Result: Inter Milan 1-2 Juventus
Date: 02 February 2021
Venue: San Siro
A brace from Cristiano Ronaldo saw Juventus claim a 2-1 victory over Inter Milan in the first-leg of their Coppa Italia semifinal at the San Siro on Tuesday.
The hosts made six changes from their recent four-goal victory over Benevento in Serie A, while the Old Lady made seven changes.
Inter took the lead in the ninth minute. Alexis Sanchez did well to hold the ball up and bring Nicolo Barella into play. From there, the Italian midfielder's cross was precise for Lautaro Martinez to run onto and slot into the back of the net.
Juve levelled matters from the penalty spot in the 26th minute after Ashley Young pulled back Juan Cuadrado. Ronaldo stepped up and fired down the middle and into the roof of the net.
In the 35th minute, the visitors took the lead. A poor back pass from Milan Skriniar and a mix-up between Samir Handanovic and Alessandro Bastoni allowed Ronaldo to race through on goal. From a tight angle, the striker's left-footed shot hit the far post and bounced in.
Inter came so agonisingly close to restoring matters. Juventus were dispossessed deep inside their own half following a free-kick, and Sanchez went for goal from the centre of the box. He beat Gianluigi Buffon, but Merih Demiral got back to clear off the line.
Sanchez was playing well and showed great strength to fend off a number of Juventus defenders inside the away side's box. The Chilean found Darmian to his right, and his left-footed shot from close range was palmed away by Buffon.
Nerazzurri boss Antonio Conte brought on Ivan Perisic and Christian Eriksen to add some attacking spark. And Perisic's first involvement saw him drive down the left flank and deliver a cross into the box. Barella met the delivery, but his attempt went wide to the left of Buffon's goal.
The substitutes combined well in the 78th minute. Buffon's sloppy pass out from the back was retrieved by Perisic, who laid it off to Eriksen on the edge of the area but the Dane's effort was smartly gathered by Buffon down to his left.
Despite Inter pressing hard for the equaliser, it was not to be as they now go to Turin with a one-goal deficit.
