For all intents and purposes, the Scudetto will be decided between Juventus and Napoli. The Bianconeri are hoping to make it a fifth straight league title for the second time in their history, whilst the Partenopei are seeking to end a 26-year wait to get their hands on the coveted crown.
With just three points between the two sides, it will take just one stumble for one team to find themselves in a precarious position. And Juventus will certainly want to make sure it is not them to slip up as they prepare to welcome a floundering Empoli side to Turin later today.
Juventus
In the last round, Juventus successfully saw off Torino in the Derby della Mole as they cruised to a 4-1 victory. It was also a special game for Bianconeri skipper Gianluigi Buffon, who set a new record - 974 minutes - for the longest period of time without conceding a goal in the league, and Massimiliano Allegri will be again counting on the veteran to do what he does best against Empoli this evening.
La Vecchia Signora have won all but one out of their past 20 games, with the only hiccup being 0-0 draw with Bologna. The win against their cross-town rivals in last month's derby will have restored some confidence to the side after their disappointing Champions League exit at the hands of Bayern Munich, and they now will have just domestic trophies to play for.
Nonetheless, despite the disappointment of their European campaign ending so early, Juventus still have the Coppa Italia, and of course, the Scudetto to play for. And given Empoli's dismal form, the Azzurri, in theory, should not present them with too much trouble as they hope to make it 20 wins in 21 league games.
However, Allegri will be missing quite a few key players for this game. Both Sami Khedira and Alex Sandro are banned, as is Leonardo Bonucci (who is also injured). Giorgio Chiellini could make an appearance after missing out on the two-legged tie versus Bayern Munich, and they have been further bolstered by the return of Andrea Barzagli and Claudio Marchisio. However, Paulo Dybala, who reportedly trained separately on Thursday, will not be able to feature.
As a result, Allegri will probably rely on Alvaro Morata and Mario Mandzukic to lead the line. Morata, who was quite impressive in the match against Bayern Munich, appears to be slowly returning to form, but as for Mandzukic, he will be hoping to finally end his goal drought that has seen him fail to score since last December.
Empoli
Not only are Empoli within a win in their last five games, but also Marco Giampaolo's side are on the worst run of results of any side in Serie A. With no wins in their past 11 games, Empoli have picked up a dismal six points out of 33. Still, given that they are in 11th place, they are highly unlikely to be relegated, but their tepid form surely will not be impressing their fans one bit.
The Azzurri were defeated 3-1 in the reverse fixture against La Vecchia Signora last season and have a long and frustrating record when it comes to playing Juventus. In fact, one will have to go back nearly exactly 17 years to find the last time Empoli managed to defeat the Bianconeri in Serie A: on April 3, 1999.
Giampaolo's squad will be coming into this game having posted two draws, which somewhat helped to arrest a disappointing three game losing streak. However, only one side has managed to leave Juventus Stadium with a win in hand this season, and given their sluggish performances, Empoli do not look likely to become the second.
Which channel is broadcasting Juventus vs Empoli on TV or Online?
Udinese were the first - and last - team to leave Juventus Stadium with a win in hand this season, and the Bianconeri obviously are not going to make things easy for a struggling Empoli side. For those too far away to make it to Turin, don't worry. LiveSoccerTV.com has put together some choices for you to view the game via TV, computer, phone, or tablet.
Here are some options for fans living elsewhere in Italy and in the following countries:
- In the USA at 14.45 EST on: beIN SPORTS CONNECT U.S.A., RAI International
- In Italy at 20.45 CET on: Sky Sport 1 HD Italia, Sky Calcio 1, SKY Go Italia, Sky Supercalcio HD, PremiumSport HD
- In the UK at 19.45 BST on: BT Sport Europe
- In Canada at 14.45 ET on: beIN SPORTS CONNECT Canada, RAI International
Live elsewhere? Check out our special Juventus vs Empoli broadcast page for viewing times and options for your current location.
*Note: Live broadcast data is subject to change*
Match details, result and original broadcast info
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