Empoli vs Juventus - Serie A LIVE: Latest updates as Cristiano Ronaldo scores two goals
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Your support makes all the difference.Juventus will look to get back to winning ways in Serie A when they travel to third-from-bottom Empoli on Saturday evening.
Massimiliano Allegri’s outfit were comfortable winners against Manchester United in the Champions League in midweek but dropped their first points of the season in all competitions last weekend with a 1-1 draw at home to Genoa.
Empoli’s only win of the season came on the opening day against Cagliari, and having lost five of the subsequent eight games, Aurelio Andreazzoli’s side are right up against it as they welcome the champions to Tuscany.
Follow the live action below:
What time does it start?
Empoli vs Juventus kicks off at 5pm.
Where can I watch it?
The match will be shown live on Eleven Sports 2 from 4:50pm. Fans can also watch the match on Eleven Sports through iOS mobile and tablet apps as well as on Android mobiles. Highlights will be shown at 11:30pm on Eleven Sports 2.
It’s a big game for…
Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese set up Dybala for the winner against his former club but the 33-year-old was not as influential as the United faithful became accustomed to seeing during his time in Manchester. He had a rasping drive expertly saved by David de Gea, but his lack of opportunities in front of goal was out of character for the former Real Madrid man.
Player to watch…
Miralem Pjanic. The Bosnian’s performance at Old Trafford demonstrated to the Manchester United faithful exactly what they are lacking in their midfield. He was composed and easy on the eye throughout the 90 minutes and he ensured the Old Lady kept the ball ticking at all times. Empoli will be in for a tough evening if they let the 28-year-old dictate terms as he did in midweek.
Past three meetings…
Juventus 2 (Skorupski og, Alex Sandro) Empoli 0, Serie A, February 2017
Empoli 0 Juventus 3 (Dybala, Higuain x2), Serie A, October 2016
Juventus 1 (Mandzukic) Empoli 0, Serie A, April 2016
Form guide…
Empoli: LLDLLD
Juventus: WWWWDW
Odds…
Empoli to win: 10/1
Juventus to win: 27/100
Draw: 17/4
17 mins: CHANCE! Two corners go through everyone in the Empoli box and no Juve players can get on the end of them.
20 mins: CHANCE! This time it's Empoli's turn from a corner to have an opportunity with the ball falling in the 6-yard-box but no attacker was quickest to think and Juventus scrambles the ball to safety.
23 mins: Empoli certainly showing Juventus less respect than Manchester United did on Tuesday evening and the underdogs are causing some real problems.
24 mins: Krunic curls a shot from the edge of the box which Szczesny collects with ease but it's still an opening and progress for the home side.
26 mins: CHANCE! Empoli and Maietta will be breathing a big sigh of relief as Matuidi's low cross is dealt with by the veteran defender....just!
EMPOLI 1-0 JUVENTUS
Fabulous work down the right hand side as Acquah takes on Matuidi and beats him with ease cutting the ball back towards the centre.
It's tee'd back to Caputo who curls a wonderful strike beyond the former Arsenal man and Empoli, involved in a relegation battle themselves score just their 4th home goal of the season.
The Old Lady with work to do.
30 mins: CHANCE!
Juventus have the chance to hit back as Ronaldo, who's been anonymous so far, lines up a free-kick from the left hand side. His free-kick is poor but it's cleared into the path of Dybala.
It falls to his weaker foot but he should still be doing better and blazes it far over.
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