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
45 mins: Juventus make the quick start to the second half as De Sciglio crosses the ball towards Ronaldo but the defender heads it away and wins a cheap foul.
47 mins: HOW HAVEN'T JUVENTUS EQUALISED!?
Three clear cut chances in the space of a minute for Pjanic, Alex Sandro and Dybala and Juventus are definitely going through the gears.
The Empoli defence is going to have a very difficult half indeed.
Pjanic's chance was probably the hardest of the three but it falls to him on the edge of the 6-yard-box and despite the awkward bounce he connects beautifully with the ball but a combination of the goalkeeper and the crossbar keep the score 1-0 with Alex Sandro unable to net after the rebound.
50 mins: Empoli still showing they're a threat from the counter attack though with that man Acquah showing his pace once again and winning a pair of corners.
53 mins: Juventus can count themselves a bit fortunate to win the penalty as Dybala sneaks up behind Bennacer and wins the ball from him.
The defender tries to recover and makes an attempt to win it back and softly fells the Argentine. The referee blows for the penalty and VAR was not checked.
Long half for Empoli to hang on, now.
58 mins: This Empoli side continue to look a threat going forward and there's no reason they can't pinch another on the break.
It depends if they can get the ball of Juventus, though.
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