Atalantavs.Fiorentina

The two clubs will fight it out for a place against either Juventus or Lazio in the final, as they resume the tie with La Dea trailing 1-0.

Match preview

Indebted to goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi for keeping the scoreline down at Stadio Franchi, Atalanta suffered only a slim defeat in the first leg, played at the start of April, as Rolando Mandragora's superb strike split the sides in Florence.

The Bergamaschi remain in contention, then, for a place in next month's showpiece at Stadio Olimpico, and they could yet claim silverware in Europe too.

After stunning Liverpool at Anfield, La Dea recently completed a 3-1 success over two legs of their Europa League quarter-final and will soon meet Marseille in the semis; in contrast, their league form has stuttered over recent weeks.

Atalanta had won just one of their last seven Serie A matches before continuing their pursuit of a top-five finish in Sunday's clash with Monza, so veteran coach Gian Piero Gasperini was glad to see goals from Charles De Ketelaere and El Bilal Toure secure a 2-1 win.

Gasperini's sixth-placed side still trail behind Roma and Bologna, but fifth spot would prove sufficient to secure a Champions League return, due to Italy's UEFA club coefficient.

Now looking to book their first appearance in the Coppa Italia final since losing to Juventus three years ago, Atalanta's sole triumph in Italy's national cup came back in 1963, while they have lost four times in the final, with 'Gasp' being in charge for both of the last two.

For all his achievements at a club of modest stature, the tactical maestro would dearly love to lift a trophy to cap a long and admirable career, so securing a place in Rome will be his side's sole focus.

Should Fiorentina retain their lead and progress, though, they will be intent on claiming their first Coppa Italia since 2001, after the six-time winners suffered a painful loss to Inter Milan in last year's final.

Only one step away from returning to the same stage this season, the Tuscan club are also within touching distance of reaching a second straight Europa Conference League final, having eliminated Viktoria Plzen last week to set up a contest with Club Brugge in the semis.

Now renowned as cup specialists, Fiorentina have at least made the Coppa's final four in all three of Vincenzo Italiano's seasons in charge, but silverware still eludes a much-admired coach who has already signalled his intent to leave Florence this summer.

Winning either competition is surely the likeliest route back into Europe for a side struggling to match expectations in Serie A, where they currently sit ninth - some seven points behind Wednesday's opponents.

The Viola's most recent league meeting with Atalanta was postponed shortly before kickoff, when director Joe Barone was taken ill - he subsequently passed away, and a tribute was paid ahead of the first leg - but they defeated La Dea 3-2 at Stadio Franchi last September.

Having just enjoyed their first Serie A away win since December - beating rock-bottom Salernitana on Sunday, via late goals from Jonathan Ikone and Christian Kouame - a repeat result in Bergamo would be more than welcome.

Atalanta BC Coppa Italia form:

W

W

L

Atalanta BC form (all competitions):

L

L

W

D

L

W

Fiorentina Coppa Italia form:

W

D

W

Fiorentina form (all competitions):

W

L

D

D

W

W

Team News

While Atalanta are sure to be without first-choice defender Giorgio Scalvini, as the Italy international continues his recovery a hamstring injury, Emil Holm (calf) and Rafael Toloi (muscular) both picked up knocks at the weekend and may miss Wednesday's second leg.

Amid a hectic schedule on three different fronts, Gian Piero Gasperini made a number of changes against Monza, but Gianluca Scamacca is likely to come back in for El Bilal Toure, with Dutch duo Teun Koopmeiners and Marten de Roon also returning to La Dea's starting XI.

Meanwhile, Fiorentina boss Vinceno Italiano highlighted cup competitions as his priority on Sunday, rotating his squad heavily at Stadio Arechi - offering a first league appearance for almost a year to Gaetano Castrovilli and playing Antonin Barak in an unfamiliar role up front.

Regular starters Luca Beltran, Nico Gonzalez, Andrea Belotti and Giacomo Bonaventura missed the trip down to Salerno with minor injuries; however, they are all expected to feature against Atalanta.

Oliver Christensen, who had started all of the Viola's Coppa Italia ties until the semi-final first leg, recently returned from injury, but number one goalkeeper Pietro Terracciano should be selected again.

Atalanta BC possible starting lineup:

Carnesecchi; Djimsiti, Hien, Kolasinac; Zappacosta, De Roon, Ederson, Ruggeri; Koopmeiners, Lookman; Scamacca

Fiorentina possible starting lineup:

Terracciano; Kayode, Milenkovic, Ranieri, Biraghi; Arthur, Mandragora; Gonzalez, Beltran, Kouame; Belotti

We say: Atalanta BC 2-1 Fiorentina (2-2 on aggregate; Atalanta win on penalties)

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