Empoli Defying the Odds: The Blueprint Behind Serie A’s Surprise Package
Touted for relegation at the start of the season, Empoli’s pressing has lifted them clear of the drop. Using Wyscout data, we analyze the tactics behind their defensive masterclass.
On the eve of the match between Milan and Atalanta, Paulo Fonseca was asked about an old comment made by Pep Guardiola, who once said that facing Atalanta was like going to the dentist. “I completely understand what Pep said. However, here in Italy, I go to the dentist every week—it’s normal. Empoli may have a different level of quality, but their style of play is the same.”
Fonseca’s remark was a strong compliment in the distinctive context of Italian football. When the Portuguese coach states that the style of play is the same between Atalanta and Empoli, he is, of course, generalising. However, he accurately highlights the most prevalent tactical trend in Serie A: man-to-man marking, popularised by Gasperini and reinvented in various forms by most other coaches, with very few exceptions.
Roberto D’Aversa, just a few years ago, had little in common with Gian Piero Gasperini. Yet today, even he, at Empoli, cannot avoid adopting certain principles. In fact, based on their defensive approach, the Tuscan side could be seen as the most representative team of Serie A, embodying what sets Italian defensive tactics apart from the rest of Europe. When Empoli presses high, they do so with man-to-man marking, aiming to keep the tempo under control. At the same time, over the 90 minutes, they carefully decide when to press aggressively and when to drop back.
As a result, Empoli currently boasts the fifth-best defence in Serie A, having conceded only 16 goals—just one more than Inter. This record is better than those of Milan, Atalanta, and Lazio. Even more importantly for the club and its fans, Empoli currently sits 10th in the table, five points clear of the relegation zone—a remarkable achievement considering the challenges they faced at the start of the season.
In the summer, Empoli lost the coach that saved them from the drop last year, Davide Nicola, as well as many of their key players. The upheaval was such that club president Fabrizio Corsi expressed a degree of resignation: “Survival this year seems very difficult, but we’ll try.”
So far, the team has done everything possible to make their journey to safety a smooth one. As the statistics suggest, much of the credit goes to their defensive organisation.
Empoli typically lines up in a 3-4-2-1 or 3-5-2 formation, depending on the midfield and attacking personnel. When selecting his starting XI, D’Aversa always begins with nailed-on starters in goal and defence: Devis Vásquez, who arrived at Milan from the Paraguayan league as an unknown, has become one of the best goalkeepers in the league while at Empoli. In front of him, Goglichidze lines up on the right, Ismajili in the centre, and Viti on the left.
Often, especially at home, Empoli starts matches aggressively. Against opponents who build up play with three defenders, if the Azzurri Empolesi sets up in a 3-4-2-1 or 3-4-1-2 formation, their three attacking players match up directly with the opposition’s three centre-backs.
If Empoli adopts a 3-5-2, the left-sided central midfielder pushes up to press and create parity in numbers. Elsewhere, the wing-backs push onto their counterparts, and the defenders and midfielders share the rest of the opposition’s players, with the back three following their man even beyond the halfway line.
When the opposition builds with four at the back, Empoli’s approach changes. In a 3-4-2-1, the right wing-back Gyasi steps up to create a 4v4 press, while the left wing-back Pezzella drops deeper in an asymmetric setup. If Empoli plays in a 3-5-2, Gyasi still presses the left-back, while the left-sided central midfielder pushes up to press the right-back.
Whether pressing high or sitting deep, Empoli’s defensive phase revolves around duels. They are the team that engages in the most defensive duels in the league (59.01 per 90 minutes, winning 61%) and also commits the most fouls (13.77 per 90 minutes).
So, how does this translate into opponents’ offensive output? In other words, how much does Empoli actually concede? They are the Serie A team with the least possession (averaging just 39.2%), yet they have conceded the fifth-fewest goals. However, expected goals (xG) data suggests they are significantly overperforming. The Azzurri Empolesi has the largest gap between actual goals conceded (16) and xG conceded (24.26, 11th in Serie A), with a difference of +8.3.
