Match Report
On paper the standings were lopsided — Empoli 1st with 73 points, Ascoli 16th with 44, 29 apart. The last five rounds placed Ascoli 4th in the league for form — higher than their 16th in the standings. Against a league average of 1.2 goals per team per game, Ascoli ran at 0.97 scored and 1.26 conceded, Empoli at 1.79 and 0.92.
Ascoli had won three straight. Defeat had not touched Empoli in 15 games, having scored in 15 consecutive games.
The head-to-head ledger counts 14 games: 4 Ascoli wins, 7 for Empoli, 3 draws, at 2.79 goals per meeting. History points to goals: 64% of the meetings had three or more, and both sides scored in 64%.
Stadio Cino e Lillo Del Duca in Ascoli Piceno, capacity 20,550, hosted the game. Half-time and full-time told different stories: Ascoli led 1-0 at the break, before 1 more goal closed it at 2-0.