Juventus to capture Coppa Italia against AC Milan and clinch domestic double
Published:
Holly Thackeray | May 19, 2016
AC Milan v Juventus
- Coppa Italia final
- Saturday, May 21st
- Kick-off: 19:45 BST
- Stadio Olimpico, Rome
- Live on Sky Sports 2
AC Milan and Juventus contest Coppa Italia crown
Serie A may be done and dusted, with Juventus having wrapped up a fifth successive Scudetto, but there is still plenty at stake in Saturday evening’s cracking Coppa Italia final between Italy’s two most lauded clubs.
Hosted on the always impressive neutral ground of Roma and Lazio’s shared Stadio Olimpico, current holders Juve can retain their crown and compete a domestic double for the second season in a row. While, rivals AC Milan find themselves stationed as underdogs, but victory in the Eternal City could hand the seventh-placed Serie A side a sneaky back door route into the Europa League.
So, Coral writers give customers the betting lowdown on what looks set to be a scintillating night of Italian football on Sky Sports 2…
AC chasing Europa League entry
Fallen giants AC Milan are looking likely to miss out on continental competition for the third term on the trot – something which must certainly sting as bitter city rivals Inter Milan secured fourth spot and an automatic place in the Europa League.
The Rossoneri could join their Nerazzurri neighbours if they beat Juve in the Italian capital, however, and the San Siro side are priced at 9/4 with Coral to lift the Coppa Italia for the first time since 2003.
With wounded pride they will surely be up for salvaging the season, but AC have managed just one victory against fellow northerners Juventus in their last nine attempts across all competitions, which makes their 9/2 odds for a win in 90 mins unlikely.
Since switching Sinisa Mihajlovic for youth coach Cristian Brocchi, the Rossoneri have recorded just two triumphs in six, but with backs against the wall and reputations to enhance amid rumours of a takeover they may seek to take advantage of some Old Lady injury issues.
Juve at the double
Massimiliano Allegri’s men have already done a league double over Milan on their march to the Scudetto, so are expectedly odds-on at 7/10 for a win in normal time, or 1/3 to lift the cup.
Lazio gave it a good go in the Coppa Italia finale last year, but Juve still came out tops when it counted, and both Sassuolo and Fiorentina fans will be hoping they have enough left in the tank to do the same again.
Should AC Milan triumph, Viola will lose their automatic Europa League place and be forced to qualify, while Sassuolo will miss out completely in the case of Rossoneri victory.
An unstoppable juggernaut domestically, with another league and Coppa double on the cards, the Old Lady should still be too strong for Brocchi’s faltering boys, with just one defeat marring a recent run of nine matches unbeaten in all competitions.
Yet, there are a few concerns for coach Allegri, who will miss leadership from suspended Leonardo Bonucci at the back, while midfielders Claudio Marchisio and Sami Khedira are both set to miss out due to injury.
All of this, plus the likelihood that cup keeper Norberto Neto will start ahead of stalwart Gianluigi Buffon in net, makes Juventus much more tempting at 17/5 to win in 90 mins and both teams score than an 11/8 price to win to nil.
Old Lady hold attacking impetus
Fresh from thrashing Sampdoria 5-0 on the last day of the Serie A season, Juventus are 16/5 to notch three or more here, and though there may be defensive absences the Old Lady’s attack is firing on all cylinders.
Summer striker signing Paulo Dybala has been the Turin team’s catalyst and has already fired past the Rossoneri this campaign, on his way to clocking up 23 strikes in all competitions.
“We started the season by winning the Super Cup in Shanghai and it would be great to finish it by winning the Italian Cup,” said the Argentine sensation, who is 10/3 to open the Stadio Olimpico scoring.
Partner in crime Mario Mandzukic (a 5/4 shout to hit home anytime) and powerful midfielder Paul Pogba (2/1) have also breached the Rossoneri rearguard this term. While, Premier League-linked Simone Zaza is 6/1 to deliver the final blow.
As for AC Milan’s attack, Colombia sharpshooter Carlos Bacca is certainly capable of bagging, having dispatched three in as many of his last matches, and is tempting at 2/1 anytime. In support, Japan icon Keisuke Honda and Italian midfield man Andrea Bertolacci are 11/2 and 7/1 chances in the same market. And, if punters fancy a dramatic finish, both teams to score in the second half is a fantastic 3/1.
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Coral’s top tip: Juventus look tasty a 17/5 to win and both teams score.
