Get all your news in one place.

100’s of premium titles.
One app.

Start reading

Get all your news in one place.

100’s of premium titles. One news app.

Start reading

The Independent UK

World

Kishan Vaghela, Nathan Jacobs

Empoli vs Juventus - Serie A LIVE: Latest score and updates

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:

EUROPEAN NEWS

2018-10-27T18:04:53.880Z

Thanks for joining us for the action this evening as Juventus extend their grip at the top of Serie A.

This man netted his sixth and seventh goals in the famous black and white strip as the relentless Juve train marches on.

2018-10-27T18:01:33.990Z

Juventus have extended their lead at the top of the table to seven points as things stand with Napoli still to play their game in hand.

Empoli, meanwhile, remain in 18th but can consider themselves unlucky to have not got anything today.

They have fixtures against teams around them in the coming weeks and will hope to capitalise on the opportunity.

FULL TIME

2018-10-27T17:59:55.953Z

EMPOLI 1-2 JUVENTUS

The Old Lady have been forced to work very hard for these three points but a Cristiano Ronaldo brace provided the hard-fought victory.

Empoli took a surprise lead into the second half as Caputo struck a wonderful left footed drive beyond Szczesny.

But Juventus hit back after the break with a controversial penalty before Ronaldo stole the show with a wonderful 30-yard strike.

Empoli continued to battle until the final seconds but simply did not have the quality to equalise.

2018-10-27T17:57:05.073Z

90+3 mins: CHANCE!

Last chance saloon for Empoli and the free-kick ricochets for a chance but it it cleared again.

Caputo sees the ball fall to him on the edge of the box and he tries a speculative left footed drive that looks set for the top corner but it goes just over the bar.

MATCH ACTION

2018-10-27T17:52:40.660Z

90+1 mins: Juventus clear the danger and win a free-kick in their own half.

I imagine they're in no rush to take this.

SUBS

2018-10-27T17:52:10.620Z

90 mins: Barzagli coming on for De Sciglio to make a flat back five and try and hold on to their 3 points.

Corner to Empoli, though.

MATCH ACTION

2018-10-27T17:50:19.200Z

88 mins: CHANCE!

It's a half chance really for Empoli but Krunic makes a bit of room for himself on the edge of the box but drags his right-footed shot and it's tame.

Easy to collect for Szczesny.

2018-10-27T17:48:42.666Z

86 mins: Empoli still trying to build but struggling to really create any more opportunities.

2018-10-27T17:47:02.736Z

Ronaldo celebrating his wonder strike.

SUBS

2018-10-27T17:43:49.153Z

82 mins: Traore replaced by La Gumina in a bid to snatch an equaliser.

MATCH ACTION

2018-10-27T17:42:13.670Z

79 mins: Wasted chance for Empoli whose free-kick is safely gathered by Szczesny but an even bigger chance to secure the game for Juventus as Cuadrado is bearing down on goal.

He's looking to find Ronaldo all the time rather than concentrating on scoring alone and the move breaks down.

YELLOW CARD

2018-10-27T17:39:40.516Z

78 mins: Dybala goes in to the book for a petulant foul after losing the ball.

2018-10-27T17:39:01.840Z

77 mins: Juventus are just passing the ball around with ease now but I imagine Cristiano is desperate for the hattrick.

Sat on a brace at the moment.

2018-10-27T17:36:51.046Z

And here is that wonder striker which has given Juventus the lead with 15 minutes left on the clock:

2018-10-27T17:36:15.700Z

His sixth goal of the season was important.

His seventh was special.

MATCH ACTION

2018-10-27T17:33:46.386Z

The Portuguese striker receives the ball 30 yards from goal, touches it a couple of inches in front of himself and leathers it.

The ball bends and moves and flashes into the top corner and there's no controversy about this one.

Juventus came out in the second half with a higher tempo and have been forced to perform magic and that's what Ronaldo is there for.

GOAL!

2018-10-27T17:31:48.263Z

69 mins: EMPOLI 1-2 JUVENTUS

RONALDO SCORES AGAIN AND WHAT A GOAL!

MATCH ACTION

2018-10-27T17:28:39.183Z

66 mins: Krunic' shot is deflected towards goal but the deep defensive Juventus line deals with the danger.

SUBS

2018-10-27T17:27:33.993Z

65 mins: Finally! Bernardeschi, who's had a disappointing game, is replaced by the former Chelsea man.

2018-10-27T17:26:48.526Z

64 mins: A bit scrappy in the middle for the past few minutes and Cuadrado is still waiting patiently on the bench!

Juventus can't get him on, yet.

12 3 4

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.

Ronaldo didn’t look his usual self against United this week (Getty)

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