Empoli – Juventus
Stadio Castellani
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The last time Empoli were in Serie A during the 2003-04 season they shocked the peninsula by holding Juventus to a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Stadio Carlo Castellani. The Azzurri will be hoping that once again their home advantage will prove so decisive after their defeat to Udinese. While Juventus were hardly spectacular against Chievo they did all that was needed and will expect another win from this encounter.
Empoli will change to a more defensive 4-2-3-1 formation in an effort to control Juve’s formidable forward line. Nicola Ascoli and Emanuel Michelotti are both still injured which means that the only change in defence comes as Stefano Lucchini is sacrificed to accommodate Francesco Lodi, as Antonio Buscè moves to right-back. Francesco Tavano will shift to the right wing and Mirco Gasparetto is surprisingly chosen as the lone striker, despite the signing of Christian Riganò.
Juventus will make only one change to the side that cruised to victory over Chievo. This comes as Jonathan Zebina joins long-term patients Gianluigi Buffon and Alessandro Birindelli in the treatment room. The French defender suffered a recurrence of last season’s muscular injury in the early stages against the Gialloblu and is likely to miss the visit to Empoli. He will be replaced by Gianluca Pessotto, the same person who came on as a substitute to replace him in Week 1. David Trezeguet continues to partner Zlatan Ibrahimovic up-front, so Alex Del Piero will have to be content with a place on the bench – if he recovers from injury in time.
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Empoli (probable): Berti; Buscè, Coda, Vanigli, Bonetto; Ficini, Almiron; Lodi, Vannucchi, Tavano; Gasparetto
Juventus (probable): Abbiati; Pessotto, Thuram, Cannavaro, Zambrotta; Camoranesi, Emerson, Vieira, Nedved; Trezeguet, Ibrahimovic