|
Cagliari were wasteful upfront, but Empoli still set a new club record of 46 points in Serie A.
The Sardinians have been on fine form lately with just one defeat in their last five and a surprise win away to Palermo. Empoli slipped down the standings following the loss to Milan, but were still in the UEFA Cup race. Nicola Pozzi was suspended and Igli Vannucchi was left on the bench.
David Suazo drilled just wide after just three minutes and at the other end Vittorio Tosto's cross-shot tested Antonio Chimenti.
Empoli hit the back of the net after 15 minutes with Luca Saudati's spin and volley, but the striker was offside when Davide Matteini's cross came in from the right.
Diego Lopez had a good penalty shout for a clumsy Lino Marzoratti challenge moments later.
Gaetano D'Agostino and Matteini failed to make the most of promising scoring opportunities, while Bassi smothered a D'Agostino strike set up by Suazo.
After the break Cagliari made two tactical substitutions, moving Davide Biondini to central midfield and advancing Del Grosso. D'Agostino's through ball created a good chance that caught Simone Pepe by surprise inside the area.
Empoli boss Gigi Cagni went for a more attacking line-up with Vannucchi in place of defender Daniele Adani, but Cagliari continued to threaten with a Suazo glancing header going wide and Pepe again failing to touch in D'Agostino's cutback.
The best chance of the game so far fell to Ferri on 68 minutes. The substitute ran forward from midfield and his piledriver was pushed round the near post by Bassi.
The home side were now dominating and Pepe skipped past two players only to take his dribbling too far. So Cagni returned to a more balanced approach with Nicola Ascoli for Matteini.
There was an incredible opportunity late on with a howler of a defensive error from Ascoli leaving D'Agostino clear from eight yards, but he still got it deflected wide of the near post.
Yet seven minutes from time Chimenti almost handed Empoli a goal, as he mistimed his jump and was lucky Saudati's header looped over an empty net.
| 
