18 December 2017
JUVE AIMING TO MAKE IT FOUR IN A ROW
Since Massimiliano Allegri has been at the helm of Juventus, the Bianconeri incredibly have yet to experience elimination in the Coppa Italia.
Last season, Juventus tasted Coppa Italia triumph for the third successive year, becoming the first side in history to win three on the trot, after goals from Leonardo Bonucci and Dani Alves sealed a 2-0 victory in Rome.
The previous season saw Juve best AC Milan 1-0 after extra-time, with Alvaro Morata scoring the all-important goal with his first touch in the 110th minute after coming on as a substitute two minutes prior.
In 2014/15, it again took Juventus until extra-time, as they fell behind to Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico. Stefan Radu put the Biancocelesti ahead with a header in the fourth minute, but captain on the night, Giorgio Cheillini equalised just seven minutes later, with the teams not able to be separated in 90 minutes. Second half substitute, Alessandro Matri stuck in the 97th minute of extra-time to bring home the first trophy of Allegri’s reign.
Should Juventus be successful this year it would be the club’s 13th Coppa Italia in their history, with the team already leading the way on most cups won.
GENOA UP AND RUNNING IN THE COPPA
Genoa have already played in this year’s edition of the competition, having entered at the third round. They made it past Cesena in their opener, winning 2-1 after extra-time despite falling behind to the Serie B side at home, when Tunisia international, Karim Laribi converted a first half penalty. Giovanni Simone, now of Fiorentina, scored his last goal for the club to even the scores in the 51st minute, and in extra-time Diego Laxalt struck to send the Rossoblu into the next round.
In round four, Genoa got past fellow Serie A side Crotone, with Francesco Migliore scoring the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win to set up the Round 16 tie with Juve.
PREVIOUS CUP ENCOUNTERS
Juventus and Genoa last locked horns in the Coppa Italia in the 1992 Quarter-Finals, in a thrilling 4-3 win for the Bianconeri at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, having also won 1-0 in Turin in the first leg.
In 1982, the two teams again faced each other in the Third Round at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, and again the game produced a thrilling 4-3 win for Juventus. In 10 total Coppa Italia meetings between the two sides, Genoa have one just once, their first meeting in 1939 in Turin. There have been just two draws, 2-2 in 1971 and 0-0 in 1976 both in Genoa, whilst the Bianconeri have won the other seven matches.
