Juventus vs AC Milan Preview

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Football in Italy is coming back with a bang this Friday, as AC Milan travel to Juventus in the 2nd leg Semi Final of the Coppa Italia. The 1st leg was back in February and the match was 1-1 giving Juventus the away goal advantage. This match and competition is a huge opportunity for AC Milan to win silverware for the first time since 2011 when they won the Serie A. Juventus will be hoping to reach the final and win the competition as they got knocked out by Atalanta in the quarter finals 3-0 last year.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a crucial penalty in injury time to tie the match against AC Milan
Image Source: Sempre Milan

In goal Juventus will have 42 year old Gianluigi Buffon, who has been in great form in the Coppa Italia with an average of five saves per match. At the back look out for Leonardo Bonucci and Brazilian international Alex Sandro have an 87% and 88% pass accuracy rate. Sandro has won 100% of the tackles he has faced. Miralem Pjanic is a key midfielder as he has a 90% pass accuracy rate in the Serie A and has an average of 91 touches per match. And up front Juventus have Argentinian international Paulo Dybala and Cristiano Ronaldo. Dybala scored two goals in a 4-0 win to Udinese in the round of 16 Coppa Italia match. Ronaldo is the 2nd top scorer in the Serie A with a whopping 21 goals and will be a huge threat to AC Milan chances of reaching the final.

Juventus training before the big match
Image Source: Juventus Facebook Page

AC Milan have a solid keeper in Gianluigi Donnarumma who has had nine clean sheets in the 24 games in the Serie A he's played in. Former Atalanta defender Simon Kjaer has had a big impact since he signed for the club in January this year, and has a 86% pass accuracy rate in the Coppa Italia. Kjaer has also won 80% of the tackles he has faced. Cote d'Ivoire midfielder Franck Kessie helps control the midfield as he has a 96% pass accuracy rate. Along side Kessie is Hakan Calhanoglu who helps bring Milan forward with 80 touches per match. Unfortunetly for AC Milan, their key forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic won't play as he has a calf injury. 

Turkish international Hakan Calhanoglu prepares for the 2nd leg.
Image Source: AC Milan Facebook Page

The winner of this match will be in the final against either Inter Milan or Napoli who play this Saturday where Napoli who the 1st leg 0-1 away. Juventus will be looking to win the competition for the 19th time. AC Milan are looking not only to get back on track with winning silverware but also qualifying to the Europa League by winning the Coppa Italia


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