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Aleksey Miranchuk scored the winner as 10-man Atalanta beat Lazio 3-2 in an exhilarating Italian Cup quarter-final on Wednesday, whereas a much-changed Juventus eased previous second-tier SPAL to additionally attain the final 4.
A dramatic match in Bergamo noticed 5 completely different goalscorers, a purple card and a missed penalty as Atalanta got here out on prime in a rematch of the 2019 closing, received 2-0 by Lazio.
“It was enjoyable, wasn’t it? An enchanting sport, at occasions spectacular,” Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini instructed RAI Sport.
Atalanta, bidding to win solely the second main trophy of their historical past and first for the reason that 1963 Italian Cup, at the moment are unbeaten in 14 matches in all competitions and can face both Napoli or Spezia, who play on Thursday, within the final 4.
“Reaching the semi-final is a good achievement,” added Gasperini.
“This can be a competitors we wish to method in the absolute best manner and to go so far as potential.”
On Tuesday, Inter Milan received a bad-tempered derby towards AC Milan and can face Juventus, who noticed off second-tier SPAL 4-0, within the two-legged semi-finals, which might be performed on February 2-3 and 9-10.
On the Gewiss Stadium, Albanian defender Berat Djimsiti gave Atalanta a seventh-minute lead after a goalmouth scramble which noticed Lazio goalkeeper Pepe Reina save from Jose Luis Palomino.
The previous Liverpool and Napoli stopper needed to be alert to stop Luis Muriel from doubling the benefit just some minutes later.
However the guests levelled within the seventeenth minute, as Kosovan Vedat Muriqi, making his Sixteenth look for Lazio since becoming a member of from Fenerbahce, headed house Francesco Acerbi’s cross to attain his first aim for the capital membership.
Centre-back Acerbi produced a magical second to place Lazio forward 11 minutes earlier than the break, weaving previous three defenders earlier than prodding the ball into the web.
A breathless first half was capped in model as Ruslan Malinovsky drilled in an equaliser for Atalanta after good work from Muriel.
Atalanta’s hopes of reaching the ultimate suffered a blow simply eight minutes into the second interval, as Palomino was proven a straight purple card for pushing Manuel Lazzari when the Lazio substitute was deemed to have a transparent goalscoring alternative.
However Gasperini’s males made mild of their man drawback, transferring again in entrance within the 57th minute as Cristian Romero set Miranchuk free to attain his second Cup aim of the season.
Gasperini signalled he wished his aspect to maintain attacking, although, sending on striker Duvan Zapata shortly after the aim.
The Colombian wasted little time in making an impression, profitable a penalty for a foul by Wesley Hoedt, solely to see his spot-kick held by Reina.
Lazio boss Simone Inzaghi responded to his group’s reprieve by introducing top-scorer Ciro Motionless, nevertheless it was Acerbi who got here closest to forcing further time when his 89th-minute header was brilliantly saved by house ‘keeper Pierluigi Gollini.
– Juve cruise by means of –
Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo made 9 modifications to the aspect which beat Bologna in Serie A on Sunday, with Cristiano Ronaldo rested from the matchday squad and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon beginning the day earlier than his forty third birthday.
However the document 13-time winners nonetheless made quick work of SPAL, the one lower-league group to make the quarter-finals this season.
Juve — who misplaced to Napoli on penalties within the closing final time period — took a controversial Sixteenth-minute lead when Alvaro Morata scored a spot-kick which was awarded by VAR for a foul on Adrien Rabiot, regardless of little contact and the Frenchman being initially booked for diving.
Younger full-back Gianluca Frabotta doubled the lead along with his first senior aim after the half-hour mark.
Dejan Kulusevski put the consequence past doubt with 12 minutes remaining earlier than substitute Federico Chiesa tapped house a fourth in harm time.
“We actually care in regards to the Coppa Italia and wish to go all the way in which in each competitors,” Chiesa stated.
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