Preview: Empoli vs. Juventus - prediction, team news, lineups

Two unbeaten teams meet at Stadio Castellani on Saturday evening, as Empoli play host to Serie A giants Juventus.

While Juve have made an impressive start to life under new management - and are yet to concede a single goal - the Tuscan club are surprisingly thriving at the start of their 2024-25 campaign.

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Match preview

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Despite breaking up for international football with a grim goalless draw against Roma, in which only two shots on target were recorded, Juventus have begun the Thiago Motta era with both a new look and a more proactive lineup.

The Bianconeri made a sparkling start to the new season, scoring six times without reply to go top of the very early Serie A standings after two games, as several summer signings and youth products were introduced into Motta's starting XI.

Now level with Udinese and two old foes, Inter Milan and Torino, on seven points, Motta's men will try to get back to winning ways this weekend, ahead of a much-anticipated return to the Champions League.

Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven are due in Turin next week, but first Juve aim to keep a clean sheet in each of their first four Serie A matches for just the fifth time in their long and illustrious history.

Not only have they faced the fewest shots on target (two) throughout Europe's top five leagues this season, but the Bianconeri also boast the best shot-conversion rate in Italy's top flight (20.7%), plus the highest percentage of successful passes (90%).

Such efficiency should see Juve approach Saturday's game with confidence, as they seek a seventh win in eight trips to Stadio Castellani.

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Although Empoli have a woeful home record against Juventus, they did stun them with a 4-1 win in Tuscany less than two years ago, before holding out for a 1-1 draw in the teams' most recent encounter in January.

More pertinently, the Azzurri are unbeaten in 2024-25 so far, having followed a Coppa Italia success against Catanzaro with two draws and one eye-catching victory in Serie A.

Despite being without the presence of new boss Roberto D'Aversa on the touchline - due to his ban for a head-butting incident that swiftly ended his time at Lecce - a side that only just scrambled to safety last term have started well.

Undefeated in their first three top-flight fixtures for only the second time in their history, Empoli drew with Monza and Bologna either side of a surprise 2-1 away win over Roma.

Stretching back to their great escape at the end of last season, they are unbeaten through their last six home games in all competitions - winning four times in the process - so Juventus may be made to scrap for all three points on Saturday.

Empoli Serie A form:

Empoli form (all competitions):

Juventus Serie A form:

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Team News

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After both missing some action before the international break, both Khephren Thuram and Timothy Weah seem to have overcome injuries in time for this week's Serie A return, while Nico Gonzalez should be able to vie for his first start.

Thiago Motta can also call upon another summer signing, Teun Koopmeiners, who was not picked for the Netherlands' UEFA Nations League fixtures following a drawn-out transfer saga that ultimately took him to Turin; however, fellow new boy Sergio Conceicao is ruled out by a muscular problem.

While Motta has sprung the odd selection surprise by introducing youngsters such as Nicolo Savona and Samuel Mbangula, his first-choice striker is clear: Dusan Vlahovic has scored four Serie A goals against Empoli to date, including his first brace for Juventus.

Meanwhile, Empoli's unlikely top scorer this term is Ghanaian winger Emmanuel Gyasi, who has scored in both of his last two matches after netting the equaliser against Bologna last time out.

Head coach Roberto D'Aversa - who continues to serve a touchline ban - will be without Samuele Perisan, Szymon Zurkowski and Tyronne Ebuehi due to injury, but Giuseppe Pezzella (muscular) and Jacopo Fazzini (hip) could yet be passed fit.

Late transfer-window arrival Mattia De Sciglio may make his club debut against his former club - either on the right of a three-man defence or as a wing-back.

Empoli possible starting lineup:
Vasquez; De Sciglio, Ismajli, Viti; Gyasi, Henderson, Grassi, Pezzella; Solbakken, Esposito; Colombo

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We say: Empoli 0-2 Juventus

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