Empoli vs Juventus preview: How to watch on TV, live stream, team news & prediction
An injury-ridden Juventus return to Serie A action on Saturday evening as they take on an Empoli side without a win in 2022.
The Bianconeri have drawn their last three in all competitions but favourable results on Matchday 26 leaves them in pole position to secure a top-four spot. And while their second-half performance was dire in Spain on Tuesday, many will regard them as favourites to qualify into the quarter-finals of the Champions League at Villarreal’s expense after the first leg ended 1-1.
However, Massimiliano Allegri’s ideals were once again called into question, just as they were on Matchday 2 as Empoli stunned the Bianconeri in a 1-0 victory. That defeat set the stage for a historically poor start to the Serie A campaign for the Old Lady.
Nevertheless, Juve haven’t tasted defeat in the league since November and, on Saturday, they’ll be taking on an Empoli side that are woefully out of sorts. The newly-promoted side haven’t won in their last nine Serie A outings and are in danger of slipping into the relegation dogfight.
For now, though, the gap is a sizable nine points between themselves and 18th-placed Cagliari.
Empoli vs Juventus Serie A preview
Here’s our preview of Saturday’s Serie A clash between Empoli and Juventus.
How to Watch Empoli vs Juventus
When is kick-off? Saturday 26 February
What time is kick-off? 17:00 (BST)
Where is it played? Carlo Castellani Stadium
TV channel/live stream? BT Sport 2 (UK), pA
Empoli Team News
Aurelio Andreazzoli’s diamond midfield spooked Juventus on Matchday 2 and the Empoli boss has retained his 4-diamond-2 system throughout the season. That isn’t expected to change this weekend despite his side’s slump.
The hosts don’t have too many injury concerns. Although, they could be without Valerio Verre, who picked up an injury in the Sampdoria defeat, and Riccardo Marchizza for Juventus’ visit.
Reported Bianconeri target Fabiano Parisi could start at left-back for the home side, so he’ll be one for Juventino to keep an eye on.
Juventus Team News
Straight to training for the Bianconeri following their re-entry from Spain, as Alex Sandro and @WMckennie underwent examinations at J|Medical 🏥
— JuventusFC 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@juventusfcen) February 23, 2022
Well, where do we start?
Juve could be without eight first-teamers for the weekend’s clash with three more players succumbing to injuries in the week. Both Weston McKennie and Kaio Jorge are set to be sidelined for the long haul with respective foot and knee injuries, while Alex Sandro has been ruled out of Saturday’s game with a calf injury.
Daniele Rugani and Paulo Dybala remain out, while Federico Bernardeschi and Giorgio Chiellini are yet to make their returns. Federico Chiesa is, of course, a long-term absentee.
Empoli vs Juventus Predicted Lineups
Empoli: Vicario; Stojanovic, Romagnoli, Viti, Parisi; Henderson, Asllani, Zurkowski; Bajrami; Cutrone, Pinamonti.
Juventus: Szczesny; Danilo Bonucci, De Ligt, Pellegrini; Arthur, Zakaria, Locatelli; Cuadrado, Vlahovic, Morata.
Empoli’s Recent Form
Sampdoria 2-0 Empoli (19/02) – Serie A
Empoli 1-1 Cagliari (13/02) – Serie A
Bologna 0-0 Empoli (06/02) – Serie A
Empoli 2-4 AS Roma (23/01) – Serie A
Inter Milan 3-2 Empoli (19/01) – Coppa Italia
Juventus’ Recent Form
Villarreal 1-1 Juventus (22/02) – Champions League
Juventus 1-1 Torino (18/02) – Serie A
Atalanta 1-1 Juventus (13/02) – Serie A
Juventus 2-1 Sassuolo (10/02) – Coppa Italia
Juventus 2-0 Hellas Verona (06/02) – Serie A
Prediction
Empoli are in a prolonged rut right now but they’ll be smelling blood when a depleted Juventus come to visit on Saturday. The Bianconeri are hamstrung by injuries and the weekend’s clash will be a grind, for sure.
With no Paulo Dybala, Juve desperately lack invention. Although, Allegri could deploy a midfield that many Juventino are clamouring for with Arthur Melo and Denis Zakaria potentially replacing Weston McKennie and Adrien Rabiot in the starting XI.
Despite their lengthy injury list, I think Juve will snatch all three points here. Empoli’s defence is one of the worst in the division and Dusan Vlahovic proved on Tuesday that he only needs an inch to add his name to the scoresheet.
At the other end of the pitch, Empoli’s directness and two front men could pose Juve some issues. But, I don’t think they’ll have enough to capitalise on the visitors’ absences.
Prediction: Empoli 1-2 Juve