Midfielder Afriyie Acquah produced a strong performance for Empoli on Monday night but the Blues lost to AS Roma 2-1 in the serie A.
Acquah was solid in midfield but picked up a yellow card in the 33rd minute and had to be replaced by Matteo Brighi in the 64th minute.
Italian forward Stephan El Shaarawy's curling 25-yard strike put Roma ahead, but Juan Jesus' headed own goal quickly made it 1-1.
However, Patrik Schick's powerful header restored the hosts' lead.
Roma played the final 10 minutes with 10 men as midfielder Alessandro Florenzi was sent off for two bookable offences.
There was a late scare for Ranieri as Empoli's Rade Krunic put the ball in the net, but the goal was ruled out after a video assistant referee review adjudged there had been a handball.
In an entertaining match at Stadio Olimpico, Empoli's Manuel Pasqual hit the crossbar with a free-kick with Roma's Nicolo Zaniolo and Justin Kluivert both shooting narrowly wide.