As Serie A action resumes this weekend, Juventus will be looking to halt their recent slide when they host Empoli at the Allianz Stadium on Sunday. The Bianconeri, under increasing pressure after a string of disappointing results, face an Empoli side battling to avoid relegation but with a history of causing upsets in Turin.
Thiago Motta’s tenure at Juventus has hit a rough patch, with the team winless in their last three matches across all competitions. A 2-1 defeat to league leaders Napoli last week was followed by a 2-0 loss to Benfica in the Champions League, dropping Juventus to 20th in the final standings of the competition’s league phase.
The Old Lady’s domestic form has been equally concerning. With only eight victories in 22 Serie A matches, Juventus find themselves in fifth place, a far cry from their usual title-challenging position. Motta now bears the unwanted distinction of having the third-lowest win percentage of any permanent manager in Juventus’ illustrious history.
Despite these setbacks, Juventus remain the only unbeaten team at home in Serie A this season, a record they’ll be keen to maintain against Empoli.
Empoli arrive in Turin in the midst of their own crisis, winless in their last seven Serie A matches. The Azzurri’s recent 1-1 draw with Bologna offered a glimmer of hope, but their overall form – particularly at home – has left them perilously close to the relegation zone.
Interestingly, Empoli have fared better on their travels this season, which could provide some optimism for their visit to the Allianz Stadium. The visitors can also draw confidence from their recent record against Juventus, having lost just one of their last four league encounters with the Bianconeri.
The match could hinge on Juventus’ ability to maintain their strong home record against Empoli’s improved away performances. The visitors have shown they can grind out results on the road, but Juventus’ need for points and the quality of their squad should give them the edge.
Team News
Juventus may welcome back Andrea Cambiaso, who has been the subject of transfer speculation, after an ankle issue. However, they’ll be without centre-back Pierre Kalulu due to injury, potentially forcing Motta to reshuffle his defensive line.
New signing Randal Kolo Muani, fresh from scoring on his debut against Napoli, could lead the line for Juventus. The French striker has the opportunity to become the first player since Carlos Tevez in 2013 to score in his first two league games for the club.
Empoli will look to Sebastiano Esposito to continue his impressive away scoring form, having found the net in each of his last four road games. However, manager Davide Nicola must contend with several absences, including suspended midfielders Alberto Grassi and Giuseppe Pezzella, as well as a host of injured players.
Expected Starting XIs
Juventus: Perin; Savona, Gatti, Veiga, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Thuram; Yildiz, Koopmeiners, Gonzalez; Kolo Muani
Empoli: Vasquez; Goglichidze, Ismajli, De Sciglio; Gyasi, Henderson, Anjorin, Cacace; Fazzini, Esposito; Colombo
Match Prediction
While Empoli have proven to be tough opponents for Juventus in recent meetings, the Bianconeri’s desperation for a win coupled with their home advantage should see them through. Expect a closely fought contest, but Juventus should emerge victorious, potentially by a 2-0 scoreline.
Prediction: Juventus 2-0 Empoli
