Empoli vs Reggiana: Overview

Empoli FC secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory against AC Reggiana 1919 in their Coppa Italia clash at the Stadio Carlo Castellani on a warm August afternoon. The hosts, under the guidance of Guido Pagliuca, demonstrated why they're considered among the favorites to return to Serie A this season, controlling much of the possession and creating several clear-cut opportunities throughout the match.

The atmosphere at the Computer Gross Arena was electric, with Empoli supporters filling the stands in anticipation of their team's first competitive fixture of the 2025/26 season. Their enthusiasm was rewarded early when Steven Shpendi broke the deadlock in the 17th minute with a clinical finish after excellent build-up play involving Rareş Ilie.

Reggiana, led by Davide Dionigi, showed resilience and managed to equalize against the run of play through Cedric Gondo's powerful header just before halftime. However, Empoli's quality ultimately shone through when substitute Bohdan Popov netted the winner in the 78th minute, sending the home crowd into raptures.

This result sees Empoli advance to the next round of the Coppa Italia, providing a confidence boost as they prepare for their Serie B campaign. For Reggiana, despite the defeat, there were positive signs in their defensive organization and counter-attacking threat that Dionigi will look to build upon in their upcoming league fixtures.

The match highlighted the gap in quality between the two sides, with Empoli FC showcasing why they're considered strong contenders for promotion, while AC Reggiana displayed fighting spirit that should serve them well in their Serie B campaign.

"I'm satisfied with how we approached this match against a well-organized Reggiana side. The boys showed character after conceding the equalizer, and our patience in building attacks eventually paid off. Bohdan [Popov] made a significant impact coming off the bench, which demonstrates the depth we have in our squad this season," explained Guido Pagliuca, Empoli's coach after the final whistle.

"We knew it would be a challenging match against a recently relegated team with Serie A experience. I'm proud of how we competed today, especially in the first half when we executed our counter-attacking game plan effectively. Unfortunately, we couldn't maintain that level throughout the entire 90 minutes, but there are plenty of positives to take forward into our league campaign," reflected Davide Dionigi, Reggiana's tactician.

"Scoring the winner in my first competitive match for Empoli is a dream come true. The coach told me to be direct when I came on, and I'm glad I could repay his faith. The atmosphere was incredible, and I can't wait to experience more moments like this," said match-winner Bohdan Popov.

"Empoli demonstrated why they're among the favorites for promotion this season. Their technical quality and depth were evident today. Reggiana showed resilience but ultimately lacked the cutting edge in the final third that makes the difference at this level," analyzed former Italy international and football pundit Alessandro Del Piero for Rai Sport.

The statistical breakdown of the Empoli FC vs AC Reggiana 1919 Coppa Italia encounter reveals the hosts' dominance in several key areas. Ball possession heavily favored Empoli with 63% compared to Reggiana's 37%, highlighting their control throughout the match.

In terms of attacking threat, Empoli registered 16 shots with 7 on target, while Reggiana managed just 8 attempts with 3 finding the frame of the goal. The corner count also reflected the territorial advantage, with Empoli forcing 9 corners against Reggiana's 3.

The disciplinary record showed a relatively clean game, with Empoli receiving 2 yellow cards (Marco Curto and Lorenzo Ignacchiti) while Reggiana collected 3 cautions (Andrea Papetti, Manolo Portanova, and Matteo Rover).

Individually, Rareş Ilie was Empoli's standout performer, completing 94% of his passes and creating 4 chances including the assist for the opening goal. For Reggiana, goalkeeper Edoardo Motta made 5 crucial saves to keep his team in the contest, while Cedric Gondo won 7 aerial duels in addition to scoring their only goal.

The match statistics underline Empoli's superiority, though Reggiana's efficiency in converting one of their few opportunities demonstrates why cup competitions often produce tighter contests than league form might suggest. Empoli's 2.1 expected goals (xG) compared to Reggiana's 0.8 further emphasizes the deserved nature of their victory in this Coppa Italia fixture.

17' GOAL (1-0): Steven Shpendi puts Empoli ahead with a precise finish into the bottom corner after receiving a perfectly weighted through ball from Rareş Ilie, who beat two defenders with a skillful dribble before releasing his teammate.

32' SAVE: Andrea Fulignati produces a spectacular fingertip save to deny Manolo Portanova's long-range effort that was destined for the top corner, keeping Empoli's lead intact.

42' GOAL (1-1): Against the run of play, AC Reggiana equalize through Cedric Gondo, who rises highest to power home a header from Elayis Tavsan's pinpoint cross following a swift counter-attack down the right flank.

55' TACTICAL CHANGE: Empoli coach Guido Pagliuca adjusts his team's formation from 4-3-3 to 4-2-3-1, introducing Bohdan Popov for Luca Belardinelli to provide more attacking impetus as they search for a winner.

71' WOODWORK: Reggiana nearly take a shock lead when Tobías Reinhart's curling free-kick from 25 yards strikes the crossbar with Fulignati beaten, a moment that serves as a wake-up call for the hosts.

78' GOAL (2-1): Substitute Bohdan Popov restores Empoli's advantage with a clinical first-time finish from Franco Carboni's cutback, following an intricate passing sequence that carved open Reggiana's defensive structure.

90+3' DEFENSIVE HEROICS: In the dying moments, Gabriele Guarino makes a crucial goal-line clearance to deny Reggiana substitute Lorenzo Libutti's close-range attempt, preserving Empoli's victory in this Coppa Italia encounter.

The historical rivalry between Empoli FC and AC Reggiana 1919 has consistently favored the Tuscan side, with this latest Coppa Italia encounter extending Empoli's dominance. Prior to this match, Empoli had won three of their last four meetings against Reggiana, with an impressive 7-1 aggregate goal difference highlighting their superiority.

Their most recent encounter before today came on April 9, 2021, when Empoli secured a narrow 1-0 victory en route to their Serie B championship and subsequent promotion. Today's 2-1 result follows a similar pattern, reinforcing Empoli's psychological edge in this fixture.

Individual battles across the pitch proved decisive in determining the outcome. The duel between Empoli's creative force Rareş Ilie and Reggiana's defensive midfielder Massimo Bertagnoli was particularly influential, with the Romanian winger's technical quality frequently troubling his opponent. Similarly, the aerial contest between Reggiana's Cedric Gondo and Empoli's central defensive pairing offered a fascinating subplot, with the Ivorian striker managing to win numerous headers including one that resulted in his team's equalizer.

Tactically, Empoli's possession-based approach contrasted with Reggiana's more direct counter-attacking style, creating an intriguing chess match between Pagliuca and Dionigi. While Reggiana's strategy yielded moments of promise, Empoli's technical superiority ultimately proved decisive, maintaining their historical upper hand in this Coppa Italia confrontation between two ambitious Serie B outfits.

Although the Coppa Italia is a knockout tournament separate from league competition, this match provides important context for both teams' positions heading into the 2025/26 Serie B season. Empoli FC, currently positioned 8th in the pre-season Serie B projections following their relegation from Serie A last season, have reinforced their status as promotion contenders with this confident cup performance.

Meanwhile, AC Reggiana 1919 find themselves in a more precarious 15th position in the forecasts, with analysts predicting a potential relegation battle for Davide Dionigi's men. However, their resilient display against a stronger opponent suggests they may exceed these modest expectations.

Empoli's advancement in the Coppa Italia provides them with additional competitive fixtures that could either boost confidence or stretch their resources as they pursue their primary objective of immediate promotion back to Serie A. The tournament historically offers mid-table Serie B sides like Reggiana an opportunity to create memorable cup runs, though their focus will likely remain on securing league survival.

With the Serie B season yet to commence, this cup fixture has offered valuable insights into both teams' preparedness. Empoli demonstrated the quality expected of promotion candidates, while Reggiana showed fighting spirit that could prove crucial in their anticipated relegation battle. The result aligns with pre-season projections that place these teams at opposite ends of the Serie B spectrum.