Juventus must win at the Castellani to stay top of Serie A and reunite Gonzalo Higuain with Paulo Dybala against reshuffled Empoli.
It kicks off at 11.30 UK time (10.30 GMT), follow the build-up and action from all eight of today’s Serie A games on our LIVEBLOG.
Juventus must win at the Castellani to stay top of Serie A and reunite Gonzalo Higuain with Paulo Dybala against reshuffled Empoli.
It kicks off at 11.30 UK time (10.30 GMT), follow the build-up and action from all eight of today’s Serie A games on our LIVEBLOG.
The Bianconeri have seemingly recovered from the hiccups of a 0-0 Champions League draw with Sevilla and 2-1 defeat to Inter, not to mention last weekend’s dismal performance at Palermo, by crushing Dinamo Zagreb 4-0 on Tuesday.
Max Allegri continues to deal with the injury crisis that has ruled out Medhi Benatia, Daniele Rugani, Kwadwo Asamoah and Claudio Marchisio.
Hernanes again takes the midfield playmaker role, freeing Miralem Pjanic, while Dybala and Higuain are the front two.
Alex Sandro and Juan Cuadrado get rare starts, but there’s no rest for Sami Khedira.
Empoli have struggled badly this season, managing just one victory over Crotone, and go into this match without Andrea Costa, Vincent Laurini or Federico Barba.
Jose Mauri was also carrying a knock, but is able to play anyway.
The big surprise is that Riccardo Saponara is replaced by Rade Krunic, who starts behind Manuel Pucciarelli and veteran Massimo Maccarone.
From the latest reports, it seems as if Saponara is not injured and this was a tactical choice.
The last time Empoli beat Juve in the league was in April 1999, followed by two draws and 10 defeats, home and away.
Empoli: Skorupski; Zambelli, Cosic, Bellusci, Pasqual; Tello, Mauri, Croce; Krunic; Pucciarelli, Maccarone
Empoli bench: Pugliesi, Pelagotti, Dimarco, Veseli, Diousse, Saponara, Maiello, Pereira, Buchel, Mchedlidze, Gilardino, Marilungo
Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Cuadrado, Khedira, Hernanes, Pjanic, Alex Sandro; Higuain, Dybala
Juventus bench: Neto, Audero, Lichtsteiner, Dani Alves, Evra, Lemina, Sturaro, Pjaca, Mandzukic