Juventus suffered a crushing 4-1 defeat to Empoli in Serie A on Monday after they were deducted 10 points in a new decision on the club’s transfer deal.
Juventus, who learned of the new verdict shortly before kickoff, are seventh on 59 points, one behind AS Roma in the final European qualifying spot in sixth and five points adrift of AC Milan in fourth with two games remaining.
“Summarizing a season on a night like this is an understatement,” Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri was quoted as saying by ESPN.
“It was a strange situation, 10 minutes before the game, those words came out,” he continued.
“Juventus are used to winning, we have to close the ranks. There are six points up for grabs and Milan arrives on Sunday.”
Empoli took the lead through an 18th-minute penalty by Francesco Caputo after Arkadiusz Milik fouled Nicolo Cambiaghi.
Defender Sebastiano Luperto doubled Empoli’s lead in the 21st minute and Caputo made it 3-0 just after halftime before Federico Chiesa scored a consolation goal for Juventus five minutes from time.
Roberto Piccoli sealed the win with a goal in stoppage time.
Empoli were awarded a penalty for Milik’s foul on Cambiaghi and striker Caputo converted from the spot to put the hosts ahead in the 18th minute.
It was 2-0 three minutes later when defender Luperto doubled Empoli’s advantage following a corner as he scored into the top half of the net.
While first-half chances from Dusan Vlahovic and Gleison Bremer were fruitless for Juve, Empoli continued to show greater determination after the break and added another two minutes into the second half.
Midfielder Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro hit a solo run and found Caputo to make it 3-0 with a fine finish.
Juventus ended their woes in front of goal when first-half substitute Chiesa pulled one back with a low strike five minutes from time in his 200th Serie A appearance.
But it was too late for the defenseless Juventus, who conceded another goal in stoppage time when striker Piccoli eased past three Juve defenders to seal victory.
Juventus, knocked out in the Europa League semi-finals on Thursday by Sevilla following a 3-2 aggregate defeat, had previously won all five of their away matches against Empoli under Allegri.
