Juventus vs Empoli prediction: ITALY: Serie A betting tips on match 2025-02-01 11:30.
[p]Opening the scoring against league leaders Napoli did not save Juventus from their first Serie A defeat of the season as they failed to take their chance to move inside the top four (W8, D13, L1). Only one win across their last five league matches (D3, L1) has raised concerns about manager Thiago Motta’s suitability for the job, again drawing attention during the week when they were defeated 2-0 by Benfica in the UEFA Champions League (UCL).[/p]
[p]A second goalless performance in their last three competitive matches (D1, L2) means Juventus will have to enter the knockout round play-offs of the UCL, but they will hope to begin their recovery here against an Empoli side the Old Lady have only lost to once at home in history (W13, D2). Defensive issues have, however, caused Juventus to drop points more often than not with four 2-2 draws across their last six league games at home, supplemented by 2-0 wins over AC Milan and Torino.[/p]
[p]Empoli would likely have appreciated registering a 1-1 draw against another UCL participant and top-six hopeful last round (Bologna), but it also stretched their current winless run to seven matches (D2, L5). Given the fact Empoli have won just once across their last 11 league outings, it’s hardly surprising their cushion over the bottom three had shrunk to a single point by the end of last round.[/p]
[p]Winless in three away league matches (D1, L2), Empoli have also lost each of their last three away outings against sides that entered this round in the top seven, whilst conceding exactly three times on all three occasions. Despite that, the visitors have won five more points on their travels this season than at home (13 vs 8) and come into this game unbeaten in two H2Hs against their hosts (D2), including a 0-0 stalemate in September’s reverse fixture.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Randal Kolo Muani scored against Napoli on his Juventus debut and he could make a late impact here as seven of his last nine competitive club goals arrived beyond the 75-minute mark. That may be needed as Empoli’s Lorenzo Colombo scored each of his last four goals before the break, opening the scoring three times. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Empoli have recorded 12 of their 16 away league goals before the break, including six across the last four such outings.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Tomáš Vlasák[/i][/p]