Juve crash out as La Dea stomp them to reach Coppa Italia semi-finals

Juventus' best chance to save the season is gone.

Yes, the Bianconeri are still mathematically alive in the Scudetto race. And yes, they are still standing in the Champions League playoff. But reality bites: the Coppa Italia was by far the clearest road to silverware.

And in Bergamo on Thursday night, Atalanta slammed that door shut: 3-0, no debate.

Three times in the last five years, La Dea reached the final, and three times they stopped just short. Twice, Juventus were the executioners. This night was about settling part of that debt.

Without Kenan Yildiz - not fully fit after injury - Juventus simply cannot compete at this level. Atalanta, on the other hand, is starting to look frighteningly complete under Raffaele Palladino. Yes, there were stumbles in the last two Champions League rounds. Yes, they barely survived Como at the weekend. But the upward curve is undeniable, and it has everything to do with health and depth.

For once, Palladino had everyone. And when your bench includes Kolasinac, Kossounou, Pasalic, Musa, Krstovic, Samardzic and company, you're dealing with a serious machine.

YOU CAN SEE SULEMANA'S GOAL HERE

Raspadori and De Ketelaere, floating behind Scamacca, with Ederson and De Roon driving the engine room, look like the core Palladino will ride until the end of the season. Juventus, meanwhile, were already missing Vlahovic, but the real blow was Yildiz. There is simply no replacement. Spalletti tried Cambiaso and Conceicao on the wings, but the experiment failed.

Ironically, Juventus started well. Conceicao stood out early, first setting up Thuram and then threatening himself - once denied by Carnesecchi, once by the post. Juve were on top… until fate intervened. Or rather, Bremer's hand did.

The Brazilian centre-back illegally clipped Ederson's cross, gifting Atalanta a penalty from nowhere. Scamacca stepped up and changed the game.

Their recent signing Boga was given minutes after the break and showed flashes of quality, but he was isolated. And then Atalanta killed the match the most Juventus way possible - through their substitutes.

Bellanova's cross missed Krstovic at the near post, but found Sulemana arriving at the far post. Game over. Pasalic added the final blow, finishing off a neat move started by Krstovic.

Juventus are left with regrets and "what ifs", while Atalanta march on. Bologna or Lazio now stand between La Dea and another final.

COPPA ITALIA - QUARTER-FINALS

Wednesday

Inter - Torino 2-1 (1-0)

/Bonny 35, Diouf 47 - Kulenovic 57/

Thursday

Atalanta - Juventus 3-0 (1-0)

/Scamacca 27 pen, Sulemana 77, Pasalic 85/

Tuesday, February 10

21.00: (2.35) Napoli (3.25) Como (3.15)

Wednesday, February 11

23.00: (2.25) Bologna (3.15) Lazio (3.45)

***odds are subject to change***