Rome (AFP)

Juventus, two weeks after their misstep against Inter Milan in the league, took revenge on Tuesday at San Siro in the semi-final first leg of the Italian Cup (2-1), thanks to a double from Cristiano Ronaldo .

The Portuguese, who brings his professional goal tally to 762, was helped a lot by big individual Milanese mistakes to put the Turinese in an ideal position for the return home in a week.

Ashley Young first conceded an avoidable penalty by retaining Juan Cuadrado when the ball was out of reach, allowing CR7 to equalize (26th) after the opener of Lautaro Martinez (9th).

Nerazzurro goalkeeper Samir Handanovic and his defender Alessandro Bastoni then got tangled up outside the area, allowing Ronaldo, on the lookout, to steal the ball from them to send it into the deserted cage (35 ').

The Bianconeri defended without weakening in the second half this logical advantage at the break.

The best second act of the Interists, long jostled by the pressing bianconero and deprived of the ball, will not have been enough.

Deprived of his precious offensive point of support that is Romelu Lukaku, suspended for having received two yellow cards in the two previous rounds, including that during his hot face to face against Zlatan Ibrahimovic in quarterfinal, Inter has undoubtedly been too wait-and-see at the start of the match, determined to try her luck against.

It worked perfectly on the first attempt, concluded by Lautaro Martinez who beat Matthijs De Ligt to deceive Gianluigi Buffon, whose hand lacked firmness.

A few days after his 43rd birthday, "Gigi" Buffon was offered the 1100th game of his career (clubs and selections combined).

As well as the captain's armband, at the head of a team largely redesigned by Andrea Pirlo, with Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, Alvaro Morata and Federico Chiesa on the bench.

Winning choice since midfielder Rabiot-Bentancur, with McKennie and Bernardeschi on the sides, first dictated the tempo.

To see a more biting Inter, more like the one that gave the lesson in the league to the Bianconeri (2-0) on January 17, it was necessary to wait for the last half hour.

Buffon, beaten on a strike from Alexis Sanchez, was first replaced by Merih Demiral (56th).

But the monument justified its pedigree shortly after by a high class stop in front of Matteo Darmian (69th).

He folded again on a shot from Christian Eriksen (77th).

Juve, without Cristiano Ronaldo replaced in the 76th by Morata, rounded back to the end, without really worrying Handanovic after the hour mark but without flinching.

What to foresee already the final on May 19, with these two goals away.

In the other semi-final first leg, defending champion Napoli will host Atalanta Bergamo on Wednesday.

© 2021 AFP