Match Details:
- Date: Sunday, 2 February 2025
- Location: Turin, Italy
- Venue: Juventus Stadium
- Kick-off time: 11:30 BST, 12:30 UTC, 03:30 PST, 06:30 EST.
- TV/Streaming - UK – Streaming Only, OneFootball, US – Paramount+/CBS
Recent Form:
Juventus are struggling for form at the moment, coming off defeats in the league against table topping Napoli and their Champions League against Benfica.
In their favour is their splendid home form, unbeaten in Serie A at the Allianz Stadium his season, with four wins and seven draws.
Juve currently lie fifth in Serie A, three points behind fourth-placed Lazio and 16 points behind Napoli following last weekend's 2-1 defeat.
Empoli are winless in their past seven matches across all competitions, and have slipped to 15th in the Serie A to lie just above the relegation zone. Their last league result was a hard-fought 1-1 draw at home against Bologna.
Head to Head:
Juventus have won 16 times in their past 23 meetings with Empoli, and their last meeting finished 0-0 in Tuscany last September.
Empoli’s last victory over Juventus was recent. Juve were thumped 4-1 at the Stadio Carlo Castellani in May 2023, The Bianconeri also received a 10-point deduction on the same day because of improper transfer dealings.
Team News:
Andrea Cambiaso is expected to return to the squad following an ongoing ankle issue, despite rumours of an imminent move to the English Premier League.
Center-back Pierre Kalulu picked up a muscular injury against Benfica so will be missing. Manuel Locatelli came on for Kalulu during that game, so he could deputise again. Although head coach Thiago Motta could hand new loanee Renato Veiga a first start.
Empoli will be without the injured Ola Solbakken, and the suspended duo of Alberto Grassi and Giuseppe Pezzella.
Defender Mattia Viti is struggling with an adductor muscle injury, joining long-term absentees Pietro Pellegri, Nicolas Haas, Saba Sazonov and Tyronne Ebuehi on the medical table.
Players To Watch:
Juventus' Kolo Muani
Motta wasted no time with Muani upon the striker’s arrival from PSG on loan, slotting him into the starting lineup against Napoli.
The French international scored with an exquisitely volleyed goal in the defeat, taking advantage of an errant deflection by Napoli midfielder André-Frank Anguissa shortly before half-time. Muani became the first French striker to score for Juventus since David Trezeguet in December 2009.
Muani was ineligible for the Champions League group phase with Juve, and could get the nod to start over out-of-form Dusan Vlahovic.
Empoli's Sebastiano Esposito
The forward has excelled on loan from Inter this season, scoring in each of his last four away appearance
According to Tuttosport via FCInterNews, Italy manager Luciano Spalletti is considering including the Empoli starlet in his squad when the Azzurri face Germany in the UEFA Nations League play-offs.
Esposito has hit eight goals from 17 Serie A games this season, with Empoli expected to trigger a buy-out clause in his contract at the end of the season
Expected Line-Ups:
Juventus probable starting lineup:
Di Gregorio; Savona, Gatti, Veiga, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Thuram; Yildiz, Koopmeiners, Gonzalez; Muani
Empoli probable starting line-up:
Vasquez; Goglichidze, Ismajli, De Sciglio; Gyasi, Henderson, Anjorin, Cacace; Fazzini, Esposito; Colombo
Prediction:
Juventus will be desperate to bounce back after losing their Serie A undefeated streak against Napoli and an uninspiring defeat to Benfica in midweek.
Empoli are also struggling, but Esposito is in good form, and could prove to be a threat.
Striker Muani will be itching to get back on the scoresheet to stake his claim in the permanent starting line-up over Vlahovic.
Juventus should bag maximum points at home, without dominating overall.
Old Juve predicts a 2-1 Juventus win.