Serie A: post-Ronaldo begins with defeat for Juve

Voluntary but confused, Juventus was jostled by an Empoli without complexes this Saturday. And, as a nod to the absent-minded Cristiano Ronaldo, who left for Manchester United on Friday, the Tuscan evening striker (Leonardo Mancuso, 21st) wears number 7, the Portuguese star's favorite number. Without "CR7", the bianconero coach Massimiano Allegri tried several options to attack: without real center forward in the first period, by entrusting the offensive animation to Paulo Dybala, Federico Chiesa and Juan Cuadrado, with Alavaro Morata discreet in number 9 after the break. But the absence of the Portuguese was sorely felt, and while awaiting the imminent arrival, according to the Italian press, of the Italian international Moise Kean, the public, back at Juventus Stadium, did notdid not hold back his whistles at the end of the match.

Juve, decided to start off on the right foot after the initial draw against Udinese (2-2), yet showed their desire to enter by rushing to attack the promoted. And it took two big saves from Tuscan goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario ahead of Federico Chiesa (4th, 12th) to keep Empoli afloat. But after this first quarter of an hour in Turin, the Tuscans gained confidence and found the loophole on their first opportunity: a strike countered Nedim Bajrami which benefited Mancuso forgotten in the Turin area (0-1, 21st). Juve, stung, tried to react, often too hastily, against an astonishing combative and organized Empoli team. In this match played at 100 miles an hour, the promoted, far from being content to wait, did not even go far from knocking out the Bianconeri by Patrick Cutrone (next,25th) and on a dangerous head back from Chiesa that the bianconero goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny had to slam for a corner to avoid the gag goal (45th).

The entrance to Morata does not change anything

Seeing that Juve could not do it, Allegri launched Morata in the second half in a meeting still punctuated by opportunities on both sides and a little whistling referee. Dybala tried it (47th, 58th) but Bajrami was also dangerous (48th). As the offensive animation still floated on the Juve side, Allegri notably launched Manuel Locatelli and Dejan Kulusevski, after taking out a struggling Adrien Rabiot and an exhausted Chiesa. Juve tried to increase the pressure and push back the promoted more and more: Locatelli narrowly missed the frame on a powerful cross from the Swede (70th) then again at the end (90 + 4th). But last season's Serie B champion held on to his feat. Juve have their work cut out for them if they want to return to Serie A at the end of the season.