Stat Attack: 10 facts to know ahead of Empoli trip

The game at the Stadio Carlo Castellani gets underway at 20:30 CEST on Saturday.

Past meetings give Roma the edge...

This will be the 12th time the two sides have faced each other at the Castellani in Serie A; Roma have won six times, lost three and drawn the other two.

Tough times for Empoli...

The Tuscan side have not beaten Roma in the top-flight since February 2007 (1-0, Nicola Pozzi with the goal). In the eight games since, Roma have won five and drawn three.

Not all plain sailing...

Roma have failed to score at the Castellani in three of their last six visits... but scored six goals in the other three games.

Empoli still finding their way

Empoli have not won since the opening day of the season, picking up just two points from the six games that followed - and scoring just three goals.

Fast-starting stuff...

Roma have scored more goals in the first half of games than any other side so far this season: six. Four of those have come in the last two games (against Frosinone and Lazio).

Dead-ball specialists

Roma have scored more goals from set-pieces than any other side so far in Serie A: five (non of them from the penalty spot).

The curse of the woodwork...

Saturday's game is a meeting between the two sides that have hit the woodwork more than any other teams so far: Empoli have done it six times, Roma have managed it five times already.

Pellegrini from the spot?

Lorenzo Pellegrini scored his only penalty to date in Serie A against Empoli - for Sassuolo back in December 2016.

Di Francesco vs Andreazzoli

This will be the first meeting between the two coaches. The pair worked alongside each other at Roma during the 2005-06 season, as part of Luciano Spalletti's coaching staff. At that time Di Francesco was the team managed, while Andreazzoli was an assistanct coach.

Florenzi and the captaincy

Alessandro Florenzi is approaching 30 appearances as captain for the Giallorossi. The full-back led the side out for the 27th time in his career against Viktoria Plzen (and his third time in European competition).