Serie A’s heated race for 4th continues to intensify every passing weekend, with Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta occupying the final UEFA Champions League spot and unbothered by the commotion surrounding the chase. But at the bottom of the table lies another, less publicized, battle in surviving the drop to Serie B.
Chievo Verona (confirmed 20th finish) and Frosinone’s (currently 19th) fate has been decided as both are headed down, but there are several jockeying to keep their head above water – including Empoli who, with the attacking efforts of Francesco Caputo, remain hopeful in rescuing the season.
Since joining in 2017 for an estimated €2,8m + plus bonuses from Virtus Entella, the 31-year old Caputo has been a pure attacking revelation in every sense, aiding Empoli’s Serie B title win and promotional campaign last year by scoring a league-leading 26 goals alongside strike partner Alfredo Donnarumma who, together, hauled in 49 goals. But, with Donnarumma opting to stay put in B after joining Brescia, the onus fell on Caputo to mirror his exploits and shoulder a heavy offensive burden in Empoli’s Serie A return.
In his first season in the top flight since 2010-11 at Bari as a previous recruit under Antonio Conte, ’Cicio’ has made the most of this second go around, pulling no punches and proving last season’s goal outburst was no fluke.
Mimicking the very coolness and composure around the penalty area that we witnessed throughout the previous season, Caputo’s sneaky forward play meshes elusive movement to run in behind defensive lines with unerring confidence and poise to tuck away chances with consistency.
First Aurelio Andreazzoli, then Giuseppe Iachini, and back to Andreazzoli since March, Empoli’s tactical shape has seen as many alterations as a rental tuxedo, with formations predominantly deploying two strikers. Irregardless of the 4312, 352, 3142 and 532, Caputo’s performances have not wavered in the process, but that likely isn‘t possible without the emergence of three key midfielders asserting themselves in the middle of the park to ensure he is properly supported.
Fledging youth Ismaël Bennacer provides a stable presence in the middle of the park, either as a holding player at the base capable of cutting down the opposition or as a creative outlet going forward when given the license to roam. Albeit a bit raw, teenage Ivorian Hamid Junior Traorè often looks to tap into his excellent dribbling ability and ball progression as a B2B midfielder by driving forward, which in return, keeps Caputo from veering off into deeper areas from goal to link play. Then there is Rade Krunic, the 25-year old attacking midfielder from Bosnia-Herzegovina who has been voted Empoli’s best player of the season by journalists and club insiders, and is one of four midfielders to be involved in more than 10 goals (5 goals and 7 assists), according to Opta Paolo.
Despite the on-going battle for salvation, Empoli’s crop of midfielders has been overlooked and undervalued by most, but certainly not Caputo who is currently sixth in scoring with 15 goals, ahead of perennial capocannoniere contenders Ciro Immobile, Mauro Icardi and Dries Mertens.
Entering this weekend, the Tuscans sit 18th on 32 points, just two from Udinese in 17th. With three matches remaining, and every point priceless, Empoli will lean on Caputo the rest of the way to ensure they live to fight another day in the Italian top flight next season.
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