Empoli FC Provides Update on Mattia Viti’s Condition and Return Timeline

After starting in Empoli’s first 16 league matches, defender Mattia Viti was notably absent from the team’s recent 3-2 loss against Atalanta. The former Sassuolo player, currently on loan from Nice, had been a crucial part of Empoli’s backline since his return to the club where he made his Serie A debut.

On Monday, December 23, Empoli Football Club released an official statement regarding Viti’s condition: “Medical examinations have revealed a low-grade lesion in Mattia Viti’s left adductor muscle. The player has already begun rehabilitation with the club’s medical staff.” The team and coaching staff are hopeful that Viti may be available for their upcoming home fixture against Genoa, which will be their final match of 2024.

In Viti’s absence against Atalanta, coach D’Aversa opted to play New Zealand international Liberato Cacace in an unfamiliar center-back role. The defensive reshuffle coincided with one of Empoli’s poorest defensive performances this season, matching the three goals conceded against Inter Milan in late October and AC Milan in late November.

Viti’s injury adds to Empoli’s defensive woes, with Mattia De Sciglio also sidelined since early November. The club will be keen to have Viti back in the lineup as soon as possible to bolster their defensive options and improve their performance in the latter half of the Serie A season.