Empoli 0-2 Juventus: Danilo and Federico Chiesa fire Juve to three points on the road

Goals from Danilo and Federico Chiesa were enough to secure victory for Juventus at Empoli in Serie A.

The opener came midway through the first half when Filip Kostic’s corner eventually dropped to Danilo who drove the ball home.

The lead should have been doubled by half time but Dusan Vlahovic saw his penalty saved by Etrit Berisha.

The game was put beyond doubt eight minutes from time when Arkadiusz Milik pushed through a long ball which Chiesa latched onto and, although he was brought down by the onrushing goalkeeper, got up and slotted the ball inside the near post.

As Empoli threw men forward in the closing stages, the Bianconeri could twice have extended their lead when substitute forwards Milik and Moise Kean both saw efforts come back off the woodwork.

The win sees Juventus move up to third in the table with two wins and a draw from their opening games. Empoli have lost their first three games and sit at the foot of Serie A.

While both Milan sides look fluent and suggest they could well improve on last season’s performances, Juventus still look what they were last term, a team not worthy of a top-four finish. That said, seven points from nine and avoiding selling key players before the European transfer window closed is something Massimiliano Allegri will take, keeping spirits up before the first international break. Although lacking the depth of the Milan sides, there is possible improvement in the squad this year with Federico Chiesa (see below), the tease of Paul Pogba and the rising Fabio Miretti capable of making the side a more convincing outfit as the season goes on.

He still does not quite look like the player who dominated in Euro 2020, but that level of performance could well be in the post. His endeavour to get back to his best is unquestionable and as he gets a run of games for club and country he is capable of being the talisman Juventus have been lacking. He almost scored before he put the game beyond doubt and showed signs of developing a partnership with Dusan Vlahovic which could see the Bianconeri get the best out of the Serbian striker.

Empoli: Berisha 7; Bereszynski 6, Walukiewicz 6, Luperto 5, Pezzella 7; Fazzini 6, Marin 6, Maleh 5; Baldanzi 6, Caputo 6, Cambiaghi 5.

Subs: Kovalenko 6, Grassi 6, Cancellieri 6, Destro 5, Gyasi 6.

Juventus: Perin 6; Gatti 7, Bremer 7, Danilo 7; McKennie 7, Miretti 7, Locatelli 6, Rabiot 6, Kostic 6; Chiesa 8*, Vlahovic 6.

Subs: Pogba 6, Cambiaso 6, Milik 7, Weah 6, Kean 6.

24′ GOAL FOR JUVENTUS! Kostic’s corner drops at the feet of Empoli defenders but is not cleared and falls for Danilo who drives the ball home.

37′ PENALTY FOR JUVENTUS! Gatti runs into the box and is caught by Maleh. VAR will check this but it seems a stonewall penalty.

39′ PENALTY SAVED! Berisha saves Vlahovic kick diving to his right and leaps on the rebound getting a kick from the rebounding Juventus striker for his troubles.

59′ CHIESA JUST WIDE OF THE TARGET He weaved his way past a challenge and into the box and then aimed to curl an effort just inside the far post as the ‘keeper approached him – and he was not far away from a fine goal.

67′ GOAL FOR JUVENTUS – OFFSIDE! It was vintage Pogba! But it’s offside. They will check it but Vlahovic was slightly offside when Chiesa’s pass found him. He chested down to Pogba who rocketed a volley home with awesome technique.

82′ GOAL FOR JUVENTUS! Chiesa ran from in his own half to break the offside trap from Milik’s pass and then could have stayed down when he got clipped by the goalkeeper, but he got up, steadied himself and slotted home.

90′ MILIK HEADS AGAINST THE BAR! Weah’s cross finds the substitute striker and he really should have found the net instead of the woodwork.

90+5′ KEAN HITS THE POST! He is given time to line a shot up from just outside the area and his shot looks to have Berisha beaten but clips the outside of the near post.

• 0 – Empoli have failed to score in any of their first three games.