Coppa Italia: Juventus – Milan

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Hot on the heels of beating Torino in the coppa Italia Milan travel to Juventus stadium for the coppa quarter finals. This game is also not too long after beating Juventus in the supercoppa in late December. A mark of the progress made under Montella’s coaching is that this game represents a chance to beat the league leaders and reigning coppa and Serie A champions for the third time this season,

The team looks slightly different from a few days ago. Niang has been completely dropped from the squad amid rumours of a loan to Genoa (in exchange for Lucas Ocampos?) or a move to the English Premier League. It has been reported that the French player rejected any loans and may yet remain with Milan, for now at least, if a good EPL offer doesn’t arrive. In Niang’s spot comes Gerard Deulofeu on loan (with no option as of yet) from Everton. The Spaniard has been called up for this coppa match and may yet feature in it. If Deulofeu does play Bonaventura will reclaim his spot in midfield behind the 22 year old. While Deulofeu is best known as a right winger it is surely unlikely that a short term loan is negotiated and pushed through solely for finding a back up for Suso. Therefore the front line may be the trio of Deulofeu on the left with Bacca and Suso and Bonaventura, Locatelli and Pasalic behind them. Romagnoli and Paletta should be reunited at the back with De Sciglio and Abate as full backs.

Juventus are missing three important players in Gigi Buffon, Claudio Marchisio and Patrice Evra.