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·10 Mei 2025

Serie A | Empoli 2-1 Parma: Anjorin magic ends five-month negative streak

It was a tough slog against a Parma side down to 10 men for an hour, but Empoli gave themselves hope with their first Serie A victory of 2025, decided by Jacopo Fazzini and Tino Anjorin strikes.

This was a big relegation battle, as the Tuscans were desperate in penultimate place, while the Ducali saw their status waver after a home defeat to Como.

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Lorenzo Colombo was suspended following his controversial red card against Lazio, joining injured Youssef Maleh, Christian Kouame, Pietro Pellegri, Nicolas Haas, Szymon Zurkowski and Saba Sazonov on the absentee list. At least there was some good news with the return of Alberto Grassi and Liam Henderson from their bans. Parma also had a huge number of injured players, including Valentin Mihaila, Adrian Bernabé, Matteo Cancellieri, Alessandro Vogliacco, Nahuel Estevez, Mateusz Kowalski and Gabriel Charpentier.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Empoli took the lead with a smart corner kick routine, as Henderson took it short for Jacopo Fazzini, who had peeled away from the group to sweep first-time into the roof of the net from 13 yards.

EMPOLI, ITALY – MAY 10: Jacopo Fazzini of Empoli FC celebrates after scoring a goal during the Serie A match between Empoli and Parma at Stadio Carlo Castellani on May 10, 2025 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Mateo Pellegrino nodded an Antoine Hainaut cross wide of the far post, but Parma went down to 10 men after two exceptionally silly gestures from Lautaro Valenti. First he was on the ground appealing for a free kick when he slapped the knee of Henderson running past him, then received a second yellow card for the shirt tug on Sebastiano Esposito.

EMPOLI, ITALY – MAY 10: Lautaro Valeri of Parma reacts after kicked out of the field during the Serie A match between Empoli and Parma at Stadio Carlo Castellani on May 10, 2025 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Esposito fired wide after a free kick was flicked on, with Emanuel Gyasi and Liberato Cacace efforts charged down, then after the restart Henderson’s curler was deflected inches wide off Mandela Keita.

Fazzini volleyed over from the edge of the area on a corner, but 10-man Parma managed to equalise anyway. A long Hernani free kick was nodded down by Milan Djuric, but Ange-Yoan Bonny came sliding in from six yards and did not make contact with it, confusing Devis Vasquez and allowing the header to bounce into the net. It was the ex-Monza striker’s first goal since moving to Parma in January.

EMPOLI, ITALY – MAY 10: Milan Djuric of Parma celebrates after scoring a goal during the Serie A match between Empoli and Parma at Stadio Carlo Castellani on May 10, 2025 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Luca Marianucci’s curler was just over the bar, but Empoli restored their advantage with a spectacular Anjorin right-foot curler into the far top corner from well outside the area, laid off by Gyasi for the substitute.

It proved enough for the hosts to celebrate their first Serie A victory since a 4-1 away to Verona on December 8, ending a negative streak that lasted for five draws and 15 defeats.