Empoli-Juventus is a match of the third day of Serie A and is played Sunday at 8:45 p.m.: lineups, predictions, TV and streaming.
If the fine performance in Udine had rekindled enthusiasm among the Bianconeri fans, the one offered with Bologna a week ago at the Stadium (1-1) made everyone’s feet back on the ground a bit. Yes, because against Thiago Motta’s Rossoblù the Juventus of last year peeped out again, far too passive and apathetic, often at the mercy of the opponents.
The Felsinei, at the points, would even have deserved to take the entire stake, while Massimiliano Allegri’s team avoided the worst only thanks to a goal from Dusan Vlahovic – two goals in two games for the providential Serbian center forward, in the summer close to selling abroad – and a glaring oversight by the referee and Var, who after the Emilian lead failed to notice an obvious foul by Iling-Junior on the Swiss Ndoye in the penalty area. Postponed, for the moment, a Juve that must return as soon as possible to be aggressive and, above all, incisive as against Udinese if the goal is to return to fight as soon as possible for the Scudetto and close the gap with the others. From the market, meanwhile, no one has arrived except Weah. The new diesse Giuntoli has devoted himself exclusively to disposals so that the club can balance the books again.
In the meantime, Juve will try to start again from Empoli, avenging that very heavy 4-1 that last May Danilo and his teammates remedied on the same inauspicious day when the 10-point penalty was confirmed that made the Signora slip to seventh place. It was a shuddering start for Paolo Zanetti’s Azzurri, beaten in two potential direct clashes for salvation by Verona and Monza. And in both games Empoli ran out of goals.
Empoli-Juventus: latest lineup news
Zanetti will switch to a slightly more buttoned-down form such as 4-3-1-2 by inserting an extra midfielder, Grassi, alongside Marin and Haas. Little gem Baldanzi will be confirmed in the three-quarter behind Gyasi and Caputo. Unavailable are Maldini and goalkeeper Caprile, replaced again by Perisan. On the left, Pezzella may tick off Cacace.
Chancellors
In Juventus, the only doubt concerns the defense, where Allegri will have to choose one between Alex Sandro and Gatti to complete the trio also formed by Danilo and Bremer. In goal, on the other hand, Perin will go again, given the unavailability of Szczesny, who has been working apart again. Finally, on the left, Cambiaso has now overtaken Kostic in the hierarchies.
The prediction
That of Empoli, for better or worse, in recent years has often been a prolific away match for Juventus and in which the Tuscans have not infrequently managed to surprise the higher-ranked Bianconeri: last May’s 4-1 win proves it. Difficult, however, to imagine another underwhelming performance by Allegri’s men, who this time should leave the “Castellani” with the three points in their pockets. The total goals are likely to be more than two.
The probable lineups of Empoli-Juventus
- EMPOLI (4-3-1-2): Berisha; Ebuehi, Ismajli, Luperto, Cacace; Grassi, Marin, Haas; Baldanzi; Gyasi, Caputo.
- JUVENTUS (3-5-2): Perin; Danilo, Bremer, Alex Sandro; Weah, Fagioli, Locatelli, Rabiot, Cambiaso; Chiesa, Vlahovic.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-2
