Inter, beaten 2-1 at home in the first leg, are forced to come back on Tuesday (2:45 pm) in Turin, in the semi-final leg of the Italian Cup, to deprive Juventus of a seventh final in ten years.
In the other semi-final, on Wednesday in Bergamo, the picture is wide open between Atalanta and defending champion Naples, after the 0-0 first leg at the Diego Maradona stadium.
For their trip to Turin, Inter can count on the power of Romelu Lukaku and the quality of Achraf Hakimi on the right wing. Both missed the first leg due to suspension.
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The Nerazzurri’s mission does not seem easy against a Juventus that is very solid in the championship after the setback against Inter itself (2-0) on January 17.
The Bianconeri have achieved six victories (counting all competitions) and have conceded one goal since then – the one scored by Lautaro Martínez in the first leg of the semifinals.
In addition, it has a Juan Guillermo Cuadrado who has been fundamental for Andrea Pirlo. The Colombian returned with a superlative level, after recovering from the coronavirus, and whenever he played, Juventus did not lose.
That has earned him the recognition of the Italian press, which has highlighted him as “essential” and “the key man of Pirlo’s ‘new Juve’”, and also from former players, such as the Uruguayan Paolo Montero, who said that “ he is making a difference more than Cristiano ”and that he is similar to Garrincha.
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Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo, who expects a real “battle”, does not exclude the return to the squad of Paulo Dybala, absent since January 10 due to a sprained left knee.
In case of qualification, Juventus (13 Italian Cups in its record), will play its seventh final in ten years.
For Napoli, keeping the trophy they won last year against the Bianconeri does not seem like the priority at the moment.
After losing 2-1 to Genoa on Saturday in the championship, Neapolitan coach Gennaro Gattusso recalled that the goal of the season was to finish in the Top-4 to return to the Champions League.
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“The Italian Cup gave us satisfaction last year, but returning to the Champions League is the priority,” said the coach, who has a tough test against Juventus in Serie A. on Saturday.
On the other hand, the Cup is a dream for Atalanta, since it is the only trophy in their record after winning the 1963 edition. Lifting it would allow them to crown the current great period with Gian Piero Gasperini at the helm. Landed in 2016, the coach has taken the ‘Dea’ to unprecedented heights in Italy and Europe, but has not yet achieved a title.
Program for the second leg of the Italian Cup semifinals:
Tuesday
Juventus – Inter Milan
Hour: 2:45 p.m.
Wednesday
Atalanta – Naples
Hour: 2:45 p.m.
The final will be played on May 19, 2021.