Liberato Cacace (Wrexham | Wales)

Libby starts, and for the moment Soccerway has him in an advanced role. Certainly not at LCB.

This is his 17th start of the season. Last season (23/24) he had 18, so on track to better that. He only had 5 starts in his first full Serie A campaign (22/23)

1-1 the final score. Empoli unlucky, having hit the post twice.
They remain -2 ponts from the safe zone, but Parma and Lecce have a game in hand. Parma have Verona who are 14th, Lecce play Roma in a couple of hours, and hopefully will stay on 25 points!
8 games remaining...

Libby was tucked in the inside left pocket and was heavily involved throughout the first half that I got to watch. Very high work rate. Yep, defo the advanced position for this one. 

Big game for Empoli as a club. Coppa Italia semi final first leg hosting Bologna.
First time Empoli have ever made the Coppa Italia semis from memory. Having upset Juve in their quarter final.

Bolgna currently 4th in Serie A will be tough.

Milan derby is the other semi matchup

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2025/04/01/italy/coppa-italia/empoli-fc/bologna-fc-1909/4405383/

Not sure if it's been mentioned already but Empoli, have taken the option of another year for Libby, so he's signed on to 2026. Via Niche Cache.

🚨 Excl. - #Besiktas are interested in #Empoli’s left fullback Liberato #Cacace. His contract with Empoli expires in 2026. #transfers

— Nicolò Schira (@NicoSchira) March 13, 2025

Empoli quietly extended his contract through next season, possibly via an automatic trigger, but they won’t be able to play that card again so next season he really will be on an expiring deal. If Empoli gets relegated there’s little doubt that Cacace will be able to find something else without needing to drop down the levels. If they don’t get relegated then Empoli still might want to sell him anyway for financial reasons. 

Safe to say Empoli's Coppa Italia dream is sadly over.
Lose the first home leg 0-3 to Bologna.

Libby with a full game started at LB in a back 4. Might have been better to stay with their usual back 3/5. 

Pezzella came on at HT (0-2) so they might have changed shape in the 2nd half.

2nd leg at Bologna 25th April.

Big game for Empoli (18th) hosting Cagliari (15th).
A win could take Empoli out of the drop zone.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2025/04/06/italy/serie-a/empoli-fc/cagliari-calcio/4397063/

Libby starts and it looks like it's that forward midfield role again. Empoli need a win.

Full game in a 0-0 that will suit Cagliari (who are coached by Empoli's former coach). Empoli remain 2 points from safety. Could have been 1 point but Parma managed to draw 2-2 vs top of the table Inter (from 0-2).

Empoli need another miracle to stay up. 

Last night was Libby's 18th start of the season (1,740 mins to date). That equals the 18 starts he had all last Serie A season (1,908 mins in total).

He's also broken his scoring duck for Empoli with two goals this campaign. And still 7 league games to go.

He is very much a regular Serie A player these days, after getting limited playing time in his first season coming in from Belgium. 

Hopefully Empoli can stay up, but if not there should be other suitors in the Italian top tier. Really hope he doesn't go to Turkey.

I saw bally attended one of the games recently. Aberdeen will likely need a LB so if Empoli get relegated, it would be ideal timing. He'd suit our style of play, that's for sure.

newzealandpower

Full game in a 0-0 that will suit Cagliari (who are coached by Empoli's former coach). Empoli remain 2 points from safety. Could have been 1 point but Parma managed to draw 2-2 vs top of the table Inter (from 0-2).

Empoli need another miracle to stay up. 

Cagliari also had Luperto, who spent a long time as the CB to Libby’s LB at Empoli, playing. 

It's very very tight at the bottom end of the ladder. Venezia just beat Monza and caught up with Empoli in the last automatic relegation spot. Libby's side has a game in hand of course but should they fail to win or draw, they'd be tied with Venezia.
Sadly, they are away at Napoli (2nd) who are in dire need of a win to keep their Scudetto hopes alive (-6 from Inter with a game in hand).

Derby of sorts for Libby as his father's family hails from the region. Kick off  6:45am Tuesday morning NZT.

Yes, the biennial split loyalties late night time viewing game in Petone. Empoli (18th) travel to Napoli (2nd). The moments when Libby looks up to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona stands and pinches himself. 

The gardener in my mum's complex is a Napoli fan, he's praying for another Scudetto - being 3 pts behind Inter (1st).

Unsurprisingly, Napoli take them to the cleaners. 3-0 the final score. Libby off at 82min (3-0) and Empoli drop to 19th though on the same point as Venezia and 2 points adrift

Lukaku with a goal and 2 assists. Looks like again Libby played in a forward attacking role. At least his family will be happy.

Next up Empoli (19th) host Venezia (18th) in a huge relegation six pointer.

I read that of the 6 remaining ages, 4 are against direct competitors in the race to avoid relegation. And I think 3 of those games are at home, though Empoli have been pretty bad at the Carlo Castellani this season.
They also lost two starters to injury and they probably won't feature for the rest of the season.
To me, as it stands, they are looking like Serie B candidates. They need a massive change in fortune. Be great if Libby came up with a goal or two/an assist or two just now that it matters so much.. 

Big game. Relegation 6 pointer. Empoli (19th/2nd last) host Venezia (18th)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2025/04/20/italy/serie-a/empoli-fc/ssc-venezia/4397083/

LWB this week. 0-0 after 30 mins.

I didn't watch the game (not sure how on NZ tv) but fotmob tells me Libby got an assist to equalise at 2-2 at 87 mins. Finishes the same score.

Libby provided the assist for Empoli's second goal, 2-2 final score.

Beaten to it.

Crazy game. 1-0 Empoli for quite some time, then Libby almost makes it 2-0, but he dragged his shot just wide. Then an Empoli GK blunder gives Venezia the equaliser, and the away team goes up 2-1 with 5 minutes to go...but Empoli score from the restart, with Libby heavily involved with a gutsy, if scrappy, assist.
This draw keeps both teams close to the safety zone, but you could see some unhappy faces at the end of the game. 3 points would have been so much better, and were achievable for both teams.
Empoli still has 4/5 games against teams at the lower end of the ladder, but they really need to start winning, otherwise it's goodbye Serie A

newzealandpower

Crazy game. 1-0 Empoli for quite some time, then Libby almost makes it 2-0, but he dragged his shot just wide. Then an Empoli GK blunder gives Venezia the equaliser, and the away team goes up 2-1 with 5 minutes to go...but Empoli score from the restart, with Libby heavily involved with a gutsy, if scrappy, assist.
This draw keeps both teams close to the safety zone, but you could see some unhappy faces at the end of the game. 3 points would have been so much better, and were achievable for both teams.
Empoli still has 4/5 games against teams at the lower end of the ladder, but they really need to start winning, otherwise it's goodbye Serie A

Suspended for Fiorentina isn't he?

Pretty sure the yellow he picked up was his 5th of the season.

That was a game they really needed to win though. The only win they've had in their past 20 was when they won on penalties to send Juventus out of the Coppa Italia.

Suspensions don't carry over to the Cup?
Empoli (down 0-3 from 1st leg) midweek have their Coppa Italia 2nd leg tie at Bologna.

Match highlights Venezia game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1-HDRg0MXI

Nuts. Gave it away and went to sleep when they scored the second. The first was kinda sad too, because the keeper made 3-4 ridiculous saves, but then gave up something so easily.

Venezia was lucky not to get a red for DOGSO while the score was 0-0, too. 

coochiee

Suspensions don't carry over to the Cup?
Empoli (down 0-3 from 1st leg) midweek have their Coppa Italia 2nd leg tie at Bologna.

Match highlights Venezia game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1-HDRg0MXI

No, suspensions don't carry over to the cup. Although different countries seem to have differing rules in relation to this. Happy to be corrected.

If he does take the field on Friday though, it will be the 200th first team appearance of his career.
(Wellington - 60, St Truiden - 51, Empoli - 88* so far)

Down 0-3 from leg 1 at home, Empoli travel to Bologna for their Coppa Italia semi final with a mountain to climb.

Do they even basically give up on this Cup game, play a rotated lineup, with a focus more on their Serie A game at Fiorentina this weekend?

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2025/04/24/italy/coppa-italia/bologna-fc-1909/empoli-fc/4405385/

Libby started as Empoli lose 2-1 to Bologna (5-1 on aggregate).

Even if Empoli are relegated, they and Libby have done a fantastic job making it all the way to the CI semi-finals, by no means an easy achievement, especially when you're already having a tough season in the Serie A.

Was the first time as a club Empoli had ever made it into the Coppa Italia semis.
Full game Libby at LWB.

AC Milan won 3-0 at Inter for a 4-1 win on agg, so a Bologna v Milan final.

Empoli (19th) travel to Fiorentina (8th)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2025/04/27/italy/serie-a/acf-fiorentina/empoli-fc/4397093/

Edit - no Libby as yes he is suspended.

Empoli lose 2-1 to stay 19th, and be 2 points behind Lecce (17th) and safety with 4 matches left.

3 of those 4 games are Home matches, and the only Away game is at basically already relegated Monza (20th/last)

Empoli (19th/2nd last) host Lazio (7th)

Tough game and Venezia just snatched a draw vs Torino so they now have a point over Empoli.
Empoli will be playing relegated Monza as well as Verona and Parma for some real 6 pointers.
Empoli have probably the easier of the last 3 games compared with Venezia and Lecce. But it's going to take some real cojones for them to stay up.

Starts behind the lone striker in a tough home match vs Lazio. 
Empoli conceded within the first minute, but it's only been 10 min so far.
Empoli have a golden opportunity to make up some ground as all of their direct opponents in the struggle to avoid relegation lost, apart from Venezia who drew.
But I'm sorry to say, I can't see them get anything out of this game.

Luckily they have a decent end to the league with games against Parma, already relegated Monza and Verona.
The first and last of the series are against two teams sitting 3 and 4 spots above them. I'm seriously worried about their relegation prospects, but who knows, beat Monza and win another one of the 6 pointers and they might just scrape through, depending on how Venezia and Lecce (who have tougher matches remaining) go.

That early goal and now a second yellow =red for their striker. 

Big hill to climb.

0-1 loss. Full game Libby.
Lazio also had a player sent off at 78 mins, so finished 10 v 10.

Empoli are going to need some luck from here to avoid the drop.

They did it only just, last season on a dramatic final day.
https://www.enforcethesport.com/blog/empoli-escape-relegation-after-wild-last-day-in-the-serie-a

Have unreported (as time of writing) information - Sheffield United is 'close' to signing Libby on a multi-year deal, around 20,000 Euros per week, should he sign - source is credible but will not be named, so please don't ask - as nothing is set in stone, stay calm for the time being

karlpetersson

Have unreported (as time of writing) information - Sheffield United is 'close' to signing Libby on a multi-year deal, around 20,000 Euros per week, should he sign - source is credible but will not be named, so please don't ask - as nothing is set in stone, stay calm for the time being

Are Sheffield United bound for promotion play-offs?

djtim3000

karlpetersson

Have unreported (as time of writing) information - Sheffield United is 'close' to signing Libby on a multi-year deal, around 20,000 Euros per week, should he sign - source is credible but will not be named, so please don't ask - as nothing is set in stone, stay calm for the time being

Are Sheffield United bound for promotion play-offs?

 Have finished 3rd place in The Championship - yes