Soccer-Lacklustre Juventus held to goalless draw at Empoli
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EMPOLI, Italy, Sept 14 (Reuters) -Juventus were held to another 0-0 draw at Empoli in Serie A on Saturday as Thiago Motta's side dropped more points after their home stalemate against AS Roma before the international break.
Juve, who started the campaign strongly with two 3-0 wins, moved provisionally top of the table with eight points from four games. Empoli are seventh on six points.
Both sides, watched from the stands by Italy coach Luciano Spalletti, remain unbeaten so far in the campaign.
Thiago Motta made five changes to the Juventus side who started against Roma two weeks ago as Douglas Luiz, Nico Gonzalez and Teun Koopmeiners made their first lineups.
ButJuve still struggled in attack and often resembled the side who managed one shot on target against Roma, while Empoli pressed high and did not allow them to take control.
Federico Gatti was close to netting with a header for Juve following a corner late in an even first half but Empoli's Devis Vasquez pulled off a great save, parrying the ball away.
He then kept outattempts by Dusan Vlahovic and Koopmeiners after the break.
Vlahovic received a brilliant long-range pass from Gonzalez and attempted a low strike from the edge of the box in the 50th minute, while Koopmeiners struck a first-time shot from a tight angle three minutes later.
Juventus looked better after halftime but still lacked creativity in the centre of the pitch and Motta changed his midfield almost entirely midway through the second half.
The Italian-Brazilian coach introduced Khephren Thuram, Timothy Weah and Nicolo Fagioli, as well as striker Samuel Mbangula for Kenan Yildiz.
However, Empoli continued to hold firm and Gatti saved Juve from a last-gasp defeat when he blocked a shot by Emmanuel Gyas in stoppage time.
Juve had won six of their previous seven away games against Empoli in Serie A, scoring 16 goals. Empoli, meanwhile, are now unbeaten in two consecutive games against the Bianconeri in Serie A for only the second time after 1998-99.
Juve, who start their Champions League campaign at home to PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday, face Napoli in Serie A on Sept. 21.
Reporting by Anita Kobylinska in Gdansk; Editing by Ken Ferris
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