Empoli, Nicola gets off to a strong start: Monza sinks under Zurkowski’s blows

Empoli-Monza 3-0

Davide Nicola's experience on the Empoli bench began in the best possible way: in fact, the white-and-blue Tuscan team got rid of Monza with a clear 3-0 win, thus returning to success for the first time since they beat Napoli at the Maradona on November 12 (the last domestic success dated back to September 27, 1-0 to Salernitana).

Deciding the challenge of the Castellani è the extraordinary performance of Szymon Zurkowski: the Pole, who arrived on loan from Spezia in the January market, è absolute protagonist of the match, signing all three goals of the hosts. The first goal came on 13': a low cross from the left by Cambiaghi, Pablo Marì clears but Zurkowski è ready to volley the ball, leaving Sorrentino no chance.

The double came in the 38th minute: the Monza goalkeeper è good at responding to Cerri’s shot, but the ball again came back into the area of the Pole, who sent it under the crossbar for 2-0. The trio comes halfway through the second half, in 73': Shpendi concludes on net finding Caldirola's opposition, again Zurkowski è quick to collect the ball and deposit it in the net, effectively closing the accounts.

So it ends 3-0 for the Tuscans, who move back to -2 from the salvation zone. Bitter day instead for the Brianzoli, who remain in the belly of the standings.