Juventus have been ousted from Coppa Italia after a shock home loss against visiting Empoli in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw through normal time.
2024/2025 Coppa Italia
1 (2)-1 (4)
Penalty Shootout
Despite a recent run of strong form in the league that saw La Vecchia Signora bank four consecutive wins while charging up the table and into the Champions League places, tonight's setback will not look fondly on manager Thiago Motta and company.
Azzurri Empolesi midfielder Youssef Maleh opened the scoring in the 24th minute despite Juve's dominant possession play, with the Moroccan hitting a vicious low drive to stun the home crowd.
After the break, Juve struggled to truly work themselves into the match, but thankfully for Motta, Khéphren Thuram found the much-needed equaliser in the 66th minute with a bit of magic after Randal Kolo Muani found him in the area.
Juve did hit their stride in the second half, though, and some would have bet their house that the Old Lady could have found a match-winner before full-time, especially after Dušan Vlahović fluffed a great chance five minutes from the end of normal time.
But it would be elimination from 12 yards out on the night as the two sides went to a penalty shootout to decide it all.
Vlahović was first up, and the Serbian shockingly missed his chance to get Juve off on the right foot.
Empoli would convert three in a row through Liam Henderson, Christian Kouamé, and Liberato Cacace before Kenan Yildiz missed his effort.
Luca Marianucci would deal the hammer blow when he sunk home Empoli's fourth to complete one of the biggest upsets in the competition's history.
Line-ups
Juventus XI: Perin, Koopmeiners, Vlahovic, N. Gonzalez, Lloyd Kelly, Muani, McKennie, Timothy Weah, Khéphren Thuram, Andrea Cambiaso, Gatti
Subs: Pinsoglio, Locatelli, Di Gregorio, Francisco Conceição, Mbangula, Rouhi, Yıldız, Alberto Costa, Adzic, Alessandro Pietrelli, Javier Gil
Empoli XI: Liam Henderson, Sambia, Devis Vásquez, Ardian Ismajli, Youssef Maleh, Liberato Cacace, Lorenzo Colombo, Luca Marianucci, Jacopo Bacci, Ismael Konate, Lorenzo Tosto
Subs: De Sciglio, A.Grassi, Viktor Kovalenko, Emmanuel Gyasi, Kouame, Pezzella, Federico Brancolini, Esposito, Saba Goglichidze, Jacopo Seghetti, Thomas Campaniello, Dawid Bembnista, Ank Asmussen