Article by Cosmin Nistor – Published Saturday, January 10, 2026 10:45 p.m. / Updated Saturday, January 10, 2026 10:51 p.m.
Rareș Ilie had a special evening in Italy. The former Rapid player scored the winning goal for Empoli, who prevailed 1-0 on Cesena's pitch, in the 19th round of Serie B.
The Romanian international scored in the 47th minute, a success that proved decisive for the guests' success. The goal is Rareș Ilie's first in the championship and comes after 148 days since his last success.
Goal after 148 days for Rareș Ilie
The previous goal had been scored on 15 August 2025, in the Coppa Italia, in the penalty shoot-out victory over Reggiana. Until these two successes, Ilie's last official goal was on February 17, 2024, 693 days ago, when he scored for Lausanne Sport, the team he was loaned to, in a 3-1 win against Yverdon Sport.
Rareș Ilie arrived at Empoli on loan, in the summer of this year, from OGC Nice. The Romanian is looking to relaunch his career after several experiences without continuity in recent years.
Leaving Romania in 2022, after Rapid sold him to Nice for 4 million euros, Ilie failed to establish himself in France. A loan at Maccabi Tel Aviv followed, then one at Lausanne Sport, and later he tried to assert himself in Italy, at Catanzaro, without success. Empoli, however, seems like a real last chance for revival.
Empoli, in the fight for promotion
After the victory in Cesena, Empoli occupies the 8th place, with 27 points after 19 stages, the last position that leads to the play-off for promotion to Serie A. The leader of the championship is Frosinone, with 41 points.
Rareș Ilie left Romania in 2022, when Rapid sold him for 4 million euros to Nice. He did not impose himself in France, and in February 2023 he went on loan to Maccabi Tel Aviv. In the summer of that year he was loaned to Lausanne Sport, and after a year he returned to France, to try his luck again in Italy, to Catanzaro, failing to stay there either, and then to take the step to Empoli.
Priced at 1.8 million euros, Rareș Ilie has 15 matches and 3 goals for the youth national team. He has not yet made his senior team debut.
Serie B standings
