Empoli has knocked Juventus out of the Coppa Italia on penalties, leaving the Bianconeri facing the prospect of finishing the season without silverware.
Nicolas Gonzalez set the tone early with a shot that narrowly missed the target inside the opening two minutes. Juve continued to push, with Dusan Vlahovic heading wide, but their missed opportunities would soon prove costly.
Youssef Maleh produced a stunning strike from outside the box to give Empoli the lead, shocking Juventus into action as they pressed forward in search of an equaliser.
Having suffered a heavy defeat to the Bianconeri just over 20 days ago, Empoli appeared to have learned their lesson. The visitors nearly doubled their advantage in first-half stoppage time when Ismael Konaté struck the post. Maleh went close again after the break, but this time, Mattia Perin denied him with a fine save.
Juventus remained desperate for a breakthrough, with Vlahovic testing Devis Stiven Vásquez Llach from a free kick. Empoli continued to pose a threat, and Junior Sambia forced another important stop from Perin.
Just past the hour mark, Juventus finally found their equaliser through Khephren Thuram, who finished brilliantly after a superb solo run. With momentum on their side, the hosts pushed for a winner, with Vlahovic drawing a brilliant save from Vásquez Llach before Kenan Yildiz and Vlahovic both missed chances to seal victory.
With neither side able to find another goal, the match went to penalties. Empoli completed the upset as Kenan Yildiz and Vlahovic missed from the spot, sending Juventus crashing out of the competition.
Motta OUT
#AllegriIn #MottaOut Almost the whole team was clueless, did not have any idea what to do, slept through the whole first half, Koop frankly just sucks and can only give simple passes 3-4 meters away, is slow, same as Vlahovich who has ball control of a 10 years old kid, probably even worse finishing and seems to be thinking sooo slow when having to make a decision, Kelly’s passes also suck and is very uncertain at the back, Cambiaso is not the same player after the injury. I believe that Perrin could have also done better for Empoli’s goal, but he is generally not to blame for the loss. For me, only Muani, Thuram and Gatti had a decent game and some idea on the pitch.
And for some strange reason it seems to me that almost every Juve player keeps just getting sh*ttier and worse. I don’t know if it is the tactics, Motta himself, the club, the pressure of the Juve shirt, but there is just no style and no general idea on how to attack, win games, keep a score and even defend.
Allegri in? Are you feeling well? The team is not good, but you shouldn’t come up with such nonsense. Allegri’s second-round coaching was a disaster.
It was sarcasm about the #AllegriOut hastag that keeps showing up on comments and the current #MottaOut one, but I won’t get in too much details as it is pointless at this time and the current state of the team.
DV9 and Koop r disasters, but at least I found word to describe.
Motta is a fkn whatsoever.
#Mottaout. #DVout. I’ve had enough of DV. Inexcusable pen. 12 million a year and not willing to negotiate … get out. And again him not having a right foot costs us. Motta just doesn’t know his players at all. DV should not be playing. 4 wins kolo up front scoring goals. Then decides – No I was wrong – let’s put DV upfront from now on. Fluke goal gifted to DV by Mina last game otherwise nothing. Kolo suffers being further from the goal and so does the team. Thuram is an attacking midfielder but Motta continues to play him as a defensive covering midfielder. Scores two goals in one game earlier this season driving into the box. Scores a brilliant goal driving into the box again. Everytime Thuram gets the ball and dribbles aggressively up the field teams cannot match him, but he isn’t encouraged to do that. Maleh doesn’t score if Thuram isn’t trying to be a defensive midfielder and looking clueless as how to do it as he watches the ball fly into the net. And again off the throw in at the beginning of the second half Thuram completely asleep and maleh draws a good save from Perin with another long shot. Motta is completely out of his depth. He will go down as one of the worst managers in juve history. Can someone explain ONE thing, just one, that Motta has got right this term? Just one? I can’t. This team would be better under Allegri and I detest Allegri.
Most of DV9’s shoot are off target even it’s an easy one, unbelievable. He is very bad at one on one either. 3m salary no more. Motta is reluctant to play him but needs to raise his price to sell.
I said many times, Koop is none of DM, AM and anchor/playmaker. He is a very expensive cost to the team. I don’t know which formation fits him.
If Loca doesn’t play and there’s no anchor in the team. Can’t believe Motta is not aware of this. Sold Fagioli without replacement is ridiculous. Cambiasso is always absentminded and playing fire.
Motta is destined to be one of the worst in the history of. At least Allegri’s team can hold the lead and mentally stronger.
Get Conte is the quickest solution and no time to waste another season
Yes, DV is joke. But his disproportionately high salary is even too bad for a joke.
Juve is not winning silverware this season. If they win serie A that says that serie A is in huge trouble as a league and was incredibly poor this year. This team is the best Serie A has to offer? I would be ashamed as president of Serie A if I had to say that.
We certainly won’t win anything. But I don’t think the worthless Coppa Italia would have changed the unsuccessful season. We should have won the Serie A and achieve the last 8 in the Champions League, not chased a silly cup to win something.
i knew this team would take time so i wasn’t expecting anything substantial in the Champions League. But to get destroyed by PSV??? No. Unacceptable. With the money spent. Unacceptable. If he had the team allegri had last term i would give him more slack, but not now. You have no excuses.
I think they dont even reach top 4 this season.
Would be curious to see what the management does then…
I hope this game was a “wake-up call” for Motta!