03 September 2023
Juventus head into the international break unbeaten after collecting a second win out of three for the season at the Castellani against Empoli.
A goal in either half, the first from Danilo, the second from Federico Chiesa, were just reward for a confident Bianconeri performance, which saw Mattia Perin not asked to make a save throughout the match.
THE MATCH
Juventus came at Empoli from kick-off, implementing the high-pressing game desired by Massimiliano Allegri. It was through possession retrieved inside the opponent’s half that the Bianconeri produced their first chance, a snapshot from Dusan Vlahovic, saved by Erit Berisha, a deadline-day signing by the Tuscan club. The striker and the goalkeeper would continue their duel throughout the first half.
Danilo emerged as the other Juve player to cause the shot stopper difficulties on his debut. In fact, it was the captain that opened the scoring on 24 minutes after Empoli failed to clear a corner. A similar situation unfolded 14 minutes earlier when Danilo nodded the ball into the net from close range but was adjudged to have impeded the keeper earlier in the build-up.
However, the captain was faultless when he steered home his shot for the game’s opening goal after Filip Kostic’s delivery was not dealt with by the home defence. Kostic, on his first appearance of the campaign, won the corner after dispossessing Bartosz Bereszynski with a perfect steal deep in the Empoli half. Danilo proudly displayed the number 6 on his back on the day the club remembered a historic number 6, Gaetano Scirea.
Another player determined to leave his mark on his first start of the campaign was at the heart of the action that led to Juve being awarded a penalty with seven minutes of the first half remaining. Federico Gatti burst into the area only to be tripped by Youssef Maleh. After a VAR check confirmed the referee’s initial decision, Vlahovic struck his spot kick too centrally, allowing Berisha to make the save.
Immediately after the restart, Berisha was again called on as he raced off his line to thwart Federico Chiesa racing in on goal. Just before the hour mark, Chiesa again burst into the penalty box, this time with only the keeper to beat he curled his shot just wide of the far post.
The number 7 was not going to be denied though. After Paul Pogba had his thumping ruled off due to Vlahovic being in an offside position when setting up the Frenchman, Chiesa killed off the hosts’ lingering hopes of salvaging something from the match. Arek Milik spun on the half-way line and played the ball into the path of Chiesa who, once again one-on-one against the home keeper, used all of his pace to avoid Berisha’s challenge in midfield, and regained his footing before stroking the ball into the unguarded net.
Inside stoppage time, Juve came close to adding to their tally, when a Milik header clipped the crossbar and Moise Kean struck the outside of the post with a low drive.
As it was, two goals were enough to secure a second win of the season. After the international break, Lazio visit the Allianz Stadium.
EMPOLI 0-2 JUVENTUS (HT: 0-1)
Scorers: 24′ Danilo, 82’ Chiesa
EMPOLI: Berisha; Bereszynski, Walukiewicz, Luperto, Pezzella; Maleh, Marin (72′ Kovalenko), Fazzini (61′ Grassi); Baldanzi (61′ Cancellieri), Caputo (72′ Destro), Cambiaghi (83′ Gyasi). Subs not used: Perisan, Stubjar, Shpendi, Cacace, Guarino, Ranocchia, Ebuehi, Bastoni, Ismajli. Coach: Zanetti.
JUVENTUS: Perin; Gatti, Bremer, Danilo; McKennie (86′ Weah), Miretti (62′ Pogba), Locatelli, Rabiot, Kostic (70′ Cambiaso); Chiesa (83′ Kean), Vlahovic (70′ Milik). Subs not used: Pinsoglio, Daffara, Alex Sandro, Rugani, Fagioli, Nicolussi Caviglia, Yildiz, Iling-Junior. Coach: Allegri.
Referee: Ayroldi
Bookings: 15′ Locatelli, 43′ Bereszynski, 48′ Vlahovic, 49′ Miretti, 86′ Gyasi, 90’+7′ Destro
