Juventusvs.Empoli

The 15-time winners, who strolled through the last round, must eliminate their Tuscan counterparts to meet Bologna in the semi-finals.

Match preview

Continuing their largely disappointing campaign, Juventus recently followed victory in the Derby d'Italia by slumping out of the Champions League to PSV Eindhoven, before returning to winning ways last weekend.

Back in from the cold, Dusan Vlahovic scored 12 minutes into his first Serie A start of 2025 to secure three precious points in Cagliari, as Juve tightened their grip on fourth place in the standings.

While they are therefore on track to book a Champions League spot for next season, the Bianconeri's final chance of collecting some silverware rests on the cup.

In December, they returned to Coppa Italia action for the first time since edging out Atalanta BC in last year's final, with Cagliari again providing their opponents - this time on home turf.

Entering at the last-16 stage due to European commitments, Vlahovic scored the opener as Juve began their defence of the trophy with an emphatic 4-0 win.

While results have been mixed since then, Thiago Motta has seen his team win four games out of five to start February; so, having prevailed in 80% of their league games against Empoli in Turin, there is no doubt that Juventus will expect to progress.

Empoli's most recent defeat to the Bianconeri was a 4-1 reverse earlier this month, when Randal Kolo Muani helped himself to a brace: the Azzurri actually led through ex-Juve defender Mattia De Sciglio, but then conceded four times in the final half-hour.

Nonetheless, they have lost just two of the clubs' last five league contests, having been beaten in 10 of the previous 11.

Defying some truly dismal form since mid-December, Empoli are still in the mix for a first-ever Coppa Italia triumph - albeit, they are the clear outsiders.

Having beaten Catanzaro in round one, then conquered Juve's city rivals Torino with a 90th-minute winner, Roberto D'Aversa's side defeated Tuscan rivals Fiorentina in the Derby dell'Arno to reach the last eight.

Following a 2-2 draw in Florence - earned by Sebastiano Esposito's late leveller - they ultimately progressed on penalties, setting up a tough quarter-final tie.

Amid an abject run of results in Serie A - six losses from their last seven matches - Empoli are perhaps more concerned with securing top-flight survival. Thrashed 5-0 by Atalanta BC last week, they are now two points adrift of safety.

Juventus Coppa Italia form:

W

Juventus form (all competitions):

W

W

W

W

L

W

Empoli Coppa Italia form:

W

W

W

Empoli form (all competitions):

L

D

L

L

L

L

Team News

Juventus are burdened by a depleted defensive department, as full-back Nicolo Savona and Chelsea loanee Renato Veiga recently joined several others on the sidelines.

Already missing Bremer and Juan Cabal - both of whom are out for the rest of the season - and Pierre Kalulu, Juve coach Thiago Motta also had to replace utility man Andrea Cambiaso in Cagliari, so he might need to improvise.

Just back from another layoff, Douglas Luiz was forced off by a flexor injury, so the hosts will have one less option in midfield, too.

As Dusan Vlahovic found the net on a rare start, it remains to be seen whether he can hold off competition from Motta's first-choice striker Randal Kolo Muani, who has made a major impact since joining on loan from Paris Saint-Germain.

Meanwhile, Empoli have their own super-sized injury list, featuring five long-term absentees. Furthermore, defensive duo Mattia Viti and Ardian Ismajli may also miss out, while Tino Anjorin and Jacopo Fazzini have just resumed full training.

In better news for Roberto D'Aversa, young centre-back Luca Marianucci returns from a two-match suspension.

Marco Silvestri has been preferred to Devis Vasquez in goal for the past fortnight, but after conceding five times against Atalanta, Silvestri might find those roles are reversed in Turin.

Juventus possible starting lineup:

Perin; Weah, Gatti, Kelly, Rouhi; Thuram, Koopmeiners; Gonzalez, McKennie, Mbangula; Kolo Muani

Empoli possible starting lineup:

Vasquez; De Sciglio, Goglichidze, Cacace; Gyasi, Henderson, Grassi, Maleh, Pezzella; Esposito, Colombo

We say: Juventus 2-0 Empoli

Both clubs have other priorities - finishing in the top four or avoiding relegation - so it may be a somewhat disjointed game between two injury-hit sides.

Written by

Jonathan O'Shea

Previews by email