Milik sent off as Juve fails to beat struggling Empoli
Ten-man Juventus was held to a 1-1 draw at home to struggling Empoli after losing Arkadiusz Milik to an early red card.
The Serie A leader was a man down before the midway point of the first half when Milik, who had hit a hat-trick on his last start in a 4-0 Coppa Italia win over Frosinone two weeks ago, was sent off after a VAR review for a late studs-up challenge.
Dusan Vlahovic fired Juventus in front with his fifth goal in three games at the start of the second half, but Tommaso Baldanzi equalised for Empoli as the hosts’ seven-match winning run in all competitions came to an end.
Juventus went close after only six minutes as Vlahovic, who had scored a brace in each of his side’s past two games, forced Elia Caprile to tip his free-kick around a post.
But Juve was stunned after 18 minutes when his fellow striker Milik was sent off.
The Poland international was initially booked after appearing to catch Alberto Cerri high on the ankle with his studs when he slid in for a challenge, but the yellow was upgraded to red after a review.
Juventus was happy to sit back with a man down and Nicolo Cambiaghi saw a deflected effort saved by Wojciech Szczesny, who also comfortably dealt with Emmanuel Gyasi’s header.
The hosts had a golden chance to take a lead just before the break when Gyasi gifted the ball to Fabio Miretti, who burst through on goal but failed to hit the target.
However, they struck five minutes after the break.
Empoli failed to deal with a corner swung over from the right and the ball dropped for Vlahovic, who spun and slammed home a left-foot volley from close range.
The hosts threatened again when Vlahovic sent a pass into Andrea Cambiaso, who slipped when he looked set to run through on goal.
But second-bottom Empoli, the lowest-scoring side in the division, levelled in the 70th minute when substitute Baldanzi fired a long-range effort into the bottom corner.
The equaliser gave the visitors renewed belief and it pressed for a winner, with Szczesny forced to push away Cambiaghi’s effort.
But neither side could find one as Juventus had to settle for a two-point lead at the top of the table, although closest rival Inter Milan has two games in hand.
