Juventus and Empoli are set to clash on Wednesday evening at the Allianz Stadium, as the last of the quarter-finals for the Coppa Italia kicks off, starting at 20:00 GMT. This match sees the defending champions, Juventus, eager to advance past Empoli, who currently sit in the relegation zone of Serie A.
Juventus is entering this matchup with hopes high, having won five out of their last six games. Despite their success, they recently faced elimination from the Champions League against PSV Eindhoven. Currently sitting fourth in Serie A, they are eight points behind leaders Inter Milan, but consistency appears to be on their side heading to the cup.
Manager Thiago Motta faces some challenges as four players—Nicolo Savona, Renato Veiga, Pierre Kalulu, and Gleison Bremer—are sidelined due to injury. The squad will rely on Timothy Weah, Federico Gatti, Lloyd Kelly, and Andrea Cambiaso to shore up the defense. Midfield is expected to feature Khephren Thuram and Manuel Locatelli, with Vlahovic and Randal Kolo Muani could make their starting debut together, adding anticipation to Juventus's attacking strategy.
Meanwhile, Empoli has had a rough season, finding themselves at the bottom of the league table. After impressive early performances, they have fallen from grace, registering only two points from their last eleven matches and sitting at 18th place with 21 points. Their past three seasons have seen struggles for survival, and they will enter this game following a disheartening 5-0 defeat against Atalanta.
Despite their league woes, Empoli has made headway since the start of the Coppa Italia, knocking out teams like Torino and Fiorentina to reach this stage. They have faced Juventus recently, suffering a heavy 4-1 loss, and the current form suggests another tough outing.
This quarter-final is pivotal for both teams. Juventus hopes to leverage their recent home advantage where they’ve won their past three matches, including one against arch-rivals Inter Milan, to carry momentum deep within this tournament. According to Football Italia reports, kick-off will be precisely at 20:00 GMT, with local broadcasters primed to cover the significant event, ensuring fans do not miss any action.
Formation expectations for Juventus include a 4-2-3-1 lineup, consisting of {"Perin; Weah, Gatti, Kelly, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Thuram; Kolo Muani, McKennie, N.Gonzalez; Vlahovic"}. Empoli’s formation is likely to be 3-5-2, highlighted as {"Vasquez; Marianucci, Ismajli, Tosto; Sambia, Kovalenko, Henderson, Maleh, Cacace; Kouamè, Colombo"}.
For Juventus, the stakes are now higher; their recent cup form must translate onto the pitch, as they look to secure their position for the semi-finals, going up against Bologna should they proceed. Competitively, the prospects look grim for Empoli, bearing both league and cup struggles, necessitating stellar performances from young talents such as Luca Marianucci and experienced players alike to challenge the formidable Juve. The game promises to be thrilling as both squads aim for glory, demonstrating their resilience on the field.
Fans of both sides can watch the game live through various broadcasting channels. The Juventus faithfull rely on their team to continue the cup defense relentlessly, whilst Empoli supporters are merely hoping for signs of revival.