Sassuolo are fresh from a shock victory away to Juventus and finding some momentum at last, but host an Empoli side that travels well.
The Neroverdi took a while to adjust to new coach Alessio Dionisi after losing Roberto De Zerbi and seem to be getting there with seven points from the last three rounds, including a last-gasp 2-1 victory away to Juve. Jeremie Boga might be back after injury, although there are still question marks over the strikers with Gregoire Defrel and Gianluca Scamacca battling for position.
Dionisi, of course, was in charge of Empoli last season and won the Serie B title with the Tuscans. Empoli tend to do better in away fixtures than at home, with three of their total four victories earned outside the Stadio Castellani. Samuele Ricci sits out a ban after his red card against Inter.
Form Guide: Sassuolo (W W D L W) Empoli (L W L L W)
Stat fact: Empoli have lost all four Serie A trips to Sassuolo.
Probable line-ups
Sassuolo (4-2-3-1): Consigli; Toljan, Chiriches, Ferrari, Rogerio; Lopez, Frattesi; Berardi, Raspadori, Boga; Scamacca
Suspended: None
Injured: Obiang, Djuricic, Romagna
On a yellow card: Lopez
Empoli (4-3-2-1): Vicario; Stojanovic, Ismajli, Luperto, Marchizza; Haas, Stulac, Bandinelli; Henderson, Bajrami; Pinamonti
Suspended: Ricci
Injured: Di Francesco
On a yellow card: Stojanovic