Juventusvs.Empoli

The Bianconeri recently followed their first league loss of the season with another setback in Europe, while their ailing visitors have slumped to the foot of the form table.

Match preview

With playoff places on the line, two former European Cup winners met on Wednesday, as Juventus hosted Benfica in the Champions League's chaotic league-phase finale.

Juve had already confirmed a place in the knockout rounds, and they were just one point shy of the top eight; however, a chastening 2-0 defeat saw them slip down to 20th in the final standings.

After winning their first two fixtures, the Bianconeri managed just a single success from the next six, so a potentially hazardous route through the next phase now awaits.

On the domestic scene, Thiago Motta's men have won only eight of their 22 league matches this season, following last week's 2-1 loss to league leaders Napoli, now coached by Juve legend Antonio Conte.

Despite a debut goal from new signing Randal Kolo Muani - who had completed his loan move from Paris Saint-Germain just a few days earlier - they suffered a defeat that left them fifth in the table.

Motta's side have now let some 17 points slip through their fingers, leaving the ex-Bologna boss with the third-lowest win percentage of any permanent manager in Juve's club history

Indeed, the last time Juventus recorded so few victories at this stage of a Serie A season was back in 1988, so Motta is coming under pressure to turn things around - starting this weekend.

Still the only team unbeaten at home in the Italian top flight this season, they have won 80% of their league games against Empoli in Turin, so nothing less than three points will do.

Sunday's visitors will have other ideas, though, as both of Empoli's last two meetings with Juventus have ended all square, including a goalless stalemate in September's reverse fixture.

In fact, the Tuscan side have lost just one of the clubs' last four league contests, having been beaten in 10 of the previous 11.

Last week, the Azzurri held Bologna to a 1-1 draw at Stadio Castellani, with Lorenzo Colombo's opening strike being cancelled out just before half time.

In isolation, that represents a good result for a team fighting for survival, but Empoli are now winless in seven Serie A matches, averaging just 0.3 points per game during that spell, compared to 1.3 across their first 15 fixtures.

At the Castellani, they have posted just one win and eight points so far, and such dismal home form leaves them dangerously close to the drop zone.

Davide Nicola's men fare much better on the road, though, so they might still fancy their chances of toppling Juventus.

Juventus Serie A form:

W

D

D

D

W

L

Juventus form (all competitions):

D

D

W

D

L

L

Empoli Serie A form:

L

L

D

L

L

D

Team News

Subject of much speculation around a winter switch to the Premier League, Andrea Cambiaso should be back in the Juventus squad after missing their midweek defeat with an ongoing ankle problem.

However, first-choice centre-back Pierre Kalulu has been sidelined by a muscular injury, so either new signing Renato Veiga or midfielder Manuel Locatelli could deputise in the hosts' back four.

After scoring against Napoli, Randal Kolo Muani was ineligible to play Benfica, but he could now become the first man to find the net in his first two league games for Juve since Carlos Tevez in 2013; top scorer Dusan Vlahovic may be dropped to the bench.

Meanwhile, Empoli's chief threat comes from Sebastiano Esposito, who has scored in each of his last four away appearances.

Once again, Ola Solbakken joins long-term absentees Pietro Pellegri, Nicolas Haas, Saba Sazonov and Tyronne Ebuehi on the Azzurri's injury list.

Furthermore, Davide Nicola must do without suspended pair Alberto Grassi and Giuseppe Pezzella, while key defender Mattia Viti is struggling with an adductor issue.

Juventus possible starting lineup:

Perin; Savona, Gatti, Veiga, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Thuram; Yildiz, Koopmeiners, Gonzalez; Kolo Muani

Empoli possible starting lineup:

Vasquez; Goglichidze, Ismajli, De Sciglio; Gyasi, Henderson, Anjorin, Cacace; Fazzini, Esposito; Colombo

We say: Juventus 2-1 Empoli

While Empoli can consider this Sunday lunchtime clash a free hit, Juventus are burdened by the need to reverse their recent downturn.

Written by

Jonathan O'Shea

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