Juventus, the most successful club in Coppa Italia history, suffered a surprising and disappointing elimination from the tournament on Wednesday at the Allianz Stadium, Turim. The Bianconeri, who have 15 Coppa Italia titles to their name, faced off against Empoli and ended the match at 1-1, only to lose 4-2 on penalties.
Empoli, currently struggling near the relegation zone of Serie A, shocked the Italian football community with this victory, which saw the team advance to the semifinals after beating Fiorentina the previous round. The Tuscan side celebrated intensely as they secured their spot, poised to clash with Bologna on April 2.
The match commenced with high expectations for Juventus, who were favorites playing at home against Empoli, positioned merely 18th on the league table. Unexpectedly, it was Empoli who took the lead at the 24th minute when Youssef Maleh struck from outside the box, finding the bottom corner and beating goalkeeper Mattia Perin, who, though he dove to save, was unable to make the stop.
Despite the early setback, the Juventus players searched for answers and came close on several occasions. Empoli remained audacious, almost doubling their lead just before half-time when striker Konaté hit the crossbar, leaving Juve fans on edge.
After the break, Juventus ramped up the pressure. Dusan Vlahovic nearly leveled the score with a well-placed free-kick which required an outstanding save from Empoli's goalkeeper, Devis Vásquez. The equalizer finally came from the promising Khéphren Thuram at the 65th minute, who produced a magnificent solo effort, deftly eluding his marker before placing his shot past Vásquez.
The minutes leading up to the full-time whistle were frenetic, with both teams trading scoring opportunities. Empoli remained resilient, absorbing pressure and countering on the attack, presenting numerous threats. Despite frantic efforts from Vlahovic, who had several missed opportunities, the game ended 1-1, leading to penalties.
The penalty shootouts would prove hazardous for Juventus. Vlahovic stepped up first only to send his shot high over the bar. The situation did not improve for Juve when young star Kenan Yıldız had his attempt saved by Vásquez. For the Bianconeri, only Kolo Muani and Locatelli converted their penalties. Contrarily, Empoli was flawless, with all four of their shooters—Henderson, Kouamé, Cacace, and Marianucci—hitting the target successfully, sealing their advance.
This early exit from the Coppa Italia marks yet another disappointment for Juventus, who was eliminated from the Champions League just a week earlier. It leaves the team staring down the barrel of potentially ending the 2024/25 season without any trophies—a stark reality for the club known for its storied history.
The upcoming schedule sees Juventus tasked with their next match against Hellas Verona on Monday, March 3, needing to shift focus back to Serie A as they look to salvage their tumultuous season. Meanwhile, Empoli will face Genoa on Sunday, March 2, as they aim to escape the relegation zone.