Juventus just about manage to hold on! Ilicic's cross in from the set-piece is a dangerous one but Chiellini just about manages to meet it at the far post. Ilicic then tries to fire another cross into the box before Barrow whips a successful one in from the right flank, but once again the visitors are just about able to deal with the danger. That should be that.
90' +4
R. Bentancur gets yellow.
Castagne weaves his way towards the edge of the Juventus box before being bundled over by Bentancur, resulting in a yellow card for the midfielder and a free-kick for Atalanta in a very dangerous position.
90' +3
Juventus are able to push forward down the right wing through Bernardeschi, who manages to link up well with De Sciglio once again. The full-back tries to fire a cross into the box instead of taking the ball to the corner flag, and it's comfortably dealt with by Jose Luis Palomino.
90' +2
It's backs against the wall time for Juventus, who are desperately trying to hold onto their slender lead against a hard-working Atalanta side. The hosts have struggled for most of the evening when pushing forward but are starting to make their opponents work incredibly hard.
90'
R. Bentancur enters the game and replaces M. Pjanić.
The fourth official has indicated that there will be five minutes of added time.
89'
Juventus have made their third and final alteration, with Rodrigo Bentancur coming on to replace Pjanic.
88'
Huge chance for Ilicic to equalise! Barrow does really well on the edge of the Juventus penalty area before dinking a deft pass into the path of Ilicic. He rushes onto the ball and shoots, but his great effort is well saved by Buffon at the near post.
86'
Masiello drifts out wide and picks up the ball deep down the left flank as Atalanta break forward once again. The defender's cross into the box is a good one and forces Buffon into action, but the goalkeeper is comfortably able to claim the ball out of the air.
84'
Higuain goes close to making it 2-0! The Argentine hasn't had much to do this half, but he does well to cause the Atalanta back line a few problems with a determined run. He charges towards the penalty area before getting a shot away, but his low effort ends up rolling a few yards wide of the near post.
82'
A. Barzagli enters the game and replaces M. Benatia.
A. Petagna enters the game and replaces P. Gómez.
Juventus have made a substitution at the back, with Andrea Barzagli coming on to replace Benatia.
Meanwhile, Atalanta have replaced Gomez with Andrea Petagna.
Minute
Description
80'
A. Masiello gets yellow.
Ouch! Atalanta lose the ball over on the left flank and allow Juventus to counter-attack quickly through Bernardeschi, who is immediately caught on the knee by a late challenge from Masiello. It's left the former Fiorentina man in a lot of discomfort.
78'
Gomez cuts inside quickly from the left wing and does well to skip away from Bernardeschi. He then sets up Ilicic to spin and shoot from just inside the box, and his effort is deflected into the hands of Buffon after being closed down well.
76'
M. Barrow enters the game and replaces B. Cristante.
R. Tolói gets yellow.
The home side have made an interesting switch, with young Musa Barrow coming on to replace Cristante and make his senior debut.
After dealing with the danger, Juventus push forward on a quick attacking move of their own. Higuain bursts through the middle of the pitch before taking on Toloi, who clumsily fouls the Argentine and earns himself a yellow card.
75'
Juventus aren't able to fully clear the danger from their own half of the pitch, allowing Atalanta to push forward once again. Cristante receives the ball on the edge of the box and tries to poke it through to Ilicic, but Pjanic is there to beat the substitute to the pass.
73'
Chance for Mandzukic! Bernardeschi and De Sciglio link up really well over on the right flank before the full-back swings a lovely cross over to the far post. Mandzukic is able to get a head to the ball, but he's put off by Matuidi and ends up sending his effort wide of the goal.
71'
Bernardeschi is barged into from behind by Castagne, leaving him flat on the floor and resulting in a free-kick for Juventus out wide. Pjanic steps up and curls a cross into the penalty area but it's poorly hit and fails to pick out a team-mate in front of goal.
69'
Another lengthy period of possession for Atalanta fails to result in a chance on goal, as Toloi is well dealt with over on the right wing and the home side are forced into sending the ball all the way back to Berisha.
67'
Atalanta are enjoying plenty of possession now that Juventus have taken their foot off the pedal slightly, but they're struggling to do much with it. They've looked better on the ball since replacing Cornelius with Ilicic but are lacking any sort of presence up front, and it's making life easy for the visitors' back line.
65'
A looping Juventus corner isn't fully dealt with by the home side, allowing Matuidi to break into the box and get a cross away. His fizzing pass forces Berisha into action, and the goalkeeper is easily able to deal with the danger.
64'
Bernardeschi immediately gets involved in the game as he plays a good one-two with De Sciglio deep down the right flank. The full-back then blasts a bouncing cross into the box that causes a few problems for the Atalanta defenders, but the ball is eventually cleared by De Roon over on the left-hand side.
63'
F. Bernardeschi enters the game and replaces Douglas Costa.
Juventus have made their first change of the night, with Costa making way for Federico Bernardeschi.
61'
Sandro quickly cuts inside from the left wing and is bundled over by Marten de Roon, resulting in a free-kick for the visitors in a decent area of the pitch. Pjanic steps up and unleashes a cross-cum-shot that's poorly hit, and it sails comfortably wide of the goal.
59'
Castagne gets himself into a good position deep down the left flank before trying to poke a pass into the Juventus penalty area, but it's poorly hit by the wing-back and Benatia is easily able to deal with the danger on the edge of the box.
57'
Atalanta try to push forward on a quick counter-attack after an attempted Juventus attacking move comes to an end, but Freuler can't find a way past Sandro and has to settle for a free-kick after being caught late by the full-back.
55'
The visitors try to find joy down the left flank once again as Sandro bursts forward. The Brazilian eventually tries to pick out Higuain with a chipped cross, but it can only find the chest of Timothy Castagne.
53'
Juventus are able to push forward on their first attack of the second half after some space opens up over on the left wing, but the looping cross into the penalty area isn't hit well enough and sails straight into the hands of Berisha.
51'
The free-kick is sent short and worked over to Freuler, who then wins his side a corner over on the right flank. It's curled into the penalty area and almost finds Hateboer, but the wing-back can't quite reach the ball with his head.
50'
G. Chiellini gets yellow.
Ilicic darts down the right wing and takes on Chiellini, who charges into the substitute and sends him crashing to the ground, resulting in a yellow card for the Juventus defender and a free-kick for Atalanta in a promising position.
48'
The home side enjoy a quick start to the second half as they immediately go on the front foot. Gomez twists and turns on the edge of the box before eventually getting a shot away, but his curling strike is sent straight into the hands of Buffon in the middle of the goal.
46'
J. Iličić enters the game and replaces A. Cornelius.
Atalanta have made one substitution during the break, with Josip Ilicic coming on to replace Cornelius.
We're underway once again!
45' +2
Cornelius charges down the right wing as the home side push forward on one final attack before the half-tiem break. Freuler manages to break his way into the Juventus box before trying to get a shot away, but he has the ball poked away from him at the vital moment and isn't able to do so.
45'
The fourth official has indicated that there will be two minutes of added time.
43'
Ouch! Higuain makes it to the edge of the Atalanta box before being barged to the ground by an almighty shove from Toloi, who somehow doesn't give away a free-kick in a very dangerous position. Higuain can't quite believe it!
41'
Gomez is dispossessed on the halfway line, allowing Juventus to burst forward on another excellent counter-attack. Higuain sprints into the penalty area and chips a cross over to Mandzukic, who tries to set up Matuidi once again but can't quite get the better of Hateboer.
39'
Another opportunity for Matuidi! Once again, Mandzukic is able to slip into the hosts' penalty area before cutting a good pass back to Matuidi. The Frenchman's shot is much better this time, but Toloi is there to make it deflects behind for a corner.
37'
Miralem Pjanic is tripped over from behind by Rafael Toloi, resulting in a free-kick for Juventus in a dangerous position out wide. It's the Bosnian who swings a cross into the penalty area, but it can't quite find the head of Giorgio Chiellini in front of goal.
35'
Great chance for Matuidi to make it 2-0! Higuain bursts down the right flank on a wonderful run before squaring a clever pass over to Mandzukic. The Croatian quickly knocks the ball back to Matuidi, who shoots from the edge of the box but sends his first-time effort curling over the crossbar.
33'
Juventus try to find some joy down the right wing once again before Mandzukic receives the ball just outside of the Atalanta penalty area, but he can't do much with it and only finds the hands of Berisha.
31'
Atalanta could have collapsed after going behind so early on, but they've done well to get back in the game and are continuing to cause a few problems for the Juventus back line. They're yet to carve out any clear-cut chances on goal (bar the penalty, of course) but look a threat out wide.
29'
More good play by the visitors brings Mattia De Sciglio into the game deep down the right flank. He cuts inside and knocks a pass back to Higuain, who shoots from the edge of the box but can't hit the target with a looping effort.
27'
Higuain easily out-muscles Hateboer deep down the left wing before charging towards the edge of the penalty area and crossing, but he can't quite pick out a team-mate and Andrea Masiello can blast the ball out of play at the vital moment.
25'
Penalty saved by G. Buffon!
SAVE! Buffon celebrates his 40th birthday with an excellent stop to deny Gomez, who tried to find the bottom right-hand corner of the net but was denied by the veteran goalkeeper.
Gomez's penalty arguably wasn't the greatest he's ever hit, but it certainly needed a good save to keep it out. Buffon hasn't featured since the start of the December but did really well there.
24'
PENALTY! The referee eventually decides to consult VAR, and after intensely watching the screen over on the touchline, he ends up pointing to the spot. Juventus can't believe it!
23'
Atalanta scream for a penalty, but nothing is given! Atalanta keep moving the ball around nicely before a low pass is fired into the feet of Cornelius inside the box. The striker can't quite control the ball but seems to knock it up into the hands of Medhi Benatia, resulting in the home players all appealing for a penalty. The referee doesn't seem interested though, and play goes on.
21'
Cornelius is presented with another opportunity to bomb towards the Juventus penalty area after latching onto a lofted cross-field pass, but he can't quite control it and is quickly dispossessed out wide.
19'
Andreas Cornelius tries to muscle his way into the Juventus penalty area as he attempts to squeeze his way through a sea of yellow shirts. It's quickly blocked, however, but he's able to regain possession before the ball is eventually shepherded into the hands of Buffon.
17'
Blaise Matuidi and Alex Sandro link up really well over on the left wing as Juventus pile bodies forward once again. The Brazilian quickly cuts inside and fires a cross-field pass over to the right wing, but it's poorly hit and sails out of play for a throw-in.
15'
Space opens up for Mario Mandzukic, allowing the Croatian forward to break towards the hosts' box and get a shot away. His thumping strike is quickly closed down and blocked though, and Hateboer then blasts the ball behind for a corner that's well dealt with by the home side.
13'
Atalanta look as if they're starting to find their feet after suffering a really difficult start to the evening. They're moving the ball around with much more confidence, and they're pressing high up the pitch when Juventus are in possession.
11'
Douglas Costa cuts inside from the right flank and unleashes a 20-yard shot that's deflected behind for a corner by the chest of Remo Freuler. Berisha's punched clearance isn't the greatest but Atalanta are eventually able to deal with the danger before Juventus can carve out another chance on goal.
9'
An attempted Juventus attack breaks down on the halfway line and the hosts are able to quickly break away once again, but they're unable to take advantage of the counter-attack as Papu Gomez's long-range strike sails high over the crossbar.
7'
After a difficult start to the night, Atalanta are able to knock the ball around inside the Juventus half of the pitch before carving out their first chance on goal. A looping cross is swung into the box from the right wing and picks out Bryan Cristante, who gets a head on the ball but can't test Gianluigi Buffon.
5'
Almost a second for the visitors! Another determined attacking move causes all sorts of problems for the home side, who are struggling to deal with the pressure being put on them. This time it's Sami Khedira who bursts into the box and tries to shoot, but Hans Hateboer is just about able to blast the ball away before he can do so.
3'
G. Higuaín has scored a goal for Juventus!
GOAL! It's a perfect start for Juventus! Higuain storms through the middle of the pitch as the visitors hit Atalanta on another excellent early attack. The striker easily manages to get the better of two defenders before penetrating the penalty area, where he side-foots a lovely shot into the bottom right-hand corner of the net to give his an early lead.
2'
Early chance for Juventus! After a good start to the game from the home side, it's the visitors who carve out the first opportunity on goal. A lofted pass is fired into the left-hand side of the Atalanta box and picks out Gonzalo Higuain, who immediately forces Etrit Berisha into making a decent save at the near post.
1'
We're off! Juventus, in their yellow away kit, get us underway, attacking from right to left.
Good evening and welcome to our live text commentary of today’s Coppa Italia semi-final first leg between Atalanta and Juventus at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia.
After having to wait 20 years to lift their 10th Coppa Italia, Juventus have dominated the competition in recent years and head into tonight’s big clash knowing they’re potentially three games away from their fourth consecutive cup triumph. The Old Lady have been in fine form this season, and last weekend’s victory away to Chievo saw them extend their winning run to eight games, with only Sampdoria managing to beat them since the middle of October.
It’s been plain sailing for Juventus in the Coppa Italia so far, with Genoa and local rivals Torino both being swept aside in the previous two rounds. Atalanta are a different prospect, however, and the reigning champions will have to be at their best if they’re to find a way past the Bergamo outfit, who have proved to be stubborn opponents in recent meetings between the two sides.
Each of the last two clashes here at the Atleti Azzurri d’Italia have ended in 2-2 draws, with the home side doing well to come from behind on both occasions. This is the first time Atalanta have managed to reach the semi-finals of the cup since 1989, and they certainly find themselves in good form at the moment. They’ve won five of their last seven games, with Napoli and Roma both suffering defeats during that time.
Current Serie A leaders Napoli were handed a disappointing loss in the last round, sending Atalanta through to the final four and setting them up with a clash against the side that knocked them out of the competition last year. That game ended 3-2, with Paulo Dybala, Mario Mandzukic and Miralem Pjanic all finding the back of the net for Juventus. The latter two are both set to start again tonight.
There’s just under 15 minutes left to go until kick-off, so let’s have a look at how the two teams will be lining up this evening…
Atalanta XI (3-4-1-2): Berisha; Toloi, Palomino, Masiello; Hateboer, De Roon, Freuler, Castagne; Cristante; Cornelius, Gomez.
Juventus XI (4-3-3): Buffon; De Sciglio, Benatia, Chiellini, Sandro; Khedira, Pjanic, Matuidi; Costa, Higuain, Mandzukic.
Gian Piero Gasperini has decided to make three changes to the Atalanta side that beat Sassuolo 3-0 on the weekend, with Etrit Berisha, Hans Hateboer and Papu Gomez coming into the starting line-up to replace Pierluigi Gollini, Robin Gosens and Josip Illicic, respectively.
Meanwhile, Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri has made four alterations to the team that featured in their last outing, with Wojciech Szczesny, Andrea Barzagli, Kwadwo Asamoah and Stefano Sturaro making way for Gianluigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini, Alex Sandro and Blaise Matuidi.
The two sides are making their way out onto the pitch, with just a few minutes to go until kick-off.
HALF-TIME: ATALANTA 0-1 JUVENTUS
So far, so good for Juventus, who enjoyed a perfect start to the evening when Higuain gave them the lead with just three minutes on the clock. They're remained largely in control since then, although Atalanta have enjoyed a few decent periods of possession when pushing forward. The hosts have done well not to collapse, and they certainly have a good chance of getting back into the game after the break.
The two teams are making their way back out on to the pitch ahead of the start of the second half.
FULL-TIME: ATALANTA 0-1 JUVENTUS
Atalanta grew into the game and started to ask questions of the Juventus defence towards the end of the second half, but it was arguably too little, too late. The visitors' great start to the evening allowed them to sit back and defend diligently late on, and another hard-working performance from the reigning champions means they'll be able to head into the second leg with an important away goal - and lead - safely under their belts.
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