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This season was the second season, of the new format in European football, which added a round of 32 ties to Champions League football for teams that finish 9-24 in the league phase. In the Champions League 3 of the 4 teams finished in that zone with only Napoli, missing out finishing 30th.

Meanwhile, in the Europa league only Bologna finished in these places after a solid campaign saw them land 10th. Roma skipped this round all together by narrowly finishing in a top eight spot. The draw for both these tournaments have come out meaning each side will know who they will face.

Inter Milan – Bodo Glimt:

Inter Milan will face Bodo Glimt in the round of 32 of the Champions league. Bodo Glimt is one of the hardest places to travel too in the Champions League, but a win away is possible with Juventus doing it this season. Bodo Glimt are also capable of upsetting Europe’s top teams, having beat Atletico Madrid and Manchester City this season.

The first leg is also at a bid time for Inter, with them facing Juventus a few days before, in what should be a grueling match. However playing Lecce before the second leg should allow them to rest some key players. Inter and Bodo Glimt have only ever played twice in history, in 1978 with Inter winning both games.

Juventus – Galatasaray:

Juventus will face Galatasaray, in the round of 32 inbetween two tough Serie A fixtures. Juventus will play Inter the week before the first leg and Turkey. They will then host Como inbetween the two legs, no easy game considering they lost the reverse fixture to Como.

Galatasaray also won’t be a walkover Juventus being first in the Turkish Super Lig. Galatasaray also managed to beat rening Premier League champions, Liverpool this season in the Champions League. Juventus have played Galatasaray, three times with each time winning one game, and the other being a draw.

Atalanta – Borussia Dortmund:

Atalanta drew Borussia Dortmund in the round of 32 in a fixture, which will likely see them be the underdogs, despite being the higher seed. The La Dea will have a slight advantage as they earned the right to play the second leg of the tie in Bergamo. However, the Serie A schedule of Atalanta’s.

Atalanta will have to travel to the capital to play Lazio, before the first fixture which isn’t an easy game. In between the games, they will then have to host the Scudetto holders Napoli. Atalanta and Dortmund have faced twice, sharing one win each in their faceoffs.

Bologna – Brann:

Bologna is the second Serie A team to draw a Norwegian side, following Inter Milan. Bologna and Brann have already played this season, in a nil-nil draw in Bologna. This game was the only ever time the two teams faced off against each other, in their history.

The Rossoblu have the easiest run of games inbetween the two matches, facing Torino away and then Udinese at home, as soft fixture could help them advance through to the round of 16. Bologna still have the possibility of facing Roma in an all Italy clash in the next round if they should advance.

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Match Coverage

Inter Milan 3-2 Como: Match Report and Player Ratings

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Inter Milan hosted Como in the second leg of their Coppa Italia tie today, as both teams looked for a place in the final after a draw in the first leg. The game would start fairly even as both teams would have chances with Ange Yoan Bonny missing wide for Inter from the edge of the six yard box, before Martin Baturina did the same two minutes later.

As the game ticked on the advantage went to Inter, in the first half. This came as Francesco Acerbi was able to limit the impact of Tasos Douvikas up top for Como. Acerbi did this helped Inter maintain and dominate the possession, as Como liked for him to hold the ball up to allow them to get forward.

Como managed to push past this and would find the opening goal of the game in the 31st thanks to Martin Baturina. The goal came as Ignace Van Der Brempt bought the ball up the left side before playing in a low cross. It would then find Baturina ten yards out who would finish first time off the post to give Como the lead.

Como wouldn’t wait on the back foot however as they looked to grow the lead after the end of the first half. They would manage to do so as Lucas Da Cunha would break through Inter defence. He would then manage to finesse a finsih from the right side of the six yard box across goal to make it 2-0

Hakan Çalhanoglu would manage to get  goal back for Inter, however Como only upped their pressure after this and it looked like they would close the game out. Until the 85th minute where Hakan Çalhanoglu would head home an equaliser. However, Inter wouldn’t stop there as Petar Sucic then found a winner in the 88th minute to see Inter book a place in the Coppa Italia final.

Player Ratings

The Best

Hakan Calhanoglu – 7.5: Calhanoglu was the man of the match for Inter, as he had a quite first half but came alive in the second. He did it at a big time as he managed to find the two goals to equalise for Inter before Sucic found the Inter. He managed to keep the midfield in line while waiting for the moments over the 90 minutes.

Martin Baturina – 7: Baturina was one of Como’s key players as he was involved with all of their attacking chances, as one of Como’s two attacking midfielders. He gave Nico Paz the space to create how he likes before getting more advanced and looking to put away chances, like he did for the first goal.

Nico Paz – 6.5: Paz was essential for Como once again as he connected the midfield in attack through the middle of the pitch. He was able to combat everything thrown at him by Inter and pressed well to win the ball on turnovers which is how he got the assist for for second goal.

Francesco Acerbi – 6: Acerbi was key for Inter as he managed to stop Douvikas in his tracks. The containment of the Greek striker wasn’t going to be easy as he is the second highest scorer in Serie A so far. However, Acerbi used his physical qualities to reduce his time on ball, and win it back for Inter.

The Worst

Tasos Douvikas – 4: Douvikas struggled for Como again today as Acerbi got the better of him while they were on the pitch. He also struggled to take the chances he could get on the counter looking for support instead of going alone when he should have.

Marcus Thuram – 3: Marcus Thuram looked invisible for Como today after scoring two goals against them a couple weeks ago. Como clearly schemed defensively  to shut him down and he didn’t do enough to beat it.

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Match Coverage

Inter Milan vs Como: Coppa Italia Second Leg Match Preview and Predicted Lineups

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Inter Milan are set to host Como in a place in the Coppa Italia final in Rome on the 13th of May. All is to play for in this second leg as the first leg ended in a nil-nil draw between the two teams in Como. The two have faced off between that game in gameweek 32 of the season where Inter won 4-3.

The key to Inter winning will be which of their usual eleven they decide to start and who to bench. Inter have good enough pieces off the bench where they can afford to not play all of their starters. However, if they over rest, Como could steal a win away from home. However, Chivu will likely not make many changes as Inter have pretty much wrapped up the title.

For Como, the key would be finding the right mix between the attack and defence. Cesc Fabregas has been known to be too keen to score in some of these games. While this has worked for Como this season in scoring in these games it has lead their defence extremely vulnerable. An example of this is when they lost 4-3 to Inter despite having a two goal lead at halftime.

Predicted Lineups (according to Sky Sport Italia)

Inter Milan (3-5-2)

Josep Martinez

Manuel Akanji, Francesco Acerbi, Carlos Augusto

Denzel Dumfries, Hakan Calhanoglu, Nicolo Barella, Piotr Zielinski, Federico Dimarco

Ange Yoan Bonny, Marcus Thuram

Como (3-4-2-1)

Jean Butez

Jacobo Ramon, Diego Carlos, Marc Kempf

Assane Diao, Maximo Perrone, Lucas Da Cunha, Alex Valle

Nico Paz, Martin Bautrina

Tasos Douvikas

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Match Coverage

Juventus 2-0 Bologna: Match Report and Player Ratings: Jonathan David delivers for Juventus

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Juventus were set to host Bologna today in the Serie A sunday night kickoff. The game started off in a somber tone as Juventus paid respect to their former goalkeeper Alex Manninger who sadly passed during the week. However, the atmosphere would turn around quickly as Jonathan David would manage to score in the first minute.

This came after Juventus started the game on the front foot early, which allowed Pierre Kalulu enough space to cross the ball into the edge of the six yard box. Jonathan David would manage to meet it at the edge of six yard box beating Ravaglia to put it into an empty Bologna net to give Juventus the lead.

Juventus would continue to attack however, as they looked for the lead. Francisco Conceicao would manage to score another on a counter attack, however he was offside to the pass that played him through. Chico would have another great chance in the 42nd minute however he would squander it as Ravaglia would force it out past the back post.

Bologna would have chances across the game however, Juventus would manage to keep them out. Juventus found ways to quickly win the ball of Bologna which kept them ahead for most of the match. Santiago Castro was also limited as the striker failed to have much of an impact while he was on the pitch.

Juventus would manage to double their lead in the second half as they kept on the attack. The goal came from a Weston Mckennie cross as he found Khepren Thuram at the back post. Thuram would beat everyone in the air and manage to score in the 57th minute.

Player Rating

The Best

Jonathan David – 7.5: Jonathan David had one of his best performances so far for Juventus as scoring early gave him a much needed confidence boost. He had half serious chances for a second but his work in attack was what he did best today.

Francisco Coniceao – 7: Francisco Conceicao was unlucky to score today as he had his fair share of chances. He played a different role using the ball more instead of just bringing it up the pitch for a Juventus which worked out well for Chico and will create more chances for him in the future.

Pierre Kalulu – 7: Kalulu cross for the first goal was a thing of beauty, a term which could describe his whole game. He had the perfect mix of defensive duties will also being able to get forward and help create on both goals when it was called for. He showed his versatility as he played center back and right wing back and stood out in both

The Worst:

Lloyd Kelly – 4: Llyod Kelly was the worst player on the pitch today for Juventus as he looked panicked. He completed some of his defensive duties but looked flustered and didn’t have a chance for others. Spalletti should have played Kalulu on that side despite him being right footed as he would have been a better matchup for Riccardo Orsolini who was dangerous.

Juan Miranda – 4: Juan Miranda struggled quite a bit today as he looked isolated as Juventus attacked up the right flank predominantly over the course of the game. This isolation let Juventus overload that wing and play in un answered crosses which is how they scored both goals.

Santiago Castro – 3.5: Santiago Castro has been key for Bologna over the course of this season, but today he failed to get off the mark. He couldn’t connect with Riccardo Orsolini, and couldn’t receive the ball from the midfield or defence. He looked like a striker on an island as he couldn’t get involved with the play.

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