Juve put four past Empoli | OneFootball

A comeback victory in which Juventus showed great character.

Juve beat Empoli 4-1 at the Allianz Stadium as, after a complicated first half, Thiago Motta's team reacted well in the second period, with the comeback led by Randal Kolo Muani, Dusan Vlahovic and Francisco Conceicao.

FIRST HALF: EMPOLI AHEAD THROUGH DE SCIGLIO

Empoli started strongly and immediately caught Juventus off guard. After just four minutes, the visitors took the lead through former Juventus player Mattia De Sciglio, whose headed effort from a corner beat Michele Di Gregorio. It was a goal that stunned the Allianz Stadium, with the defender choosing not to celebrate out of respect for the Bianconeri.

Juventus struggled to react and in the 15th minute they risked a conceding a second when the referee awarded Empoli a penalty kick for a foul by Di Gregorio on Youssef Maleh. After a long VAR check, the referee overturned the decision due to an earlier handball by Tino Anjorin.

The Bianconeri tried to up the tempo: in the 24th minute Nico Gonzalez came close to equalising with a spectacular bicycle kick, but Devis Vazquez did well to deny him. Kenan Yildiz was among the most threatening forwards, and in the 31st minute he caused problems for the Empoli defence by driving with the ball before finding Teun Koopmeiners, who saw his shot inadvertently blocked by Wetson McKennie. Thus ended an underwhelming first half for Juventus, with Empoli ahead 1-0 at the break.

SECOND HALF: THE BIANCONERI COMEBACK

Juventus stepped up a gear in the second period. After an even start to the second half, the Bianconeri found the equaliser in the 61st minute through Kolo Muani: the Frenchman did well to find space in the box and beat Vazquez with a precise right-footed strike. There was not even time to celebrate before Juve took the lead in the 64th minute: Timothy Weah’s effort from outside the box deflected off Kolo Muani, deceiving the Empoli goalkeeper. 2-1 Juventus and a comeback completed in just three minutes.

Thiago Motta introduced Vlahovic to add even more attacking threat, and the choice paid off. In the 84th minute Maleh was sent off for a second bookable offence, leaving Empoli a man down. Juventus took advantage of this and put the game to bed in the 90th minute with a masterpiece from Vlahovic: the Serbian recovered the ball, skipped past two opponents and unleashed a powerful right-footed effort that slotted under the crossbar. 3-1.

It wasn't over: in the dying minutes, Conceicao made it 4-1 with a fine individual move, coolly beating Vazquez and bringing the Bianconeri fans to their feet.

A needed victory after a difficult week: now the focus turns to Como and our upcoming challenges!

Gallery | Juventus - Empoli | 2025

JUVENTUS 4-1 EMPOLI

Allianz Stadium, Sunday 2 February, 2025 at 12:30 (CET) Serie A – Matchday 23

Goals: 4’ De Sciglio (E),61’ Kolo Muani (J), 64’ Kolo Muani (J), 90’ Vlahovic (J), 90+2’ Conceicao (J)

Juventus: Di Gregorio, Savona, Gatti, Veiga, Weah, Locatelli, McKennie (85’ Thuram), Yildiz (65’ Vlahovic), Koopmeiners, Nico Gonzalez (86’ Conceicao), Kolo Muani. Unused Substitutes: Perin, Costa, Adzic, Fagioli, Pinsoglio, Douglas Luiz, Rouhi, Mbangula. Coach: Thiago Motta.

Empoli: Vasquez, Marianucci (90+1’ Tosto), Ismajli (59’ Goglichidze), De Sciglio, Gyasi, Henderson (90+2’ Bacci), Anjorin (49’ Zurkowski), Cacace, Esposito (90+2’ Konate), Fazzini, Colombo. Unused Substitutes: Silvestri, Sambia, Fazzini, Seghetti, Bembnista, Gravelo. Coach: Roberto D’Aversa.

Referee: Luca Zufferli Assistants: Luca Mondin, Marco Ceccon Fourth Official: Mario Perri

Bookings: 37’ Gyasi (E), 41’ Maleh (E), Sent Off: 84’ Maleh (E) – Second Bookable Offence

Next Match:

Como-Juventus Serie A – Matchday 24 Friday, 7 February, 2025 at 20:45 (CET) Allianz Stadium