21 May 2023
The most recent visit to Empoli is remembered for two main reasons conncected to the number 5.
It was the fifth consecutive Juventus victory at the Castellani thanks a five-goal thriller.
STARTING LINE-UP
It was matchday 27 played on 26 February 2022. Juventus lined up with the following formation: Szczęsny; Danilo, Bonucci, De Ligt; Cuadrado, Zakaria, Arthur, Rabiot, Pellegrini; Vlahović, Kean.
MOISE HITS THE MARK
Juventus wasted no time in putting the home defence under pressure. Straight from kick-off the Bianconeri set about attacking the Empoli rearguard and created three chances in the first eight minutes. Danilo, Denis Zakaria and Dušan Vlahović all came close to breaking the deadlock.
However, it took over half an hour before Juve made the breakthrough. Vlahović opend up play for Adrien Rabiot, who delivered a delightful ball into the middle. Moise Kean met the cross to place a header beyond Guglielmo Vicario.
DUŠAN'S FIRST
The Tuscans equalised through Szymon Żurkowski following a scramble from a corner kick, However, in first-half injury time, Vlahović displayed his finishing instinct.
Arthur got the ball rolling with a pass to Juan Cuadrado, who fed Dušan. The striker showed poise firstly to find space and secondly to bury his left foot shot into the net.
DUŠAN'S SECOND
Chances were more difficult to come by after the interval. Yet it was still Vlahović who dominated the scene.
Juve's third goal came from a give-and-go with Alvaro Morata. The Serbian striker accepted his teammate's invitation with a deft first touch before getting the better of Vicario when facing the keeper one-on-one. With 25 minutes to play Juve seemed home and dry.
RUNNING A RISK
Empoli might have been down but they were far from out and reacted again. With a quarter of an hour remaining the home team scored a second goal Andrea La Mantia only minutes after Leonardo Bonucci had struck his own crossbar. However, it was the captain who denied La Mantia a quick double and the equaliser when he partially blocked the Empoli substitute's effort.
Juve raised their attention in defence and risked little in the closing stages to hold on for a 3-2 win.
