Empoli 0 - 3 Juventus: Juventus stay top of Serie A with convincing victory at Empoli

Posted Sunday, October 02, 2016 by PA

Juventus ensured they would end the weekend in first place in Serie A with a convincing 3-0 victory at Empoli.

The three points take the reigning champions four ahead of closest challengers Napoli, whose game in hand at Atalanta was later on Sunday. Struggling Empoli remain second bottom, with a total of four points from seven games.

Juve's victory was secured in the space of five second-half minutes, when one goal from Paulo Dybala and two more from the B£78million Gonzalo Higuain built a commanding lead.

Both teams threatened during the first half, during which Juve's Sami Khedari sent a ninth-minute volley against the crossbar, and Juan Cuadrado's close-range shot forced Empoli goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski into a fine reaction save.

Dybala's goal came in the 65th minute. Controlling a low, left-wing cross from Alex Sandro, from directly in front of goal he powerfully finished with his left foot into the roof of the net.

Higuain's first followed only two minutes later. After receiving possession from Mario Lemina in midfield, he ran with the ball to the edge of the area before creating his own space and shooting towards the bottom left corner.

He then secured all three points in the 70th minute, when dribbling from the left wing into the area, committing Skorupski, and calmly finishing into an open goal.

The result extended Juve's undefeated run against Empoli, who last overcame them in April 1999.