Udinese regains success: Empoli beaten

Empoli-Udinese 0-1

Udinese won the first Saturday advance of the 26th day of Serie A. The Friulians routed Empoli thanks to a Becao goal early in the second half and regained a victory that had been missing for six days.

The first half began with immediately a chance for the hosts with Marin’s free kick ending just wide. The guests responded in the 22nd minute with a header by Bijol that went wide and two minutes later with a right-footed shot by Udogie that went past Perisan but was stopped on the line by Parisi. In the final great chance for Empoli: Silvestri repulses a Satriano header on the feet of Caputo, who from two steps does not find the goal.

In the resumption, the Friulians re-entered the field better and took the lead in the 54th minute: on a corner kick by Lovric, Becao jumped higher than anyone and pierced Perisan, thanks also to Luperto’s deflection. Ten minutes later came the Tuscans’ reaction but Baldanzi’s left-footed shot missed the goal by a whisker. The same Baldanzi a quarter of an hour from the end engages Silvestri with a powerful but central conclusion. In the final Zanetti tries to insert fresh forces but the result does not change.

Udinese thus rises to 35 points in the standings, currently paired with Juventus and Bologna, while Empoli remains stuck at 28, in 14th place.