### Juventus Shocked by Empoli in Coppa Italia Quarter-Finals In a stunning upset, Empoli eliminated Juventus from the Coppa Italia quarter-finals, winning 4-2 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in regular time. This marks a historic achievement for Empoli, as they advance to the semi-finals for the first time in their history. The match saw Juventus, the defending champions, struggle to find their rhythm, culminating in a missed penalty by Dusan Vlahovic that sealed their fate. Empoli's Youssef Maleh opened the scoring, while Khéphren Thuram equalized for Juventus, but ultimately, it was Empoli's composure in the shootout that secured their victory [https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/vlahovic-misses-penalty-as-juve-suffer-shock-coppa-italia-exit-to-empoli][https://www.channelnewsasia.com/sport/juventus-coach-motta-ashamed-after-coppa-italia-penalty-shootout-loss-empoli-4963241]. ### Breakdown of the Match and Reactions 1. **Match Overview**: - Empoli took an early lead with a goal from Youssef Maleh. - Juventus equalized through Khéphren Thuram, but struggled to dominate the match. - The game ended 1-1, leading to a penalty shootout where Juventus faltered. 2. **Penalty Shootout Details**: - Juventus converted only 2 of their 4 penalties. - Dusan Vlahovic and Kenan Yıldız missed their attempts, while Empoli scored all four of theirs. - This loss follows Juventus's recent elimination from the Champions League, intensifying the pressure on coach Thiago Motta [https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/sports-games/3279152-empoli-stuns-juventus-to-enter-coppa-italia-semifinals][https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/sports-games/3279129-empolis-historic-coppa-italia-triumph-over-juventus]. 3. **Coaching and Team Reactions**: - Coach Thiago Motta expressed feelings of shame regarding the team's performance, indicating a need for reflection and improvement. - The defeat has raised questions about the future of Motta as head coach, given the team's recent struggles [https://www.newsday.com/sports/soccer/thiago-motta-juventus-empoli-n39528][https://www.gamereactor.eu/juventus-knocked-out-of-coppa-italia-by-penalties-i-feel-ashamed-i-hope-my-players-feel-the-same-1505033]. ### Key Statistics and Highlights - **Match Statistics**: - Regular Time: Empoli 1 - 1 Juventus - Penalty Shootout: Empoli 4 - 2 Juventus - **Goals**: - Youssef Maleh (Empoli) - 1 goal - Khéphren Thuram (Juventus) - 1 goal - **Penalty Shootout Performance**: - Juventus: 2 successful penalties, 2 missed (Vlahovic, Yıldız) - Empoli: 4 successful penalties ### Conclusion: A Turning Point for Juventus **Juventus's exit from the Coppa Italia represents a significant turning point for the club.** The combination of a disappointing performance in the cup and their recent Champions League elimination has put immense pressure on the coaching staff and players alike. Moving forward, Juventus must reassess their strategies and performance levels to regain their status as a dominant force in Italian football. Empoli, on the other hand, celebrates a historic victory and looks forward to their semi-final match against Bologna [https://www.outlookindia.com/sports/football/coppa-italia-2024-25-quarter-final-empoli-stun-juventus-on-penalties-to-book-semi-spot-in-pics][https://sports.yahoo.com/article/empoli-beats-juventus-penalties-reach-222143513.html].