MILAN: Inter Milan set up a potential Italian Cup semifinal clash with arch rivals Juventus after the holders saw off Atalanta 1-0 on Tuesday.
Matteo Darmian struck the only goal 11 minutes after half-time, his low strike across Juan Musso enough to put a tight quarter-final at the San Siro in Inter’s favor.
Simone Inzaghi’s side will take on either troubled Juve or Lazio in April’s two-legged semis, with the pair facing off in Turin on Thursday.
Inter beat Juve in last season’s final to claim their eighth Italian Cup.
The other side of the draw will be decided on Wednesday when Fiorentina host Torino and Roma welcome Cremonese to the Italian capital.
Inter came through a tough test with Atalanta who are a direct rival for a place in next season’s Champions League.
Milan Skriniar was dropped for the match, which was played just after the closure of the winter transfer window in Italy which left him at Inter until the summer.
Slovakia captain Skriniar will leave at the end of the season as a free agent for Paris Saint-Germain.
Inter’s attentions now turn to Sunday’s Serie A derby with AC Milan, whose league title defense has crumbled after a series of bad results culminating with last weekend’s 5-2 home hammering at the hands of Sassuolo.
Defending champions Milan have dropped to fifth with Inter now the closest challengers to league leaders Napoli, 13 points off the pace.
Inter beat Atalanta to reach Italian Cup semifinals
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Inter beat Atalanta to reach Italian Cup semifinals
- Inter came through a tough test with Atalanta who are a direct rival for a place in next season’s Champions League
Sabalenka sets up potential Raducanu showdown at Australian Open
- Sabalenka is favorite to win a third Australian Open in four years, having been defeated in the final 12 months ago by Madison Keys
MELBOURNE: Top seed Aryna Sabalenka set up a potential third-round showdown with Emma Raducanu at the Australian Open after a straight-sets win Wednesday over Chinese qualifier Bai Zhuoxuan.
The world number one saw off the awkward Bai 6-3, 6-1, having threatened at one stage to complete the job in even more express fashion.
Britain’s 2021 US Open champion Raducanu plays Russia-born Austrian Anastasia Potapova later Wednesday at Melbourne Park, with Sabalenka lying ominously in wait.
Sabalenka is favorite to win a third Australian Open in four years, having been defeated in the final 12 months ago by Madison Keys.
“Tricky opponent,” said the Belarusian.
“Super-happy to close the (first) set, it gives me confidence that my game is there, my focus is there.
“Step by step. Super-happy with my win. There is always a little gap to improve.”
Sabalenka won the first nine points in a row to surge into a 2-0 lead at Rod Laver Arena against her outclassed opponent ranked 702 in the world.
After just eight minutes it was 3-0, then 5-0, with Sabalenka seemingly intent on getting the job done in time for an early lunch.
But the 23-year-old Bai, playing the biggest match of her life, worked through her nerves and finally held serve.
She then stunned center court by breaking Sabalenka’s serve to reduce the deficit to 5-2, and doggedly held her own serve for 5-3.
The 27-year-old US Open champion Sabalenka was beginning to show signs of frustration as she saw numerous set points come and go.
She finally got the job done after 39 minutes on her seventh chance, slamming a ball she was holding in her hand down on the court in a flash of anger.
The second set was more serene, Sabalenka’s superior power taking its toll as she sealed the match in 72 minutes.
