Livorno return to Serie A!

By Football Italia staff

Livorno are back in Serie A after beating local rivals Empoli 2-1 on aggregate in the promotion play-offs.

The Amaranto return to the top flight for the first time since 2010, joining Sassuolo and Hellas Verona next season.

The first leg of the play-off Final had ended 1-1 in Empoli, but away goals do not count in this system.

Instead, if the score is level on aggregate after 90 minutes, it goes to extra time. If after 120 minutes it’s still all square, then the team that finished higher up the Serie B table goes through. In this case, that was Livorno.

Massimo Maccarone and Emerson’s free kick whistled inches wide of the woodwork, while Giuseppe Gemiti tested the Empoli goalkeeper.

Livorno took the lead on 32 minutes when Paulinho burst between the two centre-backs to get his head on to a Pasquale Schiattarella cross from the right.

Mirko Valdifiori and Riccardo Saponara had weak efforts from distance, while Federico Dionisi almost made it 2-0 when pouncing on a Saponara error.

Empoli went so close to an equaliser in the final minute, but Luca Mazzoni scrambled across to beat away a Maccarone free kick.

Livorno 1-0 Empoli (2-1 on agg)

Scorers: Paulinho 32 (L)

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