Match report

Spezia Draws 1-1 with Empoli in Serie B

Spezia
Spezia
1–1
FT
Empoli
Empoli
Mar 17, 2026

Spezia and Empoli battled to a 1-1 draw in a competitive Serie B encounter. G. Artistico's goal for Spezia was matched by E. Saporiti's late penalty for Empoli, securing a point each in a game filled with tactical battles and strategic substitutions.

Key Facts

  • • Final Score: Spezia 1-1 Empoli
  • • G. Artistico scored for Spezia at 69 minutes
  • • E. Saporiti converted a penalty for Empoli in the 90th minute
  • • F. Bandinelli and M. Nasti were shown yellow cards for their respective teams
  • • Empoli made several substitutions, including S. Elia and Gerard Yepes

Lineups

Spezia

Formation: 3-5-1-1

Starting XI

  • 22 B. Radunovic (G)
  • 4 M. Ruggero (D)
  • 55 P. Hristov (D)
  • 94 G. Bonfanti (D)
  • 70 E. Adamo (M)
  • 8 A. Nagy (M)
  • 60 A. Romano (M)
  • 25 F. Bandinelli (M)
  • 31 G. Aurelio (M)
  • 5 M. Valoti (F)
  • 9 G. Artistico (F)

Substitutes

  • 12 D. Mascardi
  • 16 L. Loria
  • 6 A. Bellemo
  • 32 L. Vignali
  • 17 L. Sernicola
  • 11 P. Beruatto
  • 19 H. Shagaxle
  • 77 E. Lorenzelli
  • 10 G. Lapadula
  • 99 V. Vlahovic
  • 24 A. Bertoncini
  • 34 C. Comotto

Empoli

Formation: 4-4-1-1

Starting XI

  • 21 A. Fulignati (G)
  • 26 A. Candela (D)
  • 34 G. Guarino (D)
  • 20 M. Lovato (D)
  • 27 B. Moruzzi (D)
  • 11 S. Shpendi (M)
  • 8 L. Magnino (M)
  • 14 G. Yepes (M)
  • 7 S. Elia (M)
  • 6 D. Degli Innocenti (F)
  • 19 M. Nasti (F)

Substitutes

  • 1 S. Perisan
  • 2 M. Curto
  • 17 D. Fila
  • 70 E. Saporiti
  • 5 N. Obaretin
  • 4 S. Romagnoli
  • 24 T. Ebuehi
  • 32 N. Haas
  • 15 J. Ceesay
  • 10 R. Ilie
  • 25 L. Ignacchiti
  • 77 B. Popov

Timeline

  1. Spezia
    38' Spezia Card · Yellow Card
    F. Bandinelli

    Foul

  2. Empoli
    40' Empoli Card · Yellow Card
    M. Nasti

    Foul

  3. Empoli
    46' Empoli subst · Substitution 1
    Off: S. Elia · On: J. Ceesay
  4. Empoli
    51' Empoli Card · Yellow Card
    M. Lovato
  5. Empoli
    55' Empoli subst · Substitution 2
    Off: M. Nasti · On: B. Popov
  6. Empoli
    56' Empoli subst · Substitution 3
    Off: Gerard Yepes · On: N. Haas
  7. Spezia
    63' Spezia subst · Substitution 1
    Off: A. Nagy · On: C. Comotto
  8. Empoli
    65' Empoli Card · Yellow Card
    A. Candela

    Foul

  9. Spezia
    69' Spezia Goal · Normal Goal
    G. Artistico · Assist: G. Aurelio
  10. Empoli
    75' Empoli Card · Yellow Card
    N. Haas

    Foul

  11. Spezia
    78' Spezia subst · Substitution 2
    Off: Petko Hristov · On: Luca Vignali
  12. Spezia
    78' Spezia subst · Substitution 3
    Off: M. Valoti · On: L. Sernicola
  13. Empoli
    79' Empoli Card · Yellow Card
    D. Degli Innocenti

    Foul

  14. Empoli
    80' Empoli subst · Substitution 4
    Off: D. Degli Innocenti · On: D. Fila
  15. Empoli
    80' Empoli subst · Substitution 5
    Off: S. Shpendi · On: E. Saporiti
  16. Spezia
    89' Spezia subst · Substitution 4
    Off: F. Bandinelli · On: A. Bellemo
  17. Empoli
    90'+3 Empoli Var · Penalty confirmed
    Gabriele Guarino
  18. Empoli
    90' Empoli Goal · Penalty
    E. Saporiti

Match Stats

Stat Spezia Empoli
Fouls 17 19
Pass Accuracy 78% 77%
Offsides 0 4
Red Cards — —
Total Shots 17 10
Corners 7 1
Total Passes 356 328
Yellow Cards 1 5
Blocked Shots 3 2
Shots on Target 4 4
xG 1.48 1.32
Shots off Target 10 4
Possession 53% 47%
Goals Prevented 0 0
Accurate Passes 279 253
Shots Inside Box 11 8
Saves 3 2
Shots Outside Box 6 2

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ G. Artistico's goal for Spezia at the 69th minute gave them the lead, shifting the momentum in their favor
  • ▸ Empoli's late penalty by E. Saporiti in the 90th minute secured a draw, maintaining their strong form in Serie B