TURIN. The Stadium whistles, while a shocked Juve finds itself in one fell swoop without Ronaldo, defeated at home by the newly promoted Empoli and with only one point in the standings after two days. If this is not a nightmare, then it is the curse of the number 7 because in the first match without the Portuguese champion Leonardo Mancuso, intrepid number seven of the Tuscans, will think about scoring a historic goal for Empoli and damn heavy for the bianconeri. The 17,500 fans vent their disappointment for a knockout that sends Juve to -5 from leaders Inter, but above all opens doubts about a project still to be defined and which has lost its best striker. The absence of CR7 feels like this in a game, even if there are no chants or banners at the start of the game. At most a few ironic shirts retouched to exorcise his farewell, but in the end the ghost of Ronaldo hovers over the whole Juventus world.
The Juventus construction site had already opened before, let alone now with Cristiano’s farewell. After the 4-4-2 deployed in Udine with Morata-Dybala in attack and Cuadrado-Bernardeschi on the flanks, Massimiliano Allegri against Empoli pulls out a 4-3-1-2 where McKennie finds himself in the role of attacking midfielder-attacker in support of the Dybala-Chiesa tandem, while in midfield Danilo finds himself as a director with Bentancur and Rabiot at his side. The start is good for the bianconeri thanks to Chiesa, who touches two goals (4 ‘and 12’) only because the Vicario goalkeeper is well inspired, but on 21 ‘the freezing point falls at the Stadium for the Tuscan advantage thanks to the “robbery” goal ”By Mancuso after a shot by Bajrami (who had also started the action finished by Bandinelli) and the sleep of Rabiot. Juve tries to react immediately with Chiesa, shot deflected for a corner by Vicario in the 22nd minute, but it’s a flash in the pan. Empoli plays better, becomes dangerous with Cutrone (conclusion out at 25 ‘) and could also benefit from Chiesa’s own goal at 45’ (careful Szczesny on the dangerous backward header), while the bianconeri show themselves only for the protests for a probable penalty not whistled by the referee Ghersini at 30 ‘on the Luperto-Dybala contact.
In the second half Allegri immediately tries to change the music, replacing the bewildered McKennie (23 years old today, not exactly the best of birthdays) with a real striker. Morata tries and gives points of reference in attack, but Empoli defends itself intelligently and manages to keep Juve away. Dybala’s attempts are many, but fruitless and not even the inclusion of Bernardeschi and then of Kulusevski change the result. Juve is disconnected, struggling to create real dangers and in the end the siege produces little or nothing. The best opportunity matures at 26 ‘with a percussion by Kulusevski in the area for the other newly entered Locatelli, the blue tries the touch to equalize, but it is not really air. And in the end it ends with a hurricane of whistles and a cloud of anger to overwhelm a Juve who hoped to turn the page and instead find themselves orphaned by Ronaldo and full of doubts.
The emotions of the match minute by minute
The referee whistles the end: Juventus-Empoli 0-1.
49 & # 39; Morata turns first a perfect assist for Locatelli, his conclusion goes out. Juventus had the perfect opportunity for the 1-1, but everything needs to be redone.
46 & # 39; Pinamonti wins the duel with Bonucci, looks for Haas in the middle but De Ligt closes.
44 ‘Danilo is warned.
43 & # 39; Bianconero corner, but Bonucci’s attempt at screwing ends very high.
40 & # 39; Empoli keeps Juventus crushed in defense by maneuvering on the left wing. When the bianconeri are overturned forward, the Tuscan defense has never yielded an inch in the area to Morata, Dybala, Kulusevski and Locatelli, the four to whom Allegri has entrusted the latest attacks.
37 ‘Last change for Allegri: De Sciglio inside for Cuadrado.
33 ‘Double change Empoli: out of Cutrone and Bandinelli, in Henderson and Zurkowski.
31 & # 39; Empoli always proactive forward, Juve fails to get out and makes a mistake in the restart with a hurried defense and midfield. Allegri from the bench shouts “Calm”.
28 ‘Debut for Pinamonti who takes over Mancuso. Three minutes earlier Andreazzoli chose to include Stulac for Bajrami.
26 ‘Kulusevski stoic always on the center-left, the assist for Locatelli who cuts again inside the area is tense but the conclusion ends up outside.
24 ‘Phrasing between Morata and Locatelli in the heart of the opposing area but Empoli remains behind the bianconeri and the shot of the former Sassuolo midfielder does not get to worry Vicario.
21 ‘Inside Locatelli and Kulusevski for Bentancur and Chiesa.
20 ‘Pushes Cuadrado, but the tense cross ends up on Vicario’s legs and not Morata’s. On the developments of the corner, CHiesa loses the ball and Empoli goes on the counterattack: overturning for Cutrone wrong. Juve closes.
19 ‘Corner for Empoli, nothing done. The bianconeri lose the ball at the exit, the blues try again but Bandinelli’s shot is high. On the overturn in front of Morata tries to serve a teammate but Empoli goes into transition: the two teams fail to create great dangers.
15 ‘Free kick by Dybala from a tight angle: out.
13 ‘Dybala returns to take the initiative: left-handed with a powerful turn but not angled enough to overcome Vicario, ball out.
11 ‘Ammonito Ismajli.
10 & # 39; In Juve, Rabiot comes out, inside Bernardeschi.
6 ‘In front of us we can still see Empoli with Haas and Bajrami overtaking Alex Sandro on the left wing for Juventus. The Tuscans earn two corners, Juve are unable to restart.
3 ‘Enveloping action by Empoli that frees Bajrami on the left. Szczesny sends the first-intention shot for a corner. On the development of the corner kick, the ball ends up in the hands of the Pole after a pinball machine.
2 ‘Immediate response from Empoli: Cutrone wins his duel, serves Haas who runs behind him and looks for the near post: Szczesny controls. On the overturning in front of Dybala he frees himself from the shot from outside but Vicario controls the low shot of the black and white.
1 ‘Allegri is played for the first change: outside McKennie, inside Morata. The striker gets noticed immediately by stealing a ball from Empoli, but his cross is deflected and ends up comfortably in Vicario’s hands.
The second half begins
Partial unbelievable at Juventus Stadium: Allegri’s Juve, called to respond after the draw in Udine and the Cr7 chaos, are down 0-1 against the newly promoted Empoli. Mancuso scored, bianconeri dangerous three times with Chiesa but not very clean in the defensive phase on the counterattacks of Bajrami, Mancuso and Cutrone. Dybala without reference to the center of the attack.
The first half ends
45 ‘Counterattack led by Cutrone, on his cross for Bandinella there is Chiesa who, however, is looking for a risky back pass: a parable that worries Szczesny, corner.
42 ‘Dybala loses the ball, Danilo only touches and Bajrami can run with long strides towards Szczesny’s goal. His right is violent but it ends up on Bonucci, good at blocking.
36 & # 39; In Juve, Dybala struggles to light up without Morata’s reference at the center of the attack. The rhythms rise and the Bianconeri pass on the flanks, but the Empoli defenders keep a good watch on the crosses.
32 ‘Stojanovic is booked.
30 ‘Insistent action by Juve, Dybala falls in the area but the referee does not blow the whistle. Chiesa recovers the vacant ball and tries to dribble, on his cross Rabiot is not reactive at the far post.
29 ‘Error at the exit for Juve who suffers from the disordered but effective pressing of Empoli: Dybala loses the ball, Tuscans forward but Bandinelli loses control of the ball on the left.
25 ‘Cutrone explodes his right foot from outside, the ball is out of the mirror but another thrill for the bianconeri.
22 & # 39; Prompt reaction of the Church, who tries with his right from outside the area: Vicar still protagonist.
21’ Empoli goals. Splendid action from Empoli, Bandinelli-Bajrami exchange who kicks. Juve defense inaccurate and unfortunate in the rebound that leads Mancuso to hit only in the heart of the area. Szczesny pierced without blame.
19 ‘Chiesa is lively and Cuadrado continues to aim for Marchizza, but Empoli resists, worrying the Juventus defense with long balls and the initiatives of the two strikers, left alone in front.
14 ‘Cutrone goes away to defend Juve, puts in the middle for Mancuso but Juve is saved in the corner.
12 & # 39; Chiesa makes the defense of Empoli go crazy: solitary action to distance himself from three blue defenders and right to cross on which Vicar performs a miracle.
10 ‘Juve’s defense is high, Mancuso looks for Bandinelli launched towards the area with a filtering diagonal but Szczesny comes out of his area and sweeps.
8 ‘This time Juve tries from the right: Cuadrado puts in the middle of a cross-shot that Chiesa only touches, the ball ends up in a lineout. But what a thrill for Empoli.
6 & # 39; Empoli fails to lean forward, Juventus is in control and seeks the goal by maneuvering on the left wing.
4 ‘Church in progression on the left: he does all by himself, evades the pressure of an opponent but the left-handed ends up on Vicar. Angle.
2 ‘Juventus immediately forward, with Bonucci looking for a stunt shot from a cross. But the referee stops everything for a Bentancur foul.
Juventus-Empoli has begun, the first of the bianconeri without Cristiano Ronaldo.
The official formations
Juventus (4-3-3): Szczesny; Cuadrado, De Ligt, Bonucci, Alex Sandro; Bentancur, Danilo, Rabiot; Church, Dybala, McKennie.
Empoli (4-3-1-2): Vicar; Stojanovic, Ismajli, Luperto, Marchizza; Haas, Ricci, Bandinelli; Bajrami; Mancuso, Cutrone.