Coppa Italia Game Time Thread: Juventus vs. Inter Milan

While one Milan side is in the semifinals of the Coppa Italia with the fairytale team of the 2015-16 tournament, the same can't be said about the other team that currently inhibits the San Siro.

Inter Milan has the task of trying to slow down the train that is Juventus right now. And, in turn, Juve look to continue their defense of their 10th Coppa Italia triumph. They're the two best teams left remaining in the tournament, with today's first leg possibly giving one of them a foot into the final come a few months from now.

But let's not get too far ahead of ourselves seeing as the second leg isn't until the second day of March.

Before the second leg gets underway in five weeks' time, we need to take care of the first leg, which is going down in front of a packed, sold out crowd at Juventus Stadium in Turin. It probably won't be easy, just as is the case in most Derby d'Italia showdowns between the two arch-rivals. It won't be pretty at times seeing as a lot of the derbies tend to cater to the physical and gritty.

No matter how the game goes, Juventus know what they have to do.

And even with a squad that will probably feature some different faces than we saw over the weekend in the 1-0 win over Roma at Juventus Stadium, the goal is still the same as always.

The good thing for all of us who root for Juventus and despise Inter at the same time, Max Allegri has his squad playing some pretty good football these days. And when you're about to play one of your most hated rivals, there's no better way that I'd like Juventus to enter such an important game. (Yes, it's important because we all like to see Juventus beat Inter no matter what is at stake.)

So here's to hoping that Juventus, squad rotation at all even though Allegri won't call it squad rotation, can continue this nice little run in the Coppa Italia and take the first leg against Inter. You all know it would be fun to see Juventus players celebrating their advancement into the Coppa final on the San Siro turf. Good times — hopefully.

Lineups

Juventus XI (3-5-2): Neto, Martin Caceres, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini; Juan Cuadrado, Paul Pogba, Claudio Marchisio, Kwadwo Asamoah, Patrice Evra; Mario Mandzukic, Alvaro Morata

Juventus bench: Gianluigi Buffon, Rubinho, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Andrea Barzagli, Daniele Rugani, Alex Sandro, Simone Padoin, Hernanes, Paulo Dybala

Inter Milan XI (4-3-3): Samir Handanovic; Danilo D'Ambrosio, Miranda, Jeison Murillo, Yuto Nagatomo; Felipe Melo, Gary Medel, Geoffrey Kondogbia; Jonathan Biabiany, Stevan Jovetic, Adem Ljajic

Inter Milan bench: Juan Pablo Carrizo, Tommaso Berni, Juan Jesus, Rodrigo Palacio, Mauro Icardi, Alex Telles, Martin Montoya, Davide Santon, Andrea Ranocchia, Assane Demoya Gnoukouri, Marcelo Brozovic, Rey Manaj

How to watch

TV: Sky Sports 2/HD (United Kingdom)

Online: Sky Go UK, Sky Go Extra (United Kingdom)

Other live viewing options can be found here, and as always, you can also follow along with us live on Twitter. If you haven't already, join the community on Black & White & Read All Over, and join in the discussion below.