Rome (AFP)

Inter Milan, beaten 2-1 at home on the first leg, is doomed to the feat on Tuesday (8.45 p.m.) in Turin in the semi-final second leg of the Italian Cup to hope to deprive Juventus, in May, of a seventh final in ten years.

In the other semi-final, Wednesday in Bergamo, everything remains open between Atalanta and defending champion Napoli after the 0-0 first leg at the Diego Maradona Stadium.

For his trip to Turin, Inter will this time be able to count on the power of Romelu Lukaku at the top but also the legs of Achraf Hakimi on the right flank, both suspended in the first leg.

The Nerazzurri's mission does not seem much simpler against a Juventus which has become very solid again since the setback against this same Inter (0-2) on January 17 in the league.

The Bianconeri have since lined up six wins (in all competitions) by conceding only one goal - the one scored in the first leg by Lautaro Martinez.

Turin coach Andrea Pirlo, who expects a real "battle" to confirm the option taken at San Siro, did not rule out a return of Paulo Dybala to the group, absent since January 10 due to a sprained left knee.

In the event of qualification, Juve (13 Italian Cups on the list) would play its seventh final in ten years.

On the side of Naples, keeping the trophy won last year against the Bianconeri is not quite the priority at the moment for Gennaro Gattuso.

After the relapse against Genoa (1-2) on Saturday in the league, the Neapolitan coach recalled that the number one objective of the season was to finish in the Top 4 to find greater Europe.

"The Italian Cup gave us satisfaction last year, but returning to the Champions League is the priority," said a coach who will play big this week with next Saturday the clash against Juve in Serie A.

On the other hand, the Cup is still the dream of Atalanta Bergamo, whose victory in this event in 1963 is the only trophy on the list.

Raising it again would crown with a title the current prosperous period under the orders of Gian Piero Gasperini.

Arrived in 2016, the coach took the "Dea" to new levels in Italy and Europe, but he has yet to win anything.

Program of the semi-finals of the Italian Cup:

Tuesday February 9

(8:45 p.m.) Juventus Turin - Inter Milan

Wednesday February 10

(8:45 p.m.) Atalanta Bergamo - Naples

Final on May 19, 2021

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