Juventus Faces Crucial Test Against Empoli Amid Injury Crisis

TURIN, Italy — Juventus manager Thiago Motta faces mounting pressure as his team prepares to host Empoli in a pivotal Serie A clash on Sunday. With injuries piling up and recent poor results, including a 2-1 defeat to Napoli and a Champions League loss to Benfica, Juventus must secure a win to keep their top-four hopes alive.

The match, set to kick off at 11:30 GMT at Juventus Stadium, comes at a critical juncture for the Bianconeri. Injuries have sidelined key players, including Pierre Kalulu, Andrea Cambiaso, Arkadiusz Milik, Gleison Bremer, and Juan Cabal. New signing Randal Kolo Muani, who scored on his debut against Napoli, returns to the lineup after being cup-tied in Europe, pushing Dusan Vlahovic to the bench.

Motta acknowledged the challenges ahead, emphasizing the importance of consistency and mental strength. “We’re not happy with the latest results, but the important thing is to focus on tomorrow’s match and achieve success,” he said. “In football, everything counts, including mentality. We work on every aspect of our game, and sometimes it’s frustrating when we don’t achieve the desired result.”

Empoli, meanwhile, arrives in Turin with just two points from their last seven Serie A games. The team will be without banned players Alberto Grassi and Giuseppe Pezzella, as well as injured stars Nicolas Haas, Ola Solbakken, Tyronne Ebuehi, Saba Sazonov, and Pietro Pellegri. Defender Mattia Viti is also not fully fit, leaving striker Lorenzo Colombo to lead the attack.

Juventus’ defensive woes have been exacerbated by injuries, prompting Motta to experiment with new formations. Renato Veiga, a recent loan signing from Chelsea, is expected to make his debut in the starting XI. “Veiga can play as a central defender, full-back, or in midfield,” Motta said. “We’ll see how he fits into the team.”

Despite the challenges, Motta remains optimistic about his squad’s depth, particularly in attack. “The forwards we have can play together because they have great characteristics and are complementary,” he said. “We have options, and that’s a positive.”

Sunday’s match is not just about three points; it’s a chance for Juventus to regain momentum ahead of their Coppa Italia quarter-final rematch with Empoli on February 26. For Motta and his team, the stakes couldn’t be higher.