Juventus climbed into Serie A’s top four with an emphatic 4-1 comeback victory over Empoli at the Allianz Stadium on Sunday. Randal Kolo Muani was the star of the show, netting a quickfire double to inspire the Bianconeri after they fell behind early.
Match Recap
First Half
- 4′ | Goal – Juventus 0-1 Empoli ⚽
- Mattia De Sciglio stunned the home crowd by giving Empoli an early lead.
- The defender nodded home from a corner, capitalizing on poor marking by Juventus’ defense.
- Juventus Struggle to Break Through
- Despite dominating possession, Juventus lacked cutting edge in the final third.
- Federico Chiesa and Adrien Rabiot both had efforts saved by Empoli goalkeeper Etrit Berisha.
Second Half
- 61′ | Goal – Juventus 1-1 Empoli (Kolo Muani) ⚽
- Randal Kolo Muani finally broke through, tapping in from close range after Chiesa’s low cross caused chaos in the box.
- 64′ | Goal – Juventus 2-1 Empoli (Kolo Muani) ⚽
- Just three minutes later, Kolo Muani struck again!
- A powerful drive from Timothy Weah deflected off the Frenchman, wrong-footing the keeper and finding the bottom corner.
- 78′ | Goal – Juventus 3-1 Empoli (Dusan Vlahovic) ⚽
- Substitute Dusan Vlahovic made an immediate impact, smashing a 20-yard rocket into the roof of the net.
- This was Vlahovic’s first league goal in over a month, easing the pressure on him.
- 85′ | Goal – Juventus 4-1 Empoli (Francisco Conceicao) ⚽
- Another substitute, Francisco Conceicao, added the fourth after a brilliant solo run, coolly slotting past Berisha.
- Full-Time: Juventus 4-1 Empoli ✅
Player Ratings & Stats
Juventus (4-3-3)
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| GK: Wojciech Szczesny | 6.8/10 |
| RB: Danilo | 7.0/10 |
| CB: Bremer | 6.9/10 |
| CB: Federico Gatti | 7.2/10 |
| LB: Alex Sandro | 6.7/10 |
| CM: Manuel Locatelli | 7.1/10 |
| CM: Adrien Rabiot | 7.4/10 |
| CM: Weston McKennie | 6.9/10 |
| RW: Timothy Weah | 7.8/10 |
| ST: Randal Kolo Muani | 9.3/10 ⭐ (Man of the Match) ⚽⚽ |
| LW: Federico Chiesa | 7.5/10 |
🔄 Substitutes:
- Dusan Vlahovic (65′) – 8.1/10 ⚽
- Francisco Conceicao (75′) – 7.9/10 ⚽
- Fabio Miretti (70′) – 6.5/10
- Andrea Cambiaso (80′) – 6.3/10
Empoli (4-4-2)
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| GK: Etrit Berisha | 6.1/10 |
| RB: Petar Stojanovic | 6.4/10 |
| CB: Ardian Ismajli | 6.3/10 |
| CB: Mattia De Sciglio | 7.2/10 ⚽ |
| LB: Liberato Cacace | 6.2/10 |
| RM: Jacopo Fazzini | 6.0/10 |
| CM: Filippo Ranocchia | 6.4/10 |
| CM: Razvan Marin | 6.5/10 |
| LM: Tommaso Baldanzi | 6.1/10 |
| ST: Francesco Caputo | 6.6/10 |
| ST: Nicolò Cambiaghi | 6.3/10 |
🔄 Substitutes:
- Marko Pjaca (60′) – 6.0/10
- Alberto Grassi (70′) – 6.2/10
- Liam Henderson (75′) – 6.1/10
Key Takeaways
✅ Kolo Muani’s Flying Start – Two goals in quick succession turned the game around, marking an outstanding start to life at Juventus for the French striker.
✅ Vlahovic Breaks His Drought – After a difficult spell, Vlahovic’s goal will be a huge confidence booster.
✅ Super-Subs Make the Difference – Both Vlahovic and Conceicao came off the bench to score, showcasing Motta’s tactical flexibility.
✅ Empoli’s Strong Start Fizzles Out – After taking an early lead, Empoli couldn’t withstand Juventus’ pressure in the second half.
Data Debrief: Kolo Muani’s Record-Breaking Start
📊 Kolo Muani’s Record:
- Second Juventus player (after Carlos Tevez in 2013) to score in his first two Serie A appearances.
- First time he’s scored in back-to-back games in a top-five European league since February 2023 (for Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga).
📊 Juventus Stats:
- Juventus have now won four of their last five Serie A games.
- This was the first time Juventus scored four goals in a league match this season.
Final Verdict
Despite a shaky start, Juventus showed resilience and quality to dominate the second half. Kolo Muani’s brace and the impact of the substitutes made all the difference.
The win eases pressure on Thiago Motta and boosts Juventus into the top four, while Empoli remain dangerously close to the relegation zone.
⚽ Final Score: Juventus 4-1 Empoli
🔜 Do you think Juventus can maintain their top-four spot? Let us know your thoughts below! 👇
