Socrates

Juventus give away the first half of Coppa quarterfinal and fall to Empoli on penalties After Juventus’ elimination from the Champions League last week, the Coppa Italia was the most plausible route to silverware for Juventus this season. With their path to the final far easier than any of the other top teams left in the competition, the holders had to be considered favorites in the competition. ............ Were it that someone had told them that before the took the field against Empoli on Wednesday. It took Juve more than half the game to realize that they were among the favorites to defend their title playing against a team that was making only its fourth appearance in the quarterfinals in their history, hadn’t won a match since early December, was in the thick of the relegation fight, and was coming off a humiliating 5-0 drubbing on their home field by Atalanta. They held almost 70 percent of the possession during that half, but did jack squat with it. It took 52 minutes for them to finally put a shot on target, while Empoli burst out in front with a goal from a long shot halfway through the first half. Eventually managing to respond and tie the score with 25 minutes left, the Bianconeri weren’t able to push through a winning goal despite sustained pressure on Empoli’s goal, and paid for it in the shootout when two of their biggest star names missed penalties in flaccid fashion, ushering them out of the competition 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. ............ We got an indicator of just how Juve’s day was going to go less than two minutes in, when Kelly lofted a ball over the top and Kolo Muani headed it perfectly into the path of González. Vásquez came off his line but he’s still in no-man’s land when González reached the ball. It should have been a simple matter to tap it into the open net, but the Argentine somehow contrived to balloon the ball into the stands. It was the harbinger of a horrific night for the winger. Juve dominated possession as the game moved forward, but did nothing with it. The next shot either side took came after 20 minutes, when Konate blasted well wide. But four minutes after that, Empoli were very suddenly out in front. Things started going downhill after an awful pass by González, whose attempt to return a ball from Cambiaso went a good seven or eight yards in front of him into no-man’s land. Bacci ran onto it and pushed it to Malleh. The midfielder — who had been sent off when Juve came from behind to beat Empoli 4-1 a few weeks ago — easily moved away from the attentions of Thuram, and no one else closed him down as he loaded up from 22 yards and hit a thunderbolt with his weaker foot across the grain and past the desperate dive of Perin. In the next 20 minutes, Juve looked absolutely flaccid. Their possession created nothing, while Empoli came close to doubling or either tripling their lead. ............ Substitutions were finally made shortly thereafter, and Juve started pushing a little bit harder as the clock ticked away. A couple of tantalizing crosses only just missed their target before Thuram made up for his malaise on Empoli’s goal with a fantastic solo effort to equalize, taking a simple pass from Kolo Muani and executing an exquisite back-heel flick to wrong-foot Henderson before stuffing the ball in under Vásquez’s arm at the near post. Henderson made a feeble effort to trick the officials into calling a foul for a strike to his face while Thuram was making his turn, but referee Francesco Forneau saw through it easily. Juve immediately started pushing for a winner. ............ Five minutes from time the big Serb had an incredible chance to put the game to bed when he received a beautiful through ball from Thuram, but managed to skew it wide with Vásquez at his mercy. Yildiz missed with one of the last kicks of stoppage time when he latched on to a cleared corner kick and blazed a shot just over the top corner. Forneau called a halt to proceedings, and Juventus’ first penalty shootout in the Allianz Stadium was on. The Bianconeri were up first and sent Vlahovic to the spot — only to see him blaze over the bar. Empoli nailed their first two kicks, then Cacace managed to get a ball through Perin’s hand on the third, a shot that maybe should have been kept out. Yildiz then stepped up and hit an incredibly tame shot to his right that Vásquez — who had guessed correctly on Juve’s two makes before that — easily parried away. Marianucci stepped up for Empoli’s fourth and easily sent Perin the wrong way to seal Empoli’s first-ever trip to the semifinals, and Juve to the locker room to figure out what the hell had just happened. ............ LE PAGELLE MATTIA PERIN - 6. Kept Juve in it with a couple saves sandwiched around halftime, but I keep on looking at that third penalty wondering if he should’ve managed to get it out. TIMOTHY WEAH - 5.5. ............ FEDERICO GATTI - 6. Completed 95 percent of his passes and was generally solid defensively, not letting much in his remit get through. LLOYD KELLY - 5. Made four clearances, but was far too disengaged when Maleh was setting up for his shot. Getting pulled for a midfielder out of position isn’t a good look. ANDREA CAMBIASO - 5.5. ............ KHÉPHREN THURAM - 6.5. Let Maleh get past him far too easily on Empoli’s goal, but made up for it with that absolutely exquisite turn for the equalizer. He led the team with 109 touches and 93 pass attempts, including the setup for what really should’ve been the winner in the 85th minute. TEUN KOOPMEINERS - 5. The numbers — two key passes, 96% passing — belie just how dead he looked on the day. He’s cutting a really demoralized figure right now, and he probably needs to be dropped for a few games. RANDAL KOLO MUANI - 6. Tallied four key passes, including the assist for the equalizer, and buried his penalty in the shootout. But he also lost possession 19 times — a rate that isn’t really sustainable in a big game like this. WESTON McKENNIE - 5.5. ............ NICO GONZÁLEZ - 3.5. Yeah, we’re in waters that are not oft sailed in terms of how low Nico’s number goes. He was simply awful in all phases of the game. Couldn’t put away a relatively simple early opportunity that would’ve totally altered proceedings, and made a terrible pass in a giveaway for the first goal. The fact that he was on the field and not in a pinnie when the second half kicked off was stunning. DUSAN VLAHOVIC - 4. Gave a lot of effort, but man his execution was bad. Had one opportunity that he could’ve turned into an easy 1-v-1 had his first touch been a little more gentle, and the miss he had in the 85th minute was a goal that a striker of his caliber should hit the target with in his sleep. Then the shootout miss — goodness gracious, man. SUBS KENAN YILDIZ - 4.5. Made a pair of key passes, but couldn’t put any of his shots on target, and his penalty miss was tame. MANUEL LOCATELLI - 5.5. Completed 44 of 47 passes, had a key pass, and was five of six on long balls, but he got exposed a bit in the back as Juve pushed up for the equalizer. FRANCISCO CONCEIÇÃO - 5.5. ............ ALBERTO COSTA - NR. ............ MANAGER ANALYSIS Thiago Motta got a lot wrong in this game, both from the start and in progress. First off, it’s time to put Koopmeiners on ice for a few games. I know that’s more difficult at the moment with Douglas Luiz seemingly incapable of staying fit under Italian training. But he’s clearly demoralized right now, and when you put that next to the fact that the early portion of the season indicated that the best combo in the pivot is Thuram and Locatelli, it’s questionable as to why that pair has been split up. As the game went on, Motta’s decisions still failed to impress. Why Koopmeiners and González weren’t hauled off at halftime is beyond comprehension given their travails in the first 45 minutes. The fact that González remained on the field for 60 minutes was even more boggling. Motta slammed his players for their effort and attitude in this game — very much his purview, as he acknowledged — yet left two of the players with the worst combo of attitude and performance on the field far longer than any sane viewer realized was necessary. Even toward the end of the game Motta’s decisions can be questioned. Putting in Costa was fine — especially considering the need to protect Cambiaso’s health at the moment — but leaving a substitution hanging in the wind with the game heading toward penalties was, in my opinion, his final strategic blunder. Specifically, he should’ve replaced Perin. I know that the Coppa is his arena, but his record stopping penalties over the course of his career — even understanding how difficult it is — is straight lousy. Michele Di Gregorio’s career percentage is very close, but he’s faced far fewer over the course of his career and has developed a reputation as a better stopper, something that I genuinely believe should be taken into account in shootouts. ............ LOOKING AHEAD Juve will have a chance to reset themselves on Monday with a home game against Hellas Verona, then face two road games with big implications for the race for the top four, first at Atalanta and then Fiorentina. . Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2025/2/27/24373813/juventus-empoli-2025-coppa-italia-quarterfinals-final-score-result-match-recap-analysis

Juventus 1 (2) - Empoli 1 (4): Initial reaction and random observations Sometimes, you just have no words. There are performances that, honestly, don’t deserve the words. Mostly because you’re just have a desire to do nothing but shake your head both out of some sort of amazement but mostly frustration. There are final scores that confuse you, final scores that anger you. On Wednesday night, we got all of the above. So as much as there are no words for how Juventus went out of the Coppa Italia and who it came against, we might as well try. ............ If the loss in the Champions League one week earlier was about as deserved as deserved gets, then this one is right alongside of it and getting all cozy because there’s very little to separate the two. Well, there is this one major difference: PSV Eindhoven are a solid yet unspectacular side. Empoli, on the other hand, hadn’t won anything since the early December and were coming off a 5-0 dismantling the last time they stepped onto the field. They had more injuries than Juventus — which, knowing how things are in Turin, is certainly saying something. Empoli manager Roberto D’Aversa basically white flagged his starting lineup, rolling out a bunch of reserves and primavera players to take on the mighty Juventus. And it was that same Empoli lineup that, after 24 minutes, had the lead. ............ Juventus were bad — very, very bad. The possession was stale and barely had Empoli keeper Devis Vasquez — who had recently been benched by D’Aversa — doing anything before the second-half rush to try and salvage something out of all that mess commenced. And even after Khephren Thuram and his brilliant individual effort to tie the game happened, it’s not like Juventus did much to put Vasquez under serious heat over and over again to force after after save. Juventus had 13 shots in the second half. They put just four of them on target. The penalty shootout — a new element of the one-legged Coppa Italia ties rather than going to extra time — was just the cherry on top. To see Vlahovic blast his shot over the crossbar right out of the gate put Juventus behind the 8-ball in a shootout that suddenly relied on Mattia Perin being heroic in goal to get back in front. That didn’t happen. Instead, Empoli made all four of their penalties, with Yildiz’s effort being saved by Vasquex and Luca Marianucci — a 20-year-old defender with all of eight Serie A appearances to his name this season — putting the final nail in Juve’s Coppa Italia coffin. ............ RANDOM THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS EMPOLI HAD NOT WON A GAME SINCE EARLY DECEMBER. I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH, FOLKS. THAT IS HOW BAD THEY HAD BEEN PLAYING BEFORE THIS GAME. That first half. Goodness gracious that was awful. Thiago Motta got things so incredibly wrong to begin this game. His team looked more than half-asleep. It was hard to see if they would ever snap out of it. And they really didn’t. ............ Juventus couldn’t do much of anything right. Little, if not nothing good at all. Just look at how the Empoli goal came about. Andrea Cambiaso tries to pass out of the back. Nico Gonzalez tries to flick it on, instead seeing the ball go right to an Empoli player. Then Thuram is slow to close down and gets beat by Youssef Maleh, the same guy who got sent off in Empoli’s visit to Turin earlier this month. Maleh then unleashes a hammer of a shot past Perin. It’s 1-0 just like that. It was a highlight in a first half in which Gonzalez was pretty bad. Gonzalez and Randal Kolo Muani combined to lose possession 23 times in the first half. That’s a lot. ............ If not for Perin, this game could have been 3-0 early in the second half. Imagine that. For as bad as his defending was on Empoli’s opener, that’s how good Thuram’s effort was on his goal to tie things up. Holy crap was that such a dirty move and just a perfectly placed shot to beat Vasquez at the near post. Federico Gatti surpassed the 3,000-minute mark this season. It’s late February. That man has to be absolutely exhausted ... and there’s still three months of the season to go. ............ Both of those scoring chances for Vlahovic late in the second half. Ah, what could have been. You gotta put something on frame. Instead, neither of them were on frame, and the first touch Vlahovic had on the ball on the second chance was pretty brutal. Teun Koopmeiners, brother what has happened. Is he gassed? Is he low on confidence? Is he being played out of position after months of being played out of position? Do we just need to hit a complete factory reset and try and bring back the Atalanta version of Koop? I just don’t know at this point, folks. It’s a complete mystery to me. It’s becoming harder and harder for me to try and find ways to be positive. That’s on Motta. That’s on the players. That’s on Cristiano Giuntoli who constructed this roster. This season has one singular thing left to try and accomplish: finish in the top four in Serie A. If they can’t do that with who else they’re competing for fourth place with, then I dunno what to say other than the summertime might end up being quite dramatic. What else is there to say after that one other than “I’m just incredibly disappointed”? Nothing. ............ Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2025/2/27/24373705/juventus-empoli-2025-coppa-italia-quarterfinals-final-score-result-initial-reaction-observations

Thiago Motta: ‘Juventus shameful, did not deserve Coppa Italia’ qualification Thiago Motta blasted his Juventus players after their shock Coppa Italia exit on penalties to Empoli. ‘I am ashamed, it was embarrassing. You need to deserve things in life, this team expected it instead.’ The Bianconeri had been the undoubted favourites to go through to the semi-finals after facing Empoli at the Allianz Juventus Stadium, but found expectations turned on their heads. ............ “We are left with shame. I feel honestly shame for what we saw in the first half and I hope my players feel the same. We cannot get this attitude so wrong. It was embarrassing and evidently it is my fault, as I did not show my players the importance of the match or what this jersey means,” Thiago Motta said. “We are not in the semi-final because we did not deserve to be.” ............ “I hope the criticism is very strong. I thought our fans were actually quite kind with us, considering the first half performance. I expect an immediate reaction from these players, because I feel ashamed of what I saw from my team today,” added the coach. “I also have to shoulder a large part of the responsibility, because I didn’t teach them what it means to wear the Juventus jersey. We played against an Empoli side that was rotated from the usual starters. Talking about mentality at this moment means understanding where you are, what you need to do, why you must deserve it every day and not just expect things to happen without giving your all. “We assumed today that we’d get through and we gave nothing on that pitch. We got the one thing wrong you absolutely cannot do at this club and that is the attitude. We played back to the goalkeeper 20 times at least, without taking responsibility, without going forward, always looking to someone else. This is inadmissible. “We can only apologise to our fans, apologise to the club, apologise to the history of this club, because we really hit rock bottom today.” ............ “I believe in the team because we have players of quality, but quality is not sufficient. You need other elements to compete in football and attitude is the main thing, which is the first thing I talked about when I got here. “This is why I feel ashamed, because getting the wrong shot, the wrong touch, that’s nothing. Getting the wrong attitude is not acceptable. There is no negotiation on that.” ............ “We have to start from the basics of football and life, which is attitude. In life, you need to earn things, to deserve them, not expect them. Today I saw a team that expected things to go their way and that makes me ashamed,” continued a visibly furious Thiago Motta. “These are the foundations, giving your all on the field and in training, working hard for each other, respecting the history of your club. This is crucial both in training and in a match, but we showed the total opposite of that, especially in the first half. “It was not technical or tactical, it was completely the wrong attitude. I take full responsibility, as clearly I did not teach these lads the importance of playing in this competition with the Juventus jersey.” . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/thiago-motta-juventus-shameful-coppa-italia/

Empoli dump sorry Juventus out of the Coppa Italia on penalties Empoli has knocked Juventus out of the Coppa Italia on penalties, leaving the Bianconeri facing the prospect of finishing the season without silverware. Nicolas Gonzalez set the tone early with a shot that narrowly missed the target inside the opening two minutes. Juve continued to push, with Dusan Vlahovic heading wide, but their missed opportunities would soon prove costly. Youssef Maleh produced a stunning strike from outside the box to give Empoli the lead, shocking Juventus into action as they pressed forward in search of an equaliser. Just past the hour mark, Juventus finally found their equaliser through Khephren Thuram, who finished brilliantly after a superb solo run. With momentum on their side, the hosts pushed for a winner, with Vlahovic drawing a brilliant save from Vásquez Llach before Kenan Yildiz and Vlahovic both missed chances to seal victory. With neither side able to find another goal, the match went to penalties. Empoli completed the upset as Kenan Yildiz and Vlahovic missed from the spot, sending Juventus crashing out of the competition. . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/empoli-dumps-sorry-juventus-out-of-the-coppa-italia-on-penalties/

Juventus vs. Empoli match preview As things currently stand, Juventus’ path to another Coppa Italia final is looking about as favorable as it has been in years. Considering that the Coppa — no matter how you feel about it — was probably going to be Juve’s best shot at silverware this season, that is probably something that is a little reassuring despite all of the despair lately. The bracket as certainly fell in Juve’s favor. And now, as we hit the quarterfinals, they look to further exploit that fact. All that stands in the way of Juventus and a two-legged Coppa Italia semifinal matchup against Thiago Motta’s former squad, Bologna, is a quarterfinal clash against an Empoli squad that has not won in nearly three months. That’s it. That’s what Wednesday night will provide Juventus with — one of the most out of form squads in Serie A to try and get past and then you’re in the Coppa semifinals and path to the final in Rome that is quite manageable as compared to the other side of the bracket that has a very Milan flavor to it. ............ But Empoli are in an awful run of form. They have tumbled down the Serie A table over the last couple of months. They are winless in their last 11 games, with nine of them being losses. Since De Sciglio’s goal against Juve at the Allianz on Feb. 8, Empoli haven’t found the back of the net again. They’ve lost their last three games by a combined score of 10-0, with the most recent loss coming in a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Atalanta, who are dealing with their own problems right now. In short: Ever since Empoli’s last win on Dec. 8, no team in Serie A has earned fewer points than Roberto D’Aversa’s squad. So, as you can probably figure out, Juventus — as they should be — are a massive favorite to go through to the Coppa semifinals considering just how bad their opposition has been since the beginning of December. ............ TEAM NEWS Thiago Motta did not hold a pre-match press conference Tuesday, so we don’t know for sure about the condition of some players, but it’s safe to say that there will be several players out injured that were available at this point last week. The two main names added to the injured list coming out of the weekend are Douglas Luiz (again) and Nicolo Savona, with both players picking up thigh injuries against Cagliari and PSV Eindhoven, respectively. ............ Despite coming off injured over the weekend against Cagliari, Andrea Cambiaso is being tipped by the Italian media to start at left back. If not, it will likely be Jonas Rouhi getting the start because there really isn’t anybody else available to play at left back. Another note from the Italian press, namely Sky Italia: This could be the game in which Motta plays both Dusan Vlahovic and Randal Kolo Muani from the start, with the Frenchman likely to play out wide on the right like he did in the second half against Cagliari. As is the case in the Coppa Italia, Mattia Perin will get the start in goal for Michele Di Gregorio. It will be just Perin’s second appearance in the 2025 calendar year after he got the start in the Champions League league phase finale against Benfica last month. JUVENTUS PLAYER TO WATCH ............ Considering just how limited options are all throughout the defense, having Cambiaso available is a positive development no matter if it’s Empoli in the Coppa Italia or a big matchup in Serie A. Juve need Cambiaso out there both because he’s a good player but also because they are simply in dire need of actual fullbacks to play, you know, as fullbacks. (That is to take nothing away from what Timothy Weah is currently doing, but as we know he is not a natural fullback.) How will Cambiaso move now that he’s likely to be playing on a short rest for the first time in a while? How many minutes will have in his legs after starting his first game in a good amount of time? How much of a leash will Motta have because of both having to take Cambiaso off over the weekend and the limited options in defense? ............ MATCH INFO When: Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. Where: Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy. Official kickoff time: 9 p.m. in Italy and the Central European time zone, 8 p.m. in the United Kingdom, 3 p.m. Eastern time, 12 p.m. Pacific time. . Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2025/2/26/24371629/juventus-empoli-2025-coppa-italia-quarterfinals-preview-team-news-schedule-how-to-watch

Juventus vs Empoli: Preview and Prediction Coppa Italia holders Juventus will aim to continue their title defence when they host Empoli at the Allianz Stadium on Wednesday in the quarter-finals. Despite an underwhelming season, Juve remain in contention for silverware and will be eager to take a step closer to a 16th Coppa Italia crown. On the other hand, Empoli, battling relegation in Serie A, have defied the odds to reach this stage but now face a monumental challenge against a team they recently lost to in emphatic fashion. ............ Historically, Juventus have dominated head-to-head encounters against Empoli, winning 80% of their league meetings in Turin. Their most recent meeting, a 4-1 league win earlier this month, saw them dismantle their Tuscan opponents in the second half, scoring four times after initially falling behind. With four wins from their last five matches, Thiago Motta’s side come into this clash in solid form and will be the strong favourites to advance to the semi-finals, where Bologna await them. ............ However, Empoli's Serie A form is a major concern. With six defeats in their last seven league matches, Empoli have been free-falling towards relegation, now sitting two points adrift of safety. Their latest 5-0 thrashing by Atalanta BC only worsened their troubles, leaving them in desperate need of a turnaround. ............ Team News & Tactics Juventus Juventus continue to struggle with multiple injury concerns, particularly in defence, which could force Thiago Motta to make significant adjustments. Full-back Nicolo Savona and Chelsea loanee Renato Veiga have recently joined the injury list, adding to the club’s defensive woes. The hosts are already without Gleison Bremer and Juan Cabal, both of whom have been ruled out for the remainder of the season. Pierre Kalulu is also sidelined, further limiting Motta’s defensive options. Adding to the concerns, Andrea Cambiaso had to be substituted against Cagliari, making him a doubt for this match. The midfield is also affected, as Douglas Luiz, who had just returned from an injury layoff, suffered a flexor strain and will be unavailable. His absence reduces the number of options Motta has in central midfield. Meanwhile, upfront, Dusan Vlahovic marked his return to the starting lineup with a goal against Cagliari, but it remains to be seen whether he can hold off Randal Kolo Muani, who has made a significant impact since joining on loan from Paris Saint-Germain. Juventus are expected to deploy a 4-2-3-1 formation, offering them defensive stability while allowing their attacking players to exploit Empoli’s vulnerabilities. Mattia Perin will start in goal, stepping in for the usual first-choice keeper. The back four will see Timothy Weah at right-back, with Federico Gatti and Lloyd Kelly forming the central defensive pairing. Jonas Jakob Rouhi will likely be deployed at left-back in the absence of other available options. In midfield, Khephren Thuram and Teun Koopmeiners will operate as a double pivot, with Thuram tasked with breaking up play and Koopmeiners providing forward distribution. Further up, the attacking trio will feature Nico Gonzalez on the right flank, Weston McKennie in a central attacking role, and Samuel Mbangula on the left. Their creativity and movement will be key in unlocking Empoli’s defence. Leading the line will be Randal Kolo Muani, who is expected to start ahead of Dusan Vlahovic. Kolo Muani’s pace, dribbling, and ability to link up with his teammates will be crucial in breaking down Empoli’s defence and securing Juventus’s passage to the semi-finals. Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Perin; Weah, Gatti, Kelly, Rouhi; Thuram, Koopmeiners; Gonzalez, McKennie, Mbangula; Kolo Muani Empoli ............ Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Vasquez; De Sciglio, Goglichidze, Cacace; Gyasi, Henderson, Grassi, Maleh, Pezzella; Esposito, Colombo Key Stats Juventus have won 80% of their home matches against Empoli in Serie A history, showcasing their superiority in Turin. Their most recent meeting ended in a 4-1 victory for the Bianconeri earlier this month. Empoli have conceded 18 goals in their last five matches across all competitions, including a 5-0 thrashing by Atalanta BC in their last outing. Their defensive struggles could be further exposed by Juventus’ attacking firepower. The Bianconeri have reached at least the semi-finals in five of the last six Coppa Italia campaigns. They began their title defence with a 4-0 win over Cagliari in the last round, showing their dominance in the competition. While historically dominated by Juventus, Empoli have lost only two of their last five league meetings with the Bianconeri, having previously suffered 10 defeats in 11 encounters. However, they will need a massive performance to pull off an upset in Turin. Player to Watch Randal Kolo Muani As Juventus push for Coppa Italia glory, Randal Kolo Muani is expected to play a pivotal role in leading the attack. Since arriving on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, the French forward has quickly made an impact, adding pace, creativity, and clinical finishing to Thiago Motta’s frontline. With Dusan Vlahovic returning to fitness, Kolo Muani faces competition for a starting role, but his versatility and ability to stretch defences make him a key asset. ............ Against an Empoli side that has conceded 18 goals in their last five matches, Kolo Muani has the perfect opportunity to exploit their defensive weaknesses. ............ Prediction Juventus 3-0 Empoli The hosts should cruise into the semi-finals with a dominant display. Juventus’s superior squad depth, home advantage, and recent dominance over Empoli make them the overwhelming favourites in this quarter-final tie. While Empoli have defied expectations in the Coppa Italia, their poor form and defensive vulnerability will likely be exposed by a Juventus side desperate for silverware. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-0 win for Thiago Motta and his charges. . Read more -> https://thehardtackle.com/round-up/2025/02/25/juventus-vs-empoli-preview-and-prediction-3/

Preview: Juventus vs. Empoli - prediction, team news, lineups Still in the hunt for silverware despite another sub-par season, Coppa Italia holders Juventus will host Serie A strugglers Empoli in Wednesday's quarter-final clash. The 15-time winners, who strolled through the last round, must eliminate their Tuscan counterparts to meet Bologna in the semi-finals. Match preview Continuing their largely disappointing campaign, Juventus recently followed victory in the Derby d'Italia by slumping out of the Champions League to PSV Eindhoven, before returning to winning ways last weekend. Back in from the cold, Dusan Vlahovic scored 12 minutes into his first Serie A start of 2025 to secure three precious points in Cagliari, as Juve tightened their grip on fourth place in the standings. While they are therefore on track to book a Champions League spot for next season, the Bianconeri's final chance of collecting some silverware rests on the cup. ............ While results have been mixed since then, Thiago Motta has seen his team win four games out of five to start February; so, having prevailed in 80% of their league games against Empoli in Turin, there is no doubt that Juventus will expect to progress. ............ Team News Juventus are burdened by a depleted defensive department, as full-back Nicolo Savona and Chelsea loanee Renato Veiga recently joined several others on the sidelines. Already missing Bremer and Juan Cabal - both of whom are out for the rest of the season - and Pierre Kalulu, Juve coach Thiago Motta also had to replace utility man Andrea Cambiaso in Cagliari, so he might need to improvise. Just back from another layoff, Douglas Luiz was forced off by a flexor injury, so the hosts will have one less option in midfield, too. As Dusan Vlahovic found the net on a rare start, it remains to be seen whether he can hold off competition from Motta's first-choice striker Randal Kolo Muani, who has made a major impact since joining on loan from Paris Saint-Germain. ............ Juventus possible starting lineup: Perin; Weah, Gatti, Kelly, Rouhi; Thuram, Koopmeiners; Gonzalez, McKennie, Mbangula; Kolo Muani Empoli possible starting lineup: Vasquez; De Sciglio, Goglichidze, Cacace; Gyasi, Henderson, Grassi, Maleh, Pezzella; Esposito, Colombo We say: Juventus 2-0 Empoli Both clubs have other priorities - finishing in the top four or avoiding relegation - so it may be a somewhat disjointed game between two injury-hit sides. Given their greater resources - and Empoli's crisis of confidence - Juventus should book their place in a two-legged semi-final tie with Bologna. . Read more -> https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/juventus/coppa-italia/preview/preview-juventus-vs-empoli-prediction-team-news-lineups_566433.html

Thiago Motta plans Vlahovic-Kolo Muani experiment for Empoli Tuesday’s reports claim that Thiago Motta is planning on testing Dusan Vlahovic and Randal Kolo Muani together for the first time for the upcoming Coppa Italia quarter-final between Juventus and Empoli. Vlahovic has started just once in Serie A since Kolo Muani’s arrival from Paris Saint-Germain in January, but took advantage of that opportunity by scoring the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win over Cagliari on Sunday. ............ Vlahovic is in line to keep his place in the starting line-up for the Coppa Italia quarter-final, while Kolo Muani could start out wide on the right flank. ............ Thiago Motta reportedly has several changes in mind. Mattia Perin could be given an opportunity over Michele Di Gregorio in goal, Khephren Thuram could be given a run-out in midfield after a run of consecutive games starting from the bench. ............ . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/juventus-plan-vlahovic-kolo-muani-experiment/

Spalletti hints that Juventus star could be back in the next Italy squad One of the most notable exclusions from Italy’s squad for Euro 2024 was Manuel Locatelli, with manager Luciano Spalletti opting to place his trust in other midfielders. Locatelli was a key figure in Italy’s triumphant Euro 2020 campaign, where he played a pivotal role in the team’s success, earning a move to Juventus shortly after. At Juventus, he quickly established himself as one of the club’s best players, remaining prominent under the leadership of new manager Thiago Motta. ............ However, much to the surprise of many, Spalletti chose to leave him out, opting instead for Juventus teammate Nicolo Fagioli. ............ In a recent interview, Spalletti commented on Locatelli’s development: “But now Locatelli is starting to verticalize and makes fewer obvious passes, he is always good in the break-up phase and above all he has a great personality.” Locatelli’s growth under Motta has made him one of the best midfielders in Italy, and it would come as a surprise if he were not named in the next Italy squad. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/spalletti-hints-that-juventus-star-could-be-back-in-the-next-italy-squad/

Rimedio says Juventus must do better in closing out matches Juventus is currently enjoying an impressive winning run in Serie A, establishing themselves as one of the most closely watched teams in the competition. The Bianconeri have been delivering the results their fans expect, securing victories and maintaining a strong presence in the league. However, despite their good form, doubts remain over their consistency. Throughout this campaign, Juventus has struggled to see out matches, frequently dropping points from winning positions. While their recent performances have been promising, their inability to close games effectively raises concerns about their long-term prospects. ............ Italian football commentator Alberto Rimedio has been closely monitoring Juventus and emphasised the importance of improving their game management. He said: “In a match like the one on Sunday evening, in which they had so many chances, they shouldn’t have reached half-time only 1-0 up, because in the past they have already shown that they are too often exposed to comebacks that have cost them important points in the standings. There are the mitigating factors of their low average age and consequently their lack of experience, but Motta absolutely must correct this defect, because in the final phase of the season the points become very important.” ............ If Juventus fails to improve in this area, they could find themselves struggling in the decisive moments of the campaign. Strong performances alone will not be enough—they must develop the mental toughness and tactical discipline required to maintain their advantage in matches. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/pundit-says-juventus-must-do-better-in-closing-out-matches/

DIEGO PUGNO https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campionato_Primavera_1 Nazione: Italia Luogo di nascita: Borgaro Torinese (Torino) Data di nascita: 07.07.2006 Ruolo: Attaccante Altezza: - Peso: - Soprannome: - Alla Juventus (Primavera) dal 2024 Esordio: 01.12.2024 - Serie A - Lecce-Juventus 1-1 1 presenza - 0 reti

Juventus confirm Douglas Luiz injury blow: Recovery time revealed Juventus have confirmed that Douglas Luiz is set for another spell on the touchline after suffering an injury to his thigh in the second half of his side’s recent 1-0 victory over Cagliari in Serie A. The former Aston Villa midfielder came on as a second-half substitute during the Cagliari match, but he was forced off just 20 minutes later after feeling a tweak. ............ The results show that he has sustained an low-grade lesion to the femoral biceps of the thigh in his left leg. Douglas Luiz is expected to miss a minimum of 15 days of training, which is likely to keep him out until after the next international break in March. ............ . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/juventus-confirm-douglas-luiz-blow/

Thiago Motta urged to investigate the medical staff at Juventus Juventus have faced several injury problems this season in their pursuit of a successful campaign under their new manager. ............ In the January transfer window, the manager added defenders and an attacker to his squad. Some of these signings were a direct response to the injury crisis that Juventus has been struggling with, as the team has been plagued by injuries throughout the season including to key players like Gleison Bremer. ............ There has now been growing concern about the number of injuries within the squad, and Motta has been urged to investigate the reasons behind the recurring physical issues. Piero Calabrò suggested that Motta should closely examine the club’s medical department. “The Italian-Brazilian coach has some mitigating factors. First of all, the many and recurring injuries. In this respect, if I were a club manager, I would investigate the preparation and the medical staff. Juventus has been plagued by these physical problems of the players for too long,” Calabrò said. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/thiago-motta-urged-to-investigate-the-medical-staff-at-juventus/

Spalletti offers suggestion to Thiago Motta: He must ‘know’ one thing Italy coach Luciano Spalletti admits he ‘really liked’ Thiago Motta at Bologna but suggests to the Juventus coach that he has to ‘know when opponents figure you out.’ ............ “I really liked Thiago Motta at Bologna; even there, he was changing players’ positions and gaining big advantages. It’s a relational style of football, focused on ball possession, that avoids wasting the ball even under pressure. But you have to be smart and know when opponents figure you out.” ............ The Bianconeri’s next Serie A match is at home against Hellas Verona on March 3. The Old Lady will meet Empoli in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals on Wednesday when Motta will be forced to do without five defenders. ............ . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/spalletti-suggestion-thiago-motta-one-thing/

Juventus selection crisis in defence, but new signing set to debut Juventus coach Thiago Motta will be without five defenders in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals against Empoli, but January signing Alberto Costa is expected to make his debut with the Bianconeri. ............ Coach Thiago Motta will be forced to do without long-term injured Gleison Bremer and Juan Cabal, as well as Pierre Kalulu, Renato Veiga and Nicolò Savona, who are all working to return to action in the coming weeks. ............ Andrea Cambiaso suffered a minor injury against Cagliari on Sunday but is not expected to start against Empoli, while Federico Gatti and Lloyd Kelly will be the only centre-backs Motta can rely on for tomorrow’s match. Several sources claim Alberto Costa will likely make his Juventus debut tomorrow, either starting as a right-back or coming off the bench during the game. ............ . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/juventus-selection-crisis-defence-costa-debut/

Vlahovic rejected a 12m euros per season offer from Europe to stay at Juventus Dusan Vlahovic’s future remains a major talking point at Juventus as the Serbian striker approaches the final stages of his contract. With less than two years remaining on his current deal, there is still no certainty regarding what will happen next, leaving fans and pundits speculating about his future at the club. ............ Juventus have confidence in his ability to remain a key player, but the possibility of him not signing a new deal has left the club in a difficult position. The Bianconeri are reportedly open to his departure should an acceptable offer arrive, and there were already approaches made in the last transfer window. It was not just clubs from Saudi Arabia that made an effort to sign Vlahovic. The report claims that Fenerbahce also expressed interest in securing his signature and were willing to meet the €12 million per season wage that Juventus are keen to avoid paying. However, despite the opportunity to move, Vlahovic turned down the proposal, opting to remain in Turin for the time being. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/vlahovic-rejected-a-12m-euros-per-season-offer-from-europe-to-stay-at-juventus/

Ho letto che Thiago Motta dovrebbe investigare i componenti dello staff medico della Juventus. É in un articolo di tale Piero Calabró su Tuttomercatoweb. Proprio pochi giorni fa avevo raccontato qualcosa sul dottor Duccio Ferrari Bravo (Sport scientist). Scoperchieranno il vaso di Pandora alla Juve?

Vlahovic equals Cristiano Ronaldo & Lautaro Martinez record against Cagliari On Sunday night, Juventus secured a hard-fought victory over Cagliari with Dusan Vlahovic emerging as the ultimate hero. The Serbian made his return to the starting lineup after six matches on the bench. Thiago Motta decided to give him the nod at the expense of Randal Kolo Muani who was granted some rest. The Serbian obliged by scoring the goal that separated the two sides. He latched onto a heavy touch from his old nemesis Yerry Mina and rounded Elia Caprile before placing the ball in the empty net. ............ Since his arrival in Turin back in January 2022, Vlahovic is only the fifth Serie A player to reach 50 50-goal contributions for a single club. He now has 42 strikes to his name and eight assists. He has thus joined an elusive club that includes Lautaro Martinez with Inter Milan (78), Rafael Leao with AC Milan (61), Ademola Lookman with Atalanta (59) and Victor Osimhen with Napoli (54). Moreover, no striker has scored more goals against Cagliari since the 2019/20 campaign. He has now found the back of the net against the Sardinian club on eight occasions, thus equaling the tally of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lautaro Martinez. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/vlahovic-equals-cristiano-ronaldo-lautaro-martinez-record-against-cagliari/

The latest updates on Cambiaso & Douglas Luiz: Optimism and despair Juventus have reportedly received encouraging updates regarding the condition of Andrea Cambiaso, but Douglas Luiz may have suffered another serious injury. Both players returned took part in Sunday night’s Serie A contest against Cagliari which ended with a slim win for the Old Lady courtesy of Dusan Vlahovic’s solitary strike. However, the duo were forced to leave the pitch in the second half while carrying knocks. Cambiaso was in the starting lineup for the first time in weeks having been hampered by an ankle problem. But while his ankle didn’t bother him this time, it was a groin issue that ended his night relatively early, with Jonas Rouhi coming in as a replacement. As for Luiz, he made his return from a slight muscular problem that saw him miss the last couple of fixtures. He came in for Teun Koopmeiners in the second half, only to vacate his place for Samuel Mbangula in the final minutes of the fixture. ............ Earlier today, Juventus released an official statement revealing that Nicolo Savona (who remained in Turin after picking up an injury in training) suffered a muscle overstretch and is now expected to miss a couple of weeks of action. ............ Cambiaso’s condition doesn’t even require medical check-ups. He is expected to return to the fold in the next few days, so he could theoretically feature in the Coppa Italia quarter-final contest against Empoli. But on the contrary, the Brazilian midfielder has seemingly suffered yet another injury. He has already missed several months of action this term. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/the-latest-updates-on-cambiaso-douglas-luiz-optimism-and-despair/

“I know so much is expected from me” – Vlahovic aware of his situation, explains basketball celebration Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic made his much-anticipated return to the starting lineup against Cagliari, marking his outing with a winning goal. ............ Although it wasn’t the most dynamic display, his early goal was worth three important points, as it was the solitary strike of the contest held at the Sardegna Arena. After the match, Vlahovic insisted that the most important thing was to earn the win rather than him scoring a goal. “The three points are important, I scored a goal, but it’s important to have won,” said the former Fiorentina in his post-match interview. “I’m living with great calmness, I’m a professional, I make myself available to the team: I know that so much is expected of me. I stay composed. If we want to grow as a team and reach certain goals, we can’t stay under pressure for the whole second half. “Everyone suffers here against a team that plays well at home, but we have to take the extra step. Manage the game better or put it to bed earlier. I am very happy and I am thinking about the next match.” ............ “I’ve done this celebration before. Basketball was a dedication to the physiotherapists, we have one thing in common, they asked me to celebrate in this fashion.” ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/i-know-so-much-is-expected-from-me-vlahovic-aware-of-his-situation-explains-basketball-celebration/