Juve held to goalless draw in Empoli | OneFootball

It was a second goalless draw on the bounce for Juve, who return from Empoli with a point and yet another clean sheet (and this is very positive even with changes in goal, tonight it was Mattia Perin between the sticks, and in defence, tonight Pierre Kalulu slotted alongside Gleison Bremer and Federico Gatti), but as was the case against Roma, the Bianconeri struggled to find a route to goal.

AN EVEN FIRST HALF

In the first half, Juventus tried to dominate possession (60%), but struggled to find space against a well-organised Empoli defence. Dusan Vlahovic tried to pose a threat from the outset, and in the fourth minute he saw his shot blocked by Ardian Ismajli, and in the seventh minute the Serbian's left-footed strike deflected behind for a corner. Kenan Yildiz also tried to find a way through the defence, playing Vlahovic in behind in the 13th minute, but Saba Goglichidze read the striker’s run well.

GATTI COMES CLOSE

After a fine intervention by Perin, who denied Youssef Maleh's snapshot from the edge of the penalty area in the 18th minute, Juve started to get on top again, creating their most dangerous chance in the 35th minute, when Gatti’s header from a corner taken by Teun Koopmeiners, forced Empoli goalkeeper Devis Vasquez into a good save. Towards the end of the first half Empoli started to grow in confidence and started to threaten through Lorenzo Colombo and Maleh, but the Bianconeri defence and Perin contained the Tuscan attacks effectively.

THE SECOND HALF

The pattern of the game didn't change in the second half: Vlahovic tried to break the deadlock soon after the restart with a header from a corner kick, but he was unable find the target. Then the Bianconeri started to cause problems and forced Vasquez into action twice in the space of two minutes; first through Vlahovic who was played in on goal by Nico Gonzalez then through Koopmeiners on the rebound. Juve controlled the possession throughout the second half, with Empoli continuing to put in a solid defensive performance whilst attempting to pose a threat on the counter-attack.

It was during the final stages of the halves that Empoli looked dangerous: first through Alberto Grassi who forced Perin into action in the 27th minute, and especially in added time at the end of the second half when Emmanuel Gyasi looked to be in one-on-one with Perin, only to be denied by a fine intervention by Gatti.

That saw the game come to an end: from tomorrow thoughts now turn to the eagerly awaited return to the Champions League.

EMPOLI 0-0 JUVENTUS

Stadio Carlo Castellani, Saturday, 14 September, 2024 at 18:00 (CEST)

Empoli: Vasquez, Goglichidze, Ismajli, Viti, Gyasi, Henderson (90’ Haas), Grassi (77’ Anjorin), Pezzella, Esposito (77’ Ekong), Maleh, Colombo (63’ Pellegri) Unused Substitutes: Sambia, Seghetti, Cacace, Sazonov, De Sciglio, Marianucci, Konatem Brancolini Coach: Salvatore Sullo

Juventus: Perin, Kalulu, Gatti, Bremer, Cambiaso, Locatelli (67’ Thuram), Douglas Luiz (67’ Fagioli) , Gonzalez (67’ Weah), Koopmeiners, Yildiz (67’ Mbangula), Vlahovic Unused Substitutes: Danilo, McKennie, Adzic, Pinsoglio, Di Gregorio, Cabal, Savona, Rouhi Coach: Thiago Motta

Referee: Marco Di Bello Assistants: Luigi Rossi, Mattia Scarpa Fourth Official: Paride Tremolada

Bookings: 62’ Bremer (J), 72’ Thuram (J), 74’ Pellegri (E)

NEXT MATCH: Juventus-PSV

UEFA Champions League

Tuesday, 17 September, 2024 at 18:45 (CEST)

Allianz Stadium