Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Laziovs.Juventus

sportsmole.co.uk, 21 April 2024, 08:06
Juventus will enter Tuesday's Coppa Italia semi-final second leg with Lazio boasting a two-goal advantage from the first leg between the two Italian giants earlier this month.

Federico Chiesa and Dusan Vlahovic scored the goals at Allianz Stadium in the first leg of the last-four encounter, putting the Old Lady as the huge favourites to advance to the final of the competition.

Match preview

Lazio have won the Coppa Italia on seven previous occasions, with their last success in the competition coming in 2019, when they recorded a 2-0 victory over Atalanta BC in the final.

The White and Sky Blues face a huge task to make this season's final following their two-goal defeat in the first leg, though, and they have actually now lost their last five Coppa Italia games against Juventus.

Lazio beat the Old Lady 1-0 in Serie A at the end of last month, though, and have been victorious in two of their last three league matches with the Turin giants, including the last two on home soil, which should hand them confidence ahead of what is shaping up to a fascinating clash.

Igor Tudor's side will enter this game off the back of a 1-0 win over Genoa on Friday, with the result leaving them sixth in the Serie A table, three points behind fifth-placed Roma.

Le Aquile, who were runners-up in Italy's top flight last term, were 4-1 winners over Salernitana in their last match on home soil, meanwhile, and that result on Tuesday would secure their spot in the final.

Juventus have drawn their last two matches in Serie A, sharing the points with Torino and Cagliari, and they currently sit third in the table, five points behind second-placed AC Milan.

The Old Lady are nine points ahead of fifth-placed Roma, meanwhile, and are very much on course to secure a return to the Champions League for the 2024-25 campaign.

The Turin giants are bidding to win the Coppa Italia for the 15th time in their history, with 14 victories making them the most successful side in the history of the competition.

Juventus last lifted the trophy in 2020-21, beating Atalanta in the final, while they were runners-up in 2021-22, losing 4-2 to Inter Milan in the final.

The second-half goals from Chiesa and Vlahovic have placed Massimiliano Allegri's side in a strong position to set up a meeting with either Fiorentina or Atalanta in the final.

Juventus have not lost to Lazio in the Coppa Italia since January 2013, meanwhile, keeping clean sheets in each of their last three cup encounters with their Serie A rivals.

Lazio Coppa Italia form:

W

W

L

Lazio form (all competitions):

W

W

L

L

W

W

Juventus Coppa Italia form:

W

W

W

Juventus form (all competitions):

D

L

W

W

D

D

Team News

Lazio will definitely be without the services of three players through injury on Tuesday, including two who started the first leg, with Matteo Guendouzi and Mattia Zaccagni missing due to shin and ankle problems respectively.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Ivan Provedel remains unavailable for selection due to a hamstring issue.

There is also a doubt over the availability of Manuel Lazzari, who had to be substituted in the first half of the clash with Genoa last time out; Ciro Immobile was also missing on Friday, and the striker will face a late fitness test to determine whether he can feature here.

Pedro is expected to be introduced in the final third of the field, while Valentin Castellanos will operate as the centre-forward if Immobile misses out.

As for Juventus, Nicolo Fagioli and Paul Pogba are unavailable due to suspensions, while Fabio Miretti and Moise Kean will not feature due to injury problems.

Mattia Perin is the team's Coppa Italia goalkeeper, and he will again start on Tuesday evening, but it will otherwise be a first-choice XI for the Turin giants.

Vlahovic and Chiesa are set to continue as the front two for the Old Lady, while there could be a return in central midfield for Weston McKennie, who started on the bench against Cagliari on Friday.

Bremer is currently being strongly linked with a summer move to Manchester United, but the Brazilian will again operate in the middle of the away side's defence.

Lazio possible starting lineup:

Mandas; Marusic, Patric, Romagnoli, Gila; Kamada, Vecino, Alberto; Anderson, Castellanos, Pedro

Juventus possible starting lineup:

Perin; Gatti, Bremer, Danilo; Cambiaso, McKennie, Locatelli, Rabiot, Kostic; Vlahovic, Chiesa

We say: Lazio 1-1 Juventus (Juventus win 3-1 on aggregate)

Lazio are certainly capable of turning this tie around, but it is a huge ask, and we are finding it difficult to imagine Juventus suffering a comfortable loss in this contest. We are backing a 1-1 draw on the night, which would see the Old Lady advance to the final courtesy of a 3-1 aggregate success.

Previews by email

Top News

21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Benfica and Estrela Amadora return to action on Saturday when they go head to head at the Estadio da Luz in the fourth round of the Taca de Portugal. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to move back into the top six of the League One table, Huddersfield Town will welcome Charlton Athletic to the John Smith's Stadium on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com talkSPORT's Ally McCoist has opened up about living with Dupuytren's contracture, an incurable hereditary condition that affects the hands. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Luton Town will welcome Hull City to Kenilworth Road on Saturday for a crucial game at the bottom end of the Championship table. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Martin Odegaard is everything for Arsenal - he's at the heartbeat of everything positive they do. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to go top of the Championship table with a fifth straight victory, Sheffield United will travel to take on Coventry City on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk RB Leipzig will aim to prevent the five-point gap to Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich from extending by claiming all three points at Hoffenheim's PreZero Arena on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Champions League hopefuls Eintracht Frankfurt will hope to maintain their five-point advantage over Werder Bremen after hosting them on Saturday at Deutsche Bank Park in their 11th Bundesliga outing of the season. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Newcastle defender Lewis Hall says his lack of game time in the first-team left him 'in a dark place' last season. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams who could really do with a victory kick off round 13 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season as Go Ahead Eagles welcome Almere City to De Adelaarshorst on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Promotion-chasing Barnsley are favourites heading into Saturday's gameweek 17 League One match at Oakwell. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Feyenoord and Heerenveen will both be looking to pick up where they left off right before the international break in Saturday's meeting at De Kuip in matchday 13 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City officially announce that manager Pep Guardiola has signed a two-year contract extension. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Girona will be bidding to make it three straight wins in La Liga for the first time this season when they welcome Espanyol to Estadi Montilivi on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk An in-form Las Palmas will be aiming to make it five wins from their last six matches in all competitions when they continue their La Liga campaign at home to Mallorca on Saturday night. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Following four straight defeats leading into the international break, Aston Villa will return to action on Saturday, when Crystal Palace pay a visit to Villa Park. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly set a £100m asking price for Enzo Fernandez amid interest from Real Madrid. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Saudi Pro League action will return to the Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium this weekend when Al Khaleej play host to the defending champions Al-Hilal on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Atletico Madrid will be aiming to make it five straight wins in all competitions when they continue their La Liga campaign against Alaves at Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Robert Lewandowski is a mesmerising goal scorer, but it turns out that's not his only talent. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Crystal Palace may be without two of their key creators when they kick off on Saturday afternoon, as an ailing Premier League campaign resumes away to Aston Villa. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell has reportedly caught the eye of Serie A clubs Juventus and Napoli. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid are reportedly interested in Manchester United midfielder Casemiro, with Los Blancos considering making an attempt to bring the Brazilian back to Bernabeu in January. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Pep Guardiola deciding to extend his stay at Manchester City could be good news for them in more than one sense. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo admitted there will be one key challenge to his son, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr, becoming a professional footballer. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Caoimhin Kelleher has the opportunity to become Chelsea's starting goalkeeper - he's too good to be Liverpool's back-up. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers could be without up to seven players for Saturday's Premier League clash with Fulham at Craven Cottage. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Marco Silva will be working with almost a fully-fit squad when his Fulham side play host to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Al Ettifaq chiefs admitted they were left in shock when Jordan Henderson told them he wanted to leave just months into joining the Saudi Pro League club. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers will be looking to climb out of the Premier League relegation zone when they travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham on Saturday afternoon.