Juventus will try to move up to seventh in the standings when they host Empoli in Serie A on Friday night. If the visitors pull off a surprise victory, they will move up one spot to ninth.
Maximiliano Allegri and Juventus have had a very difficult start to the season, but last weekend’s 1-0 victory away to Torino in the Turin derby has subdued some of the criticism directed at the team.
The Old Lady moved within six points of the Champions League qualifying spots after Dusan Vlahovic scored the game’s winning goal in the 74th minute for his sixth league goal of the year.
Their European experiences have not exactly gone as planned, either; last week’s unexpected 3-1 loss to Maccabi Haifa in Israel put the 1996 Champions League champions on the verge of elimination from the tournament.
Allegri cannot afford for his team to make any unnecessary mistakes with crucial matches against Benfica, Paris Saint-Germain, and Inter Milan on the horizon. His team has two winnable league games remaining against Empoli and Lecce.
As a result, he will be under a lot of pressure before Friday night’s game at Juventus Stadium, especially since a victory would put them above their fiercest rivals Inter Milan in the standings.
Even though Empoli easily made it through their first season back in Serie A the previous year, they have started the current campaign in better shape than many would have anticipated.
Prior to their trip to Turin on Friday, Paolo Zanetti’s team was six points above the relegation zone after their 1-0 victory over potential relegation rivals Monza last weekend.
Nicolas Haas scored the game’s first goal in just the 11th minute, allowing Empoli to defend strongly and withstand a lot of pressure from the visitors. Despite having 65% of the game’s possession, the visitors generated 16 shots and nine corners but were unable to break down their opponents.
On Friday against Juventus, Zanetti will almost certainly implement a similar gameplan from the outset, with a win representing an excellent result for his team.
Due to injuries, it is anticipated that Juventus will be without Mattia De Sciglio, Marley Ake, Chiesa, Di Maria, and Kaio Jorge on Friday.
Paul Pogba has resumed training after suffering a knee injury that prevented the France midfielder from making his second club debut since returning from Manchester United in the summer, but at this early stage of his recovery, he is unlikely to start the game.
Due to a thigh strain suffered against Torino, Bremer might be sidelined. Club captain Leonardo Bonucci would likely take Bremer’s place at the centre of Allegri’s new back three formation, with Filip Kostic continuing in his preferred left wing-back position.
Ardian Ismajli, Lorenzo Tonelli, Alberto Grassi, and Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro may be sidelined for Empoli due to injury.
Zanetti is unlikely to make any adjustments to the starting lineup that defeated Monzo the last time they met, but he might be persuaded to add another defender to the lineup to strengthen the team’s defence.
Juventus possible starting lineup:
Szczesny; Danilo, Boucci, Sandro; Cuadrado, McKennie, Locatelli, Rabiot, Kostic; Dusan Vlahovic, Kean
Empoli possible starting lineup:
Vicario; Stojanovic, De Winter, Luperto, Parisi; Haas, Grassi, Henderson; Pjaca; Satriano, Sam Lammers
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