After European heartbreak in Seville left Juventus trophyless for another season, the Turin giants must dust themselves off and travel to Tuscany, where they face Empoli on Monday evening.
Juve still have a probable points penalty hanging over their heads and are yet to secure a top-four Serie A finish, while their hosts have confirmed safety after taking seven points from the last nine available.
Match preview
© Reuters
When Dusan Vlahovic arrived from the bench to score the opening goal at Estadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan on Thursday, Juventus were within half-an-hour of earning a place in the Europa League final, but after that lead lasted less than six minutes the Bianconeri were forced into extra time by Sevilla.
After drawing the tie 2-2 on aggregate, Juve ultimately crashed out when Erik Lamela struck their hosts' 95th-minute winner, and hopes of lifting one of the few trophies missing from their vast silverware collection vanished in the Andalucian night air.
Having been humbled in the Champions League, eliminated from the Coppa Italia by their arch-rivals and failed to compete with Napoli for the Scudetto, it has been another year of distinct disappointment in Turin - and things could yet get worse for the ailing Old Lady.
Though a previous 15-point deduction to their Serie A tally has been overturned, it is expected that Juventus will be docked 11 in the coming days, due to a series of financial indiscretions. Finishing in the top four, then, is a complicated matter, as Juve sit second with three games to play but could yet be cast down as far as eighth.
On the pitch, Max Allegri's men have won their last three league matches - over Lecce, Atalanta and, most recently, Cremonese - following a damaging run of three defeats from four previously; they could now win four in a row for the first time since February.
For all the fatigue and deflation their European exit will bring, precedent suggests that feat should be well within their capabilities, as Juve have returned home victorious from all five previous trips to Empoli with Tuscany-born Allegri in charge.
© Reuters
In fact, Empoli have won just one of their last 19 Serie A meetings with Juventus ahead of the clubs' clash at Stadio Carlo Castellani; losing 16 times in the process.
The Azzurri were also thumped 4-0 in October's reverse fixture, but more recently they have won three of their last four home fixtures to pull clear of the relegation zone and secure a third straight year in Italy's top tier.
An impressive start to May saw victories over Bologna and Salernitana followed by last week's draw at Serie B-bound Sampdoria, when Roberto Piccoli snatched a stoppage-time equaliser.
That result extends Empoli's winless streak on away turf to eight games, but curiously, they are unbeaten in their last five Monday matches ahead of Juve's visit - with four victories and one draw to their name during that run.
Despite their lowly position in the pecking order, Paolo Zanetti's men have also won more than they have lost at the Castellani this term, so they may hope to inflict more misery on their visitors.
Team News
© Reuters
Faced by a long absence list, Max Allegri will have to reshuffle his resources on Monday, and there could be several changes to the Juventus XI which started in Seville.
Juan Cuadrado and Danilo are both sidelined by suspension, Nicolo Fagioli has fractured his collarbone, while Leonardo Bonucci, Paul Pogba and Mattia De Sciglio have all been ruled out for the season.
Either Tommaso Barbieri or Samuel Iling-Junior should start on the right flank in the absence of Cuadrado and De Sciglio, with Alex Sandro likely to replace Danilo at the back.
Though it may only come from the bench, Federico Chiesa will make his 200th Serie A appearance; seeking to add to 68 goal involvements so far (36 of his own and 32 assists). Dusan Vlahovic, Arkadiusz Milik and Moise Kean again battle it out to start up front.
Empoli, meanwhile, will be without injured Juventus loanee Koni De Winter and Tommaso Baldanzi - the latter has been called up for Italy's Under-20 World Cup campaign.
Baldanzi's place could go to either Jacopo Fazzini or Marko Pjaca, who is also owned by Juve but has been on loan for the past six seasons, while Roberto Piccoli will hope his goal at the Marassi can earn him a spot in the hosts' attack; Francesco Caputo and Nicolo Cambiaghi provide stiff competition, though.
Starting at right-back, Tyronne Ebuehi has assisted all of Empoli's last three goals, after having been involved in just three during his previous 22 league matches.
Empoli possible starting lineup:
Vicario; Ebuehi, Ismajli, Luperto, Parisi; Grassi, Bandinelli, Akpa Akpro; Fazzini; Cambiaghi, Caputo
Juventus possible starting lineup:
Perin; Gatti, Bremer, Sandro; Barbieri, Miretti, Locatelli, Paredes, Kostic; Milik, Kean
We say: Empoli 0-1 Juventus
As Empoli have scored at a rate below one-goal-per-game this season, Juventus can capitalise on their hosts' blunt attack and post another trademark low-scoring win. They may be injury-hit and suffering from the latest setback of a trying campaign, but Juve still boast sufficient firepower to get the job done.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
