Source soccerage:
02/03/2004. BACKGROUND:
The 'Derby of Italy' is never an ordinary game, not even when it is 'just' a Coppa Italia match.
At the 'Stadio Delle Alpi' of Turin, Juventus will be hosting Inter for the first leg of the semi-final of the Coppa Italia match in program on Wednesday night.
Both teams see this cup from different points of view. For the bianconeri this is the least important objective of the season and the fact that Lippi does not field his first team in this trophy is indicative of Juve's interest. The nerazzurri on the other hand, being out of the Champions League and Scudetto chase, see this trophy with some extra importance to save a season which looks unsatisfying yet again.
Juventus arrive to this match following the hard fought win against Chievo while Inter come from a hard fought after-match against Siena, between Materazzi and Cirillo. However with the arrivals of Adriano and Stankovic and the recovery of Vieri, Inter looks more competitive and dangerous than ever before and will be ready to produce the same perofrmance which saw them 3-1 winners 2 months ago in the same ground and against the same team in Serie A.
The bianconeri will obviously want to put that result and especially that performance behind their backs and try to get revenge against a team who has only defeated them once in the past 10 years on their own home soil.
TEAM NEWS:
Juventus - Lippi's only unavailable player will be Birindelli, however the Tuscan coach will still field his second line-up for this game.
Inter - Zaccheroni is still without his injured players Materazzi, Coco, C. Zanetti, Almeyda, Martins and Vieri, even though the latter is on his road to recovery and will be available shortly.
PROBABLE FORMATIONS:
Juventus (4-3-1-2): Buffon; Thuram, Ferrara, Iuliano, Pessotto; Appiah, Tudor, Conte; Maresca; Di Vaio, Miccoli
Inter (3-4-3): Toldo; Cordobam Adanim Cannavaro; Helveg, Lamouchi, Farinos, J. Zanetti; Stankovic, Adriano, Recoba
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Miccoli (Juventus): With Del Piero's poor form, the pocket-sized forward will try to push his way into the first eleven against Roma with another convincing performance.
Adriano (Inter): Probably the best striker in the world who will be ready to start giving new joys to his fans.
The inter lineup isn´t too good....in fact..our midfield is better....we could win...only stops Adriano...