The Granata lost Perr Schuurs following knee surgery and were dismayed by a goalless draw away to Frosinone that put them outside the running for European spots. However, Karol Linetty made a comeback from suspension. Although Tommaso Baldanzi, Ciccio Caputo, Bartosz Bereszynski, Viktor Kovalenko, and Giuseppe Pezzella weren't quite fit, Empoli was keen to leave the drop zone. After ten minutes, Antonio Sanabria scored one of the most exquisite goals of his career with a breathtaking bicycle kick into the far top corner from 12 yards. But because Nikola Vlasic was offside throughout the build-up, it was not valid.
Ivan Ilic and Sanabria were unable to tap in because of defensive bodies in the six-yard box, but Empoli equalised on a similarly chaotic circumstance. Tyronne Ebuehi, on his birthday, managed to get his toes on the ball before Vanja Milinkovic-Savic after a corner was not cleared.