Empoli and Juventus locked horns at the Carlo Castellani Stadium in the fourth round of Serie A. Both clubs arrived unbeaten, and at times seemed more adamant about keeping this record intact rather than going full throttle in search of a win. So at the end of the day, the Bianconeri had to settle for their second goalless draw in a row, with none of their new boys delivering the goods. So here are our player ratings for Juventus who couldn’t find a breakthrough against a stubborn Empoli side that well and truly earned this valuable draw.
Juventus (4-2-3-1)
Mattia Perin – 6.5
The Italian did well to earn a clean sheet on his seasonal debut. Didn’t have to pull off jaw-dropping saves, but did what was needed whenever called upon.
Pierre Kalulu – 6.5
A solid full debut from the Milan loanee who made two vital interceptions at the back. However, his attacking contribution was little to non-existent.
Federico Gatti – 7
The Juventus captain was superb at the back, and should have got Pietro Pellegri sent off for a foolish headbutt. Produced a stellar of crucial interventions to prevent an Empoli upset, including a last-minute block.
Gleison Bremer – 6
It wasn’t exactly a clinique masterclass as we’ve been accustomed to from the Brazilian, as he struggled with Sebastiano Esposito’s pace at times. But still a decent display overall.
Andrea Cambiaso – 6.5
The Italian left-back drove the ball forward with his ferocious runs while cutting inside. He also picked up Koopmeiners with a clever cross that almost resulted in a goal.
Manuel Locatelli – 5.5
A disappointing showing from the former Sassuolo man who added quantity to the middle of the park, but at times lacked the required quality in the buildup.
Douglas Luiz – 5
The former Aston Villa man still can’t find his footing in Turin, and one can see why Thiago Motta has been hesitant to start him. His touch remains too heavy.
Nico Gonzalez – 5.5
The Argentine proved himself to be a threat on the right wing and provided Vlahovic with a delicious ball. But Juventus fans will be expecting much more than this timid display.
Teun Koopmeiners – 5.5
The Netherlands international almost scored with a deft flick on goal, but his other attempts were lackluster. He’ll be hoping to become much more influential before doubts begin to creep in.
Kenan Yildiz – 5.5
The Turkiye international showed flashes of brilliance early on and managed to free up Vlahovic on a dangerous run. But found it hard to skip past his markers and cause havoc on the left flank.
Dusan Vlahovic – 5
The Serbian found himself isolated, and couldn’t pounce on the few opportunities that came his way. In other words, it wasn’t too dissimilar to the Max Allegri era.
Substitutes
Nicolò Fagioli – 5.5
The Italian proved to be an instant upgrade on Luiz, at least until he gave away the ball that almost gifted Empoli a last-gasp winner.
Khephren Thuram – 5
A forgettable outing from the Frenchman who earned a swift yellow card and never truly recovered.
Samuel Mbangula – 4.5
The young Belgian wasted a few promising chances for Juventus with his poor touches.
Timothy Weah – 5
The USMNT star had no impact whatsoever on the match.
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