Just one place separated Empoli and Lecce in the table before kick-off, as both sides met at the Carlo Castellani Stadium looking to put a torrid run of four straight defeats behind them.
Losing just twice in their last 12 meetings against Lecce, the hosts started the brighter of the two sides – even after an hour’s delay due to a fire in the home dressing room - and almost took the lead early on, when Razvan Marin sent a free-kick inches wide of the post.
Despite facing a side that had seen their last two victories come away from home, Tommaso Baldanzi continued Empoli’s mounting pressure with a beautiful volley, only being denied his fifth goal of the season by a fine Wladimiro Falcone save.
And Lecce’s luck was in again shortly before the break, when veteran striker Caputo uncharacteristically blazed an effort over the bar to see the first half end goalless.
The hosts, clearly invigorated by their dominant first half display, came flying out of the blocks and won a penalty through a brilliant Fabiano Parisi run that was unfairly halted by Morten Hjulmand, leaving referee Michael Fabbri no choice but to point to the spot.
Caputo gleefully stepped up to blast the ball down the middle from the spot to score only his third goal of the season.
Lecce had Falcone to thank for keeping them in the game, making a string of brilliant saves, the best of which denied Roberto Piccoli a headed goal that looked destined for the top corner.
The visitors had drawn a blank in their last four matches, and it was easy to see why, as they failed to even register a shot as the game cantered to a finish.
The 1-0 victory opens up a four point gap between 14th placed Empoli and a still-vulnerable Lecce in 17th.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Francesco Caputo (Empoli)
