Serie A | Preview: Empoli vs Juventus
FIy999 2024/09/14 06:17
Two unbeaten teams meet at Stadio Castellani on Saturday evening, as Empoli play host to Serie A giants Juventus.
preview
Despite breaking up for international football with a grim goalless draw against Roma, in which only two shots on target were recorded, Juventus have begun the Thiago Motta era with both a new look and a more proactive approach.
The Bianconeri made a sparkling start to the new season, scoring six times without reply to go top of the very early Serie A standings after two games, as several summer signings and youth products were introduced into Motta's starting XI.
Now level with Udinese and two old foes - Inter Milan and Torino - on seven points, Motta's men will try to get back to winning ways this weekend, ahead of a much-anticipated return to the Champions League.
Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven are due in Turin next week, but first Juve aim to keep clean sheets in their first four Serie A matches for just a fifth time in their illustrious history.
Not only have they faced the fewest shots on target (two) throughout Europe's top five leagues this term, but the Bianconeri also boast the best shot-conversion rate in Italy's top flight (21%), plus the highest percentage of successful passes (90%).
Such efficiency should see Juve approach Saturday's game full of confidence, as they seek a seventh win in eight trips to Stadio Castellani.
Although Empoli have a woeful home record against Juventus, they did stun them with a 4-1 win in Tuscany less than two years ago, before holding out for a 1-1 draw in the teams' most recent encounter in January.
More pertinently, the Azzurri are unbeaten in 2024-25 so far, having followed a Coppa Italia success against Catanzaro with two draws and one eye-catching victory in Serie A.
Despite missing the presence of new boss Roberto D'Aversa on the touchline - due to his ban for a headbutting incident that ended his time at Lecce - a side that only just scrambled to safety last term have started well.
Undefeated in their first three top-flight fixtures for only the second time ever, Empoli drew with Monza and Bologna either side of a surprise 2-1 away win over Roma.
Stretching back to their great escape at the end of last season, they are unbeaten through six home games in all competitions - winning four times in the process - so Juventus may be made to scrap for three points on Saturday.
Player injuries:
Empoli
2 (right back) De Sciglio
24 (right back) Ebouehi
1 (Goalkeeper) Perissan
27 (Central Midfielder) Zukoski
16 (Central Midfielder) Luca Berardinelli
10 (Central Midfielder) Fazzini
Juventus
(Central Midfielder) Pogba
14 (Forward) Arkadiusz Milik
7 (Forward) Francisco Conceicao
possible starting lineup:
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Empoli
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Juventus
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