Coppa Italia: Juventus in Prime Position to Send Inter Packing

Juventus vs Inter Milan

Juventus are closing in on yet another Coppa Italia final berth. The Bianconeri will head into the second leg against Inter with a 2-1 lead thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo’s first-leg brace at the San Siro.

After a bit of a dry spell, Ronaldo is back to banging in the goals and will be keen to finish Inter off in Turin.

But the Coppa Italia 2021 odds will be tight in the second leg, especially since the Nerazzurri will now have star man Romelu Lukaku back after he served out a suspension in the first leg.

 

Talking Points

Ronaldo back to his best

It has been quite a strong start to 2021 for Juventus thus far. The Old Lady has begun the new year on an amazing run of 10 wins in 11 matches in all competitions. And since losing to Inter in the first Derby d’Italia back in mid-January, Juventus have been even better.

The defence, in particular, has been playing like the Juve teams of old. They have conceded just one goal in their last six matches, which was Lautaro Martinez’s early strike in the first leg against Inter.

Pirlo’s decision to start three central midfielders — with American Weston McKennie out wide — has helped solidify Juve’s defence over the last few weeks.

And to make things even better for the Bianconeri, Cristiano Ronaldo is now back among the goals. The 36-year-old was in a bit of a dry spell (by his standards) to start the year as he went on a stretch of just two goals in seven games.

But the Portuguese superstar has now netted three goals in his last two games: two in the first leg against Inter and one this weekend against Roma. It’s the first time he’s scored in back-to-back matches since mid-December.

Dejan Kulusevski got the start alongside Ronaldo in the first leg, but Alvaro Morata could get the nod this time around. The Spaniard has been so effective linking up play and has delivered whenever he’s gotten the start. He has three goals and four assists in his seven starts.

Lukaku back to lead the Inter attack

Inter Milan bounced back from their first-leg defeat to Juventus by beating Fiorentina 2-0 away from home. Nicolo Barella and Ivan Perisic got the goals for Inter, who kept pace with AC Milan at the top of Serie A.

Inter coach Antonio Conte did not make too many changes to his first-choice side despite the Juve match in midweek and a fully healthy squad to choose from. Although, he will need to shake things up with the Chilean duo of Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal both suspended for the second leg.

Luckily for Inter, Romelu Lukaku will be returning after his first-leg suspension and will partner Lautaro Martinez up front.

Lukaku is having another terrific season for Inter with 14 goals in 20 Serie A appearances and two goals in two appearances in the cup.

Meanwhile, Christian Eriksen could also be in contention to start in midfield with Vidal suspended. After seemingly on the way out of Inter this winter, Eriksen has returned to the fold after producing one of the top Coppa Italia 2021 highlights: his dramatic free-kick winner against AC Milan in the quarter-finals.

 

 

History

Juventus and Inter have already faced each other twice this season, both at the San Siro. Inter won the first meeting in the league quite convincingly, with Arturo Vidal and Barella scoring the goals in a 2-0 win. But Ronaldo turned around an early deficit to give Juve the 2-1 victory in the first leg.

To move on to their first Coppa Italia final since 2011, Inter will now have to do something they haven’t done since 2012, which is to beat Juventus in Turin.

 

Betting Tip

	Juventus vs Inter Milan	1X2 Draw @ 3.20
	February 10, 03:45 (GMT+8)

SBOTOP odds have Juventus installed as narrow 2.40 favourites to win the second leg at home, with Inter priced at 2.87 to pull off the victory away from home. A draw is 3.20.

Juventus are clearly in much better form heading into this match. Their defence has been so impressive of late, and the fact that they only need a draw means they can set up to try and frustrate Inter even more. And if they go behind just like in the first leg, Ronaldo is capable of getting them a goal of two.

I don’t see Juve winning again the second leg, but they should have more than enough to secure the draw they need to move on to the final.

A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR () BETS ARE WORTH:
= €20 (Highly confident)	= €10 (CONFIDENT)	= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)

Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.

 

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