Verdict: Away win
Best odds: 4/6
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
Seeking to cement their place in next season’s Champions League, Juventus travel to face Empoli in the 36th Serie A round this term on Monday. Empoli, on the other hand, have already achieved their goal and it remains to be seen where the motivation which comes with playing against a club Juventus can take them on its own.
Empoli
Yes, Empoli have done what their supporters will have expected of them – they will play in the Italian top flight again in 2023/24. At the moment, Paolo Zanetti’s team sit 14th with 39 points, nine more than Hellas Verona, the only team currently in the relegation zone that still has a chance of getting out of it before the end. With just two matches left to play, it’s obvious that Verona cannot overtake Empoli. Only Lecce (16th place, 33 points) and Spezia (17th, 31) need to worry about their status. Like Empoli, Salernitana (15th, 38) are safe. Meanwhile, the efforts of Cremonese and Sampdoria are over – they’ve both been relegated already.
For a team in their position, Empoli’s run of form hasn’t been too bad, though their last-six run started with an unexpected 1-0 defeat away to Cremonese, followed by defeats at home against Inter Milan (0-3) and away to Sassuolo (2-1). Then they boosted their chances of survival through two linked home victories, 3-1 against Bologna and 2-1 against Salernitana. They eventually drew 1-1 away to Sampdoria.
Team News
Centre-back Koni de Winter, on loan from Juventus, won’t be able to face his parent club through injury.
Gabriele Guarino, also a centre-back, has been called up to represent his country at the Under-20 World Cup, as have midfielders Duccio Innocenti and Tommaso Baldanzi.
With Guglielmo Vicario in goal, the back for is likely to consist of Tyronne Ebuehi, Ardian Ismajli, Sebastiano Luperto and Fabiano Parisi. Alberto Grassi should join captain Filippo Bandinelli in the middle of the park, while the trio of Marko Pjaca, Liam Henderson and Nicolo Cambiaghi supports striker Francesco Caputo upfront.
Juventus
Unlike Empoli, Juventus haven’t achieved what they set out to do at the start of the season, and they won’t. Napoli have already been confirmed as the Serie A champions, and Juventus won’t be too happy with finishing second, where they currently are with 69 points. But with three games left to play, they only need two points more to ensure a place in the Champions League; that is, if they don’t suffer any further deductions after the 15-point one imposed earlier this season got overruled for the time being.
Another thing Massimiliano Allegri and his players won’t be happy about is that they’ve been knocked out of the Europa League by Sevilla in the semifinals earlier this week, and out of the Coppa Italia at the same stage by Inter Milan earlier.
The Bianconeri’s current last-six run in all competitions consists of a 1-1 draw away to Bologna, a 2-1 home win over Lecce, a 0-2 win away to Atalanta, a 1-1 draw at home against Sevilla, a 2-0 home win over Cremonese, and finally, a 2-1 defeat after extra-time away to Sevilla.
Team News
Defender and captain Leonardo Bonucci, midfielder Paul Pogba and wing-back Mattia De Sciglio are out for the season, as is midfielder Nicolo Fagioli who has fractured his collarbone. Defender Danilo and wing-back Juan Cuadrado are suspended.
Wojciech Szczesny will be in goal, with the back three of Federico Gatti, Gleison Bremer and Alex Sandro as the last line of defence. In the absence of both De Sciglio and Cuadrado, youngSamuel Illing Junior is likely to shift from the left to the right wing-back with Fabio Miretti set to play in the middle of the park along with Manuel Locatelli and Adrien Rabiot. Filip Kostic will be on the left, while Angel Di Maria plays closest to striker Dusan Vlahovic.
Conclusion
With all due respect to Empoli, it’s questionable if even their own players believe anything other than a Juventus triumph can happen on Monday.
Verdict: Away win
Best odds: 4/6
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
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