Half-Time Report: Empoli frustrating Juventus at the break

Serie A leaders Juventus are finding it difficult to break down a tenacious Empoli side at Stadio Carlo Castellani.

The visitors dominated the first half, but were give an early scare when Massimo Maccarone's strike from the edge of the box whizzed past the post.

Juventus struggled to turn their possession into anything of substance in the final third, yet came close in the 15th minute as Angelo Ogbonna rifled a shot narrowly wide.

Empoli frustrated the champions and almost hit them on the break in the 18th minute as Piotr Zielinski's effort from inside the box forced Gianluigi Buffon into a save.

Juve's best chance of the first period fell to Arturo Vidal four minutes before the break, with the Chilean testing Davide Bassi from outside the area with a vicious strike that was saved well.