, B. Fernandes, Aguirre, Pinzi.
Coach: Andrea Stramaccioni.
Match Stats
| Empoli | Match Stats | Udinese |
| 1 | Goals | 2 |
| 17 (4) | Shots (on goal) | 10 (3) |
| 14 | Fouls | 17 |
| 6 | Corner kicks | 4 |
| 0 | Offsides | 3 |
| 67% | Ball Possession | 33% |
| 2 | Yellow Cards | 2 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 1 |
| 1 | Saves | 3 |
AS Roma 2 – 1 Empoli 
