Juventus risk seeing their entire season implode after Europa League elimination and today’s Serie A points penalty hearing, so a visit to Empoli just adds to the tension.
It kicks off at the Stadio Castellani at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).
These have been very stressful days for the Bianconeri, who crashed out of the Europa League semi-final in extra time against Sevilla on Thursday, while today the FIGC Federal Court of Appeal met to give a verdict on their Serie A points penalty.
It was expected in the afternoon, but now reports suggest it won’t be made public until after the match.
Max Allegri also had tension with goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, suggesting the Poland international’s criticism of negative tactics was just because he ‘doesn’t speak fluent Italian.’
Nicolò Fagioli had surgery for a fractured clavicle and is out for the rest of the season along with Paul Pogba, Mattia De Sciglio and Leonardo Bonucci, while Matias Soule is at the Under-20 World Cup.
Adrien Rabiot and Dusan Vlahovic start despite carrying knocks, while Danilo and Juan Cuadrado are suspended.
Empoli have guaranteed their Serie A safety and are missing Tommaso Baldanzi at the Under-20 World Cup, where he helped Italy beat Brazil 3-2 last night.
Razvan Marin, Sebastian Walukiewicz and Koni De Winter are injured.
Empoli: Vicario; Ebuehi, Ismajli, Luperto, Parisi; Grassi, Bandinelli; Akpa Akpro, Fazzini, Cambiaghi; Caputo
Juventus: Szczesny; Gatti, Bremer, Alex Sandro; Barbieri, Locatelli, Rabiot, Miretti, Kostic; Vlahovic, Milik
Player statistic
| Francesco Caputo |  |
18' | ||
| Sebastiano Luperto |  |
21' |
| Francesco Caputo (Assist: Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro) |
|
48' | ||
| Fabiano Parisi |  |
55' | ||
| 56' | |
Adrien Rabiot | ||
| Filippo Bandinelli | |
66' | ||
| 76' | |
Leandro Paredes | ||
| 85' | |
Federico Chiesa (Assist: Adrien Rabiot) | ||
| Roberto Piccoli (Assist: Nicolas Haas) |
|
90+3' |
Match statistic
