Blues’ battle continues, but on a different front – it’s time for the Coppa Italia!

Napoli, reigning Serie A champions, embark on their quest for a seventh Coppa Italia title when they take on Cagliari in the round of 16 on Wednesday.

Riding the momentum of three consecutive wins, the hosts will be confident about their chances of progressing to the quarter-finals, where either Como or Fiorentina await. A formation tweak since the November international break has helped Napoli regain their rhythm, recording three straight victories while conceding just once.

After triumphs over Atalanta and Champions League opponents Qarabag, Antonio Conte’s side also claimed a hard-fought Derby del Sole victory on Sunday. A 1-0 win over Roma, courtesy of a brilliant first-half strike from David Neres, sees them level with new league leaders AC Milan.

The win required resilience, particularly at the Stadio Olimpico, where Napoli had lost five of their previous six away games. Typically sparing with praise, Conte expressed his delight at his injury-hit squad’s performance, now among four teams separated by a single point atop Serie A.

Napoli tighten Serie A title race with dramatic win over Roma

Before their next league showdown this weekend, hosting Juventus under former boss Luciano Spalletti, Napoli must kick off their Coppa Italia campaign. Entering at the round of 16 due to European commitments, their ultimate goal remains lifting the trophy for the first time in six years. While Napoli have lifted the Coppa Italia six times, Cagliari’s best run came in 1969, finishing as runners-up in the final group stage.

Having narrowly avoided relegation last season, Cagliari began this year’s Coppa Italia journey in round one, scraping past Virtus Entella on penalties. In September, Fabio Pisacane’s team recorded a 4-1 win over Frosinone to reach the last 16, having been knocked out by Juventus at the same stage last year.

Saturday’s 2-1 league defeat to Juve handed Cagliari another challenging draw, compounded by their historically poor record in Naples. The Rossoblu have won just once in their last 29 Serie A meetings with Napoli, losing 20 of those encounters—including last May’s Scudetto-decider and a 1-0 loss at the Stadio Maradona in September.

After extending their winless streak to nine games over the weekend, leaving them just above the relegation zone, expectations for Cagliari on Wednesday may be modest.

On Wednesday, Inter Milan will host the last remaining second-tier side in the Coppa Italia, welcoming Venezia to the iconic San Siro.

Inter bounced back from two successive defeats with a league victory last weekend, making them strong favourites to reach the quarter-finals, where either Roma or Torino await. After suffering two painful losses within a week, Cristian Chivu’s side traveled to face struggling Pisa on Sunday, knowing only a win would suffice.

Prior to that trip, the Nerazzurri had endured setbacks in both the Derby della Madonnina against AC Milan and a crucial Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid, the latter decided by a stoppage-time goal.

In moments of adversity, captain Lautaro Martinez stepped up, scoring a late double after a goalless first hour at Arena Garibaldi, securing a 2-0 victory that keeps Inter firmly in the title race—one of four teams separated by just a single point near the top of Serie A.

When in trouble, call Lautaro - Martinez’s two goals keep Inter at the top

When in trouble, call Lautaro - Martinez’s two goals keep Inter at the top

Before turning their attention back to the league with a challenging match against resurgent Como, Inter must kick off their latest Coppa Italia campaign. Nine-time winners of the competition—most recently in 2023—Inter will mark their 400th Coppa Italia fixture on Wednesday.

Venezia, one of their historically toughest opponents, have lost 13 of 16 previous visits to Milan, with their lone victory dating all the way back to April 1943. That famous triumph came just two years after the Lagunari lifted the Coppa Italia for the first—and still only—time in their history.

This season, Venezia are the sole Serie B side remaining in Italy’s national knockout tournament, having eliminated Mantova and regional rivals Hellas Verona. A 4-0 home victory in round one was followed by a tense penalty shootout win over Verona after 90 goalless minutes at the Bentegodi.

Since then, Giovanni Stroppa’s side have recorded six wins from 10 league matches, moving into the playoff positions and just five points behind leaders Monza. While the Veneto club’s main aim is a swift return to Serie A following last season’s relegation, a shock cup result against Inter would be a major boost to their confidence.

ITALIAN CUP - COPPA ITALIA

Round of 16

Tuesday

Juventus - Udinese 2-0 (1-0)

/David 23, Locatelli 68 pen/

Wednesday

17.00: (1.55) Atalanta (4.00) Genoa (6.25)

20.00: (1.42) Napoli (4.30) Cagliari (8.50)

23.00: (1.15) Inter (7.75) Venezia (19.0)

Thursday

20.00: (1.50) Bologna (4.00) Parma (7.25)

23.00: (3.30) Lazio (3.30) Milan (2.25)

***odds are subject to change***