Match report

Empoli Hold Sampdoria to a Draw (1-1) in Serie B Clash

Empoli
Empoli
1–1
FT
Sampdoria
Sampdoria
Oct 28, 2025

Empoli managed to hold off the challenge of Sampdoria, securing a hard-fought 1-1 draw in their Serie B encounter. The match saw several key moments including a cancelled penalty and multiple substitutions which kept both teams on their toes.

Key Facts

  • • Empoli scored first through B. Popov at the 77th minute.
  • • Sampdoria equalized through M. Cuni in the 80th minute.
  • • P. Pellegri's penalty was cancelled by VAR at the 11th minute for Empoli.
  • • S. Elia of Empoli was shown a red card after receiving his second yellow at the 65th minute.

Lineups

Empoli

Formation: 3-5-2

Starting XI

  • 21 A. Fulignati (G)
  • 2 M. Curto (D)
  • 34 G. Guarino (D)
  • 5 N. Obaretin (D)
  • 7 S. Elia (M)
  • 6 D. Degli Innocenti (M)
  • 18 A. Ghion (M)
  • 25 L. Ignacchiti (M)
  • 79 F. Carboni (M)
  • 9 P. Pellegri (F)
  • 11 S. Shpendi (F)

Substitutes

  • 1 S. Perisan
  • 8 L. Belardinelli
  • 10 R. Ilie
  • 14 G. Yepes
  • 24 T. Ebuehi
  • 27 B. Moruzzi
  • 28 G. Indragoli
  • 29 L. Tosto
  • 70 E. Saporiti
  • 77 B. Popov
  • 90 I. Konate
  • 99 F. Bianchi

Sampdoria

Formation: 3-5-2

Starting XI

  • 1 S. Ghidotti (G)
  • 17 D. Hadzikadunic (D)
  • 28 O. Abildgaard (D)
  • 25 A. Ferrari (D)
  • 10 L. Cherubini (M)
  • 16 L. Henderson (M)
  • 8 M. Ricci (M)
  • 80 L. Benedetti (M)
  • 44 N. Ioannou (M)
  • 9 M. Coda (F)
  • 7 M. Cuni (F)

Substitutes

  • 30 N. Ravaglia
  • 3 A. Coubis
  • 4 J. Ferri
  • 5 A. Riccio
  • 11 E. Pedrola
  • 14 A. Bellemo
  • 18 L. Venuti
  • 21 S. Giordano
  • 31 S. Vulikic
  • 33 F. Conti
  • 70 V. Narro
  • 72 A. Barak

Timeline

  1. Empoli
    11' Empoli Var · Penalty cancelled
    P. Pellegri
  2. Empoli
    46' Empoli subst · Substitution 1
    Off: D. Degli Innocenti · On: Luca Belardinelli
  3. Sampdoria
    55' Sampdoria subst · Substitution 1
    Off: O. Abildgaard · On: Alessandro Pio Riccio
  4. Empoli
    58' Empoli Card · Yellow Card
    S. Elia

    Foul

  5. Sampdoria
    62' Sampdoria Card · Yellow Card
    L. Benedetti

    Foul

  6. Empoli
    65' Empoli Card · Yellow Card
    S. Elia

    Foul

  7. Empoli
    65' Empoli Card · Red Card
    S. Elia

    Foul

  8. Empoli
    66' Empoli subst · Substitution 2
    Off: P. Pellegri · On: T. Ebuehi
  9. Sampdoria
    67' Sampdoria subst · Substitution 2
    Off: A. Ferrari · On: Stipe Vulikić
  10. Sampdoria
    67' Sampdoria subst · Substitution 3
    Off: L. Benedetti · On: A. Barak
  11. Empoli
    73' Empoli subst · Substitution 3
    Off: A. Ghion · On: Gerard Yepes
  12. Empoli
    73' Empoli subst · Substitution 4
    Off: S. Shpendi · On: B. Popov
  13. Empoli
    77' Empoli Goal · Normal Goal
    B. Popov
  14. Sampdoria
    79' Sampdoria subst · Substitution 4
    Off: M. Ricci · On: J. Ferri
  15. Sampdoria
    79' Sampdoria subst · Substitution 5
    Off: N. Ioannou · On: E. Pedrola
  16. Sampdoria
    80' Sampdoria Goal · Normal Goal
    M. Cuni · Assist: A. Barak
  17. Sampdoria
    90'+7 Sampdoria Var · Card upgrade
    J. Ferri
  18. Empoli
    90'+8 Empoli Card · Yellow Card
    Luca Belardinelli

    Argument

  19. Sampdoria
    90'+8 Sampdoria Card · Red Card
    J. Ferri

    Violent conduct

Match Stats

Stat Empoli Sampdoria
Fouls 10 11
Pass Accuracy 80% 86%
Offsides 0 4
Red Cards 1 1
Total Shots 7 14
Corners 4 5
Total Passes 342 534
Yellow Cards 3 1
Blocked Shots 0 4
Shots on Target 1 2
xG 0.96 1.70
Shots off Target 6 8
Possession 39% 61%
Goals Prevented — —
Accurate Passes 274 460
Shots Inside Box 5 10
Saves 1 0
Shots Outside Box 2 4

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ Empoli took an early lead with B. Popov's goal in the 77th minute, which initially put pressure on Sampdoria.
  • ▸ Sampdoria equalized through M. Cuni just three minutes later, showing resilience and determination to level the match.