17 January 2022
19 May 2021, Juventus defeated Atalanta in the Italian Cup final at the Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia. Dejan Kulusevski and Federico Chiesa were the heroes on the night. A goal each earned them their first Italian Cup winners’ medals. For Gianluigi Buffon, a record-equalling sixth success allowed him to bid the club farewell in his customary style, with a trophy in his hands.
For Juventus, it was a fifth triumph in seven seasons.
Participation in the Coppa Italia 2020/21 started in the Round of 16. Hamza Rafia came off the bench to clinch the winning goal in extra time. In a tournament often used to test fringe players, Rafia was one of four Under-23s to take part in the 3-2 success over Genoa.
18 January 2022, Juventus set off in their defence of the Italian Cup and youngsters are waiting for a chance to prove their worth. As a seeded team, Juventus enter the tournament once again in the Round of 16, and again against a team from the city of Genoa, this time, Sampdoria.
The Blucerchiati travel to Turin to face Juventus in the Coppa Italia for the first time since December 2001, when Marcello Lippi watched his team bang in five first-half goals to win 5-2 on the night, 7-3 on aggregate.
Eight wins in the nine cup clashes, with 28 goals scored and 13 conceded, indicate the Lady’s dominance over the club from Liguria in the competition.
On his return to the competition he won four times with Juventus, Massimiliano Allegri will not be present in the dugout.
The coach will serve a suspension that has been hanging over his head since being sent to the stands in the defeat to Atalanta in 2019, the only setback in his inaugural five-year spell in charge.
Sampdoria, meanwhile, have confirmed the departure of Roberto D’Aversa. The coach that led his team to victory over Torino in the previous round has paid the price for a recent three-match losing run in Serie A.
A new coach brings new motivation, but underestimating Sampdoria will be the thought furthest from Juventus’ minds ahead of Tuesday’s match.
After all, there’s a trophy to defend.
