Italian champions Juventus travel to Empoli on Saturday evening, hoping to put the midweek Serie A defeat to Genoa in the back of their minds.
The two teams have faced each other 14 times, with the Bianconeri winning nine and three of the last fixtures, while the Azzurri have won two and there have been three draws between the two sides.
The last time these teams played it ended in a goalless draw was back in 2008, but in there previous meeting there was a goalfest as the Old Lady emerged 5-3 victors in a Coppa Italia tie. Of the 14 fixtures in total, there has been 45 goals as Juventus have netted 32 and conceded just 13.
The home side go into the game sitting in 17th place with only one win to their name, when they beat fellow promoted side Palermo 3-0 at the Stadio Castellani, and have since gone three games without a win, losing to Sassuolo and Cagliari, which followed a 1-1 draw with Genoa.
Reigning champions Juventus are top of the Serie A table but lost their first game of the season on Wednesday night away to Genoa as Luca Antonini netted in the last minute of the match.
For the weekend’s match the newly promoted side will be without Luigi Sepe and Tiberio Guarente whilst Vincent Laurini is doubtful for the fixture. The Azzurri will be expected to play a 4-4-2 formation with top goalscorer Manuel Pucciarelli leading the line with veteran striker Massimo Maccarone.
The away side are thought to be playing their consistent 3-1-4-2 formation with Andrea Pirlo coming into the side to play the deep-lying midfielder after not featuring in the 1-0 defeat to Genoa. The Bianconeri are without Patrice Evra, Martin Caceres and Andrea Barzagli who are injured. Simone Pepe and Luca Marrone are doubtful for the champions.
Top goalscorer Carlos Tevez will be up front with either Alvaro Morata or Fernando Llorente, but it is more likely to be the latter after the Spaniard scored in the weekend win over Palermo.
Expected Starting XIs
Empoli: Bassi; Tonelli, Hisaj, Rugani, Rui; Valdifiori, Vecino, Croce, Zielinski; Maccarone, Pucciarelli.
Juventus: Buffon; Bonucci, Ogbonna, Chiellini; Lichsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Pogba, Asamoah; Tevez, Llorente.
