Serie A Gameweek 36 draws to a close on Monday as Empoli and Juventus go head-to-head at the Stadio Carlo Castellani. While the outcome of this game shouldn’t change much for either side in the final standings, the visitors have more to lose than the hosts.
Empoli fought back from a 1-0 halftime deficit to hold Sampdoria to a 1-1 draw in Genoa last time out, mathematically securing Serie A survival ahead of the kick-off. Paolo Zanetti’s men come into this round in a buoyant mood after stitching together a three-game unbeaten league run (W2, D1). But even if they stay on this trajectory, Gli Azzurri won’t avoid another bottom-half finish.
However, they can still make life complicated for Juventus if only they can avenge an embarrassing 4-0 defeat in the reverse fixture in Turin. Unlike Massimiliano Allegri’s team, Empoli had no midweek commitments, so fresh legs, combined with their recent upturn in form, could work in their favor on Monday. Indeed, fatigue is the least of the visitors’ problems.
Allegri’s defensive-minded football finally backfired on his side on Thursday as Juventus squandered a 1-0 deficit to lose 2-1 at Sevilla in the return leg of their Europa League semi-final tie. Erik Lamela’s extra-time header helped Los Rojiblancos set up a final date against Roma, condemning the Bianconeri to a second consecutive trophyless season.
By the looks of things, Allegri won’t be at the helm of Juventus beyond the summer. But guiding the Turin heavyweights to another top-four finish could be a perfect parting gift, with the visitors heading into proceedings five points clear of fifth-placed Milan, who thumped Sampdoria 5-1 on Saturday night.
Juventus only need two points in the last three Serie A matches to ensure a spot in next season’s Champions League, meaning a win in Tuscany would get the job done with two games to spare.
Match Preview
Empoli
Playing on Monday suits Empoli to perfection. They have racked up four wins and a draw in their last five Serie A matches on this day, highlighting the potential for another upset. Yet, the recent H2H stakes spell trouble for Zanetti’s side, as they’ve only managed one victory in their last 19 top-flight meetings with Juventus (D2, L16), courtesy of a 1-0 win in last season’s encounter in Turin.
Empoli went down 3-2 in this corresponding fixture in 2021/22, but their recent home form suggests they could settle the score on Monday. Gli Azzurri have emerged victorious in three of their last four league outings at Carlo Castellani (L1), with a 3-0 demolition to Inter the only exception. A fast start could be paramount, considering they’ve suffered six defeats in seven home league games after conceding first this term (D1).
Player to Watch: Francesco Caputo
Caputo’s experience has been crucial to Empoli’s recent resurgence, with the veteran striker netting a winner in two of his team’s last three league triumphs.
Juventus
Midweek heartbreak in the Europa League ended Juventus’ five-game unbeaten run in all competitions (W3, D2). But more importantly, it dropped the curtain on the club’s last-ditch effort to avoid another disappointing season without a trophy. That may have left some scars on the Bianconeri that they will be keen to heal in Tuscany.
Allegri has seemingly had Empoli’s number, as witnessed by his flawless five-game managerial record at Carlo Castellani as Juventus boss in Serie A (W5). The record-time Italian champions have won three consecutive league matches in the run-up to this encounter, yet the last time they won four in a row dates back to February 2022.
Player to Watch: Adrien Rabiot
Rabiot has often excelled against Empoli, tallying two goals and one assists in three Serie A appearances against them. It makes Gli Azzurri the Frenchman’s favorite opposition, explaining why he deserves to be in this section.
Team News
Juventus loanee Koni De Winter will miss out on the upcoming clash against his parent club due to a knee injury. Empoli’s hottest prospect Tommaso Baldanzi won’t appear after being included in Italy’s youth squad for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina.
On the other hand, Juventus will take this trip severely crippled by injuries and suspensions. Leonardo Bonucci, Mattia De Sciglio, Nicolo Fagioli, Kaio Jorge, and Paul Pogba are in the treatment room, while Juan Cuadrado and Danilo have accumulated yellow cards.
Empoli vs Juventus Potential Lineups
Empoli (4-3-2-1): Guglielmo Vicario; Tyronne Ebuehi, Ardian Ismajli, Sebastiano Luperto, Fabiano Parisi; Alberto Grassi, Filippo Bandinelli; Marko Pjaca, Liam Henderson, Cambiaghi; Francesco Caputo.
Juventus (3-5-1-1): Wojciech Szczesny; Federico Gatti, Gleison Bremer, Alex Sandro; Tommaso Barbieri, Fabio Miretti, Manuel Locatelli, Adrien Rabiot, Filip Kostic; Angel Di Maria; Dusan Vlahovic.
Empoli vs Juventus Prediction
In other circumstances, we’d back Juventus to post another trademark, one-goal margin win in Tuscany. But with the visitors’ spirits at an all-time low, we think Empoli could snatch a point.
Prediction: Draw
 |
Follow us on Google News for more updates on Serie A and Italian football |