Coppa Italia: Five unforgettable semi-finals

1983: JUVENTUS vs INTER

Juve’s semi-final success over Inter in 1983 owed plenty to a phenomenal first eight minutes of the first leg played at the Stadio Comunale in Turin, in which Giuseppe Baresi’s own goal, under pressure from Michel Platini, and Giuseppe Galderisi put the Bianconeri 2-0 up and in the driving seat.

Graziano Bini’s 63rd-minute strike for the visitors and Paolo Rossi’s penalty miss meant that Juve headed into the second leg at the San Siro with the slenderest of leads, but a 0-0 draw saw them home and dry to the final, where they would ultimately beat Verona 3-2 in a dramatic two-legged contest.

1990: JUVENTUS vs ROMA

In 1990, it was the turn of Roma to stand in the way of Juventus and the Coppa Italia final. The Bianconeri, however, were determined to make sure that the Giallorossi would not be blocking their route for long and built a healthy 2-0 lead after the first leg in Turin thanks to Pierluigi Casiraghi’s brace.

That advantage would be wiped out before the break of the return game in Rome following Fabrizio Di Mauro’s strike and Dario Bonetti’s own goal.

Heading into the changing rooms for half-time, whatever manager Dino Zoff said to his players certainly seemed to have the desired effect, Angelo Alessio and Salvatore Schillaci putting the Bianconeri 4-2 up on aggregate. Antonio Tempestilli would pull one back for Roma on 73 minutes, but Juve held on for the victory. Zoff’s men ultimately defeated Milan in the final.

1995: JUVENTUS vs LAZIO

From one Roman team to another: 1995’s semi-final saw Juventus take on Lazio, this time with the first leg taking place in the Eternal City.

Fabrizio Ravanelli’s goal saw the Bianconeri leave the Stadio Olimpico 1-0 to the good, but the slender lead would only last for 14 minutes of the second game when Paolo Sousa put through his own net.

Giancarlo Marocchi restored the hosts’ advantage that was doubled shortly later by Roberto Baggio’s injury-time penalty, and Marcello Lippi’s charges would go on to lift the cup at the end of the campaign, Sergio Porrini and Ravanelli netting in the 2-0 final win over Parma.

2015: JUVENTUS vs FIORENTINA

Twenty years on from their previous Coppa Italia triumph, Juventus had their work cut out to end the wait for glory after going down 2-1 to Fiorentina in their semi-final first leg at Juventus Stadium courtesy of strikes by Mohamed Salah either side of Fernando Llorente’s 24th-minute finish.

One month later, however, Massimiliano Allegri’s men played the perfect match in Florence, blowing their opponents away 3-0 on the night thanks to goals from Alessandro Matri, Roberto Pereyra and Leonardo Bonucci, setting up a final against Lazio, in which the Bianconeri sealed an historic 10th Coppa crown.

2016: JUVENTUS vs INTER

A tie of two halves in the most precise way possible, until penalties eventually saved the day.

Far and away superior in the first leg at Juventus Stadium, the Bianconeri made their dominance count and established a 3-0 lead through Alvaro Morata’s brace and Paulo Dybala late on.

The return match at the San Siro, however, saw the boot placed on the other foot as Inter put three past Juventus in regulation time to ultimately force spot-kicks, Bonucci netting the decisive penalty.

The dramatic win paved the way to the final in Rome, in which they beat Milan 1-0 with Morata striking in extra time.