Coppa Italia Game Time Thread: Juventus vs. AC Milan

This isn’t the first time Juventus has played Milan this season. It’s not the second time the two historic rivals have played. As weird — or unique — as it may be, this is going to be the third different competition in which Juventus and Milan have faced one another within a three-month span.

Today we reach the third step in that three-part connection.

The thing is, though. In the previous two meetings, it has been Juventus left scratching their heads and fans wondering what the heck just happened in front of their eyes.

Milan has already beaten Juventus twice this season — once at the San Siro and the other coming last month in the Supercoppa in Doha. Those two games were performances by Juventus that a lot of folks would probably like to forget. At least those of us who root for teams that wear black and white jerseys, that is. Juve were disappointing, to say the least, against a Milan side that while not as talented was certainly more tactically drilled than their opposition.

But now we get to see what Juventus — squad rotation, some squad rotation or little to no squad rotation — can do after this weekend’s big-time performance against Lazio. I don’t think I’m wrong in saying it was one of the best performances of the season. Max Allegri rolled the dice and his 4-2-3-1 delivered the goods.

There’s no certainty that Allegri will go back to the same formation that made his team have so much success just a few days earlier. We could see a 4-3-3, we could see a 4-3-2-1, we could even see something that’s not even a thought. (Don’t say 3-5-2, jerks.) Allegri, even without a few options in defense and in the midfield, can go a couple of different ways with how he sets things up against Milan tonight.

That’s what we’re here to see. Oh, and if Juventus can stretch competing on three fronts into the month of February. It’s Coppa Italia time once again, boys and girls. Let’s hope that Juventus don’t do what they’ve done against Milan in the other two competitions this season.

MATCH INFO

Location: Juventus Stadium, Turin, Italy

Kick-off time: 8:45 p.m. local time in Italy; 7:45 p.m. in the United Kingdom; 2:45 p.m. on the East Coast; 11:45 a.m. on the West Coast

STARTING LINEUPS

Juventus starting XI (4-2-3-1): Neto; Barzagli, Bonucci, Rugani, Asamoah; Khedira, Pjanic; Cuadrado, Dybala, Mandzukic; Higuain

Juventus bench: Audero, Del Favero, Chiellini, Hernanes, Alex Sandro, Mattiello, Pjaca, Dani Alves, Lichtsteiner, Sturaro, Rincon, Muratore

AC Milan starting XI (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Abate, Zapata, Romagnoli, Antonelli; Kucka, Locatelli, Bertolacci; Bonaventura, Bacca, Suso

AC Milan bench: Storari, De Sciglio, Gomez, Paletta, Vangioni, Honda, Mati Fernandez, Pasalic, Poli, Sosa, Deulofeu, Lapadula

WATCH IT

TV: GOLTV USA, GolTV Espanol (United States); Sky Sports 2/HD UK, Sky Sports Mix, NOW TV UK (United Kingdom); RAI Uno (Italy)

Online: fuboTV (United States); Sky Go UK, Sky GO Extra (United Kingdom)

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