Juventus Defeats Lazio 2-1 to Reach Coppa Italia Final

Juventus secured a spot in the Coppa Italia final with a 2-1 victory over Lazio in the semifinal second leg on Wednesday. Despite Lazio winning the match 2-1, Juventus prevailed 3-2 on aggregate to advance to the final, where they will face the winner of the Atalanta vs Fiorentina semifinal on April 26, 2023.

Lazio took an early lead in the 12th minute when Valentin Castellanos headed in a goal. Castellanos struck again early in the second half to level the aggregate score at 2-2. However, Juventus substitute Arkadiusz Milik scored the decisive goal in the 83rd minute to send his team to the final.

Why this matters: Juventus reaching the Coppa Italia final is significant as they aim for their 15th title in the competition. The victory also provides a boost for Juventus as they continue to fight for a Champions League spot in Serie A.

This will be Juventus' 22nd appearance in the Coppa Italia final, the most of any team. They have qualified for the final in all 11 of their previous semifinal appearances in the tournament's history. Milik, who scored the crucial goal, is now the top scorer in the 2023/24 Coppa Italia with four goals, becoming the first Juventus player to achieve that feat since Paulo Dybala in 2016/17.

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri acknowledged the difficulties his team faced against a strong Lazio side. "We suffered against a good Lazio team," Allegri said. "We should have scored first, but reaching the final is important and will give us a boost for the end of the season where we need a few more points to qualify for the Champions League."

The Coppa Italia final will take place on May 15 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Juventus, 14-time winners of the Italian Cup, will aim to add another trophy to their collection. However, they will be without midfielder Manuel Locatelli, who is suspended for the final. The victory keeps Juventus in contention for silverware this season as they also continue their pursuit of a top-four finish in Serie A.

Key Takeaways

• Juventus reached the Coppa Italia final with a 3-2 aggregate win over Lazio.
• Juventus will face the winner of Atalanta vs Fiorentina in the final on April 26.
• Juventus is aiming for their 15th Coppa Italia title, the most of any team.
• Arkadiusz Milik scored the decisive goal for Juventus and is the top scorer in the tournament.
• Juventus' victory keeps them in contention for a top-four finish in Serie A.