Carrarese vs Empoli - Serie B

A fascinating Serie B chapter awaits on September 5, 2026 when Carrarese take on Empoli at the home ground — two sides with plenty to play for and everything to prove. United could come up against Garnacho once again this forthcoming season, with United scheduled to face Villa on November 7 at Old Trafford, before the return visit to Villa Park on January 16.

The standings add context to the occasion — Carrarese occupying 19th, Empoli perched in 10th — and the gap between them shapes the narrative. The hosts are desperate for a lift, with L in their last five and a win rate of 0% that underscores the size of the task facing them. Empoli travel in decent nick, L in their last five and a win rate of 50% this season. Goals could be in short supply or plentiful — Carrarese average 0.5 per game to Empoli's 0.75, and that gap may dictate the rhythm of the contest. During his 22 matches in charge, Oxford actually ranked as high as 14th in the table.

Tactically, the contest promises a fascinating contrast. Carrarese will look to impose their style on home soil, while Empoli are likely to have ideas of their own about how to gain the upper hand. And there are still question marks even in attack, where they have an abundance of supporting forwards including Mbeumo, Cunha and Amad Diallo, but only one out-and-out striker in Sesko.

When C. Shpendi is on the pitch — 5 goals to his name this term — moments of magic are never far away, and the Serie B's top scorer will be central to how this one unfolds. Set-piece specialists and aerial threats on both sides mean dead-ball situations could carry outsized importance. However, McInnes is relaxed about the situation and said: "When you have a player like Lawrence, who knows his way around the penalty box and how to score goals, I do not worry too much about it.

The market has yet to form a strong view, and the contest looks genuinely difficult to call. Despite the home advantage enjoyed by Carrarese, the weight of evidence favours Empoli — a 1-2 away win is the call. The ramifications of this result could ripple through the Serie B standings for weeks to come, regardless of who comes out on top. The club are understood to favour a profile closer to Aurelien Tchouameni or a Premier League‑proven alternative rather than Manu Kone.