After convincing victories in the Coppa Italia last 16 back in December, Atalanta and Juventus now collide with a semi-final place on the line.
Atalanta arrive full of confidence after dismantling Genoa 4-0 in the previous round, a result that underlines their resurgence in recent months.
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That win was one of eight victories from their last 12 domestic matches across league and cup (D2, L2), a sequence capped by a gritty 0-0 draw away at an in-form Como on Sunday, despite playing most of the match with ten men.
Much of La Dea’s upturn can be traced to the impact of head coach Raffaele Palladino. Since his appointment in November, Atalanta have climbed from 13th to seventh in Serie A and have become particularly formidable at home.
Seven wins from nine home matches in all competitions under Palladino (L2) highlight that strength, with the last three victories all coming with clean sheets, pointing to a growing defensive solidity alongside their attacking threat.
Atalanta’s Momentum Meets Juventus’ Pedigree
Juventus, meanwhile, remain the benchmark in this competition, having lifted the Coppa Italia a record 15 times.
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Their 2-0 win over Udinese in the last round kept that legacy intact, but memories of last season’s shock quarter-final exit on penalties to Empoli still linger, increasing the pressure to go deeper this time around.
The Bianconeri are also under new leadership, with Luciano Spalletti taking charge after Igor Tudor’s dismissal in October.
A two-time Coppa Italia winner with Roma, Spalletti has steadied the ship impressively, overseeing a run of 13 wins, five draws and just two defeats in all competitions.
Juventus’ recent away form adds another layer of intrigue, with four wins from their last six matches on the road (D1, L1), including a commanding 4-1 league victory over Parma at the weekend.
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Defensively, they have been equally disciplined, conceding no first-half goals in their last seven matches, while only one of their previous seven games saw both teams score.
Fine Margins and Familiar Faces
Recent head-to-head meetings suggest this quarter-final could be finely balanced. Four of the last six encounters between these sides have ended level, with Juventus’ only win in that span coming in the Coppa Italia final two seasons ago, settled by a narrow 1-0 scoreline.
Atalanta have been equally stubborn early on, not conceding a first-half goal in their last 11 matches, setting the stage for a potentially tense opening period.
Individual storylines also add spice. Marten de Roon scored in Atalanta’s last Coppa Italia outing, and his last nine goalscoring appearances have all ended in victory for La Dea, with the most recent three finishing 4-0.
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For Juventus, centre-back Gleison Bremer was the unlikely hero against Parma, scoring twice to extend the club’s unbeaten run to 17 matches whenever he finds the net (W11, D6). With both sides boasting strong defensive records and a history of tight contests, this clash promises to be decided by the finest of margins.
Expected Starting XI by Spalletti according to Sky Sport :