Atalanta vs Juventus: Will Bianconeri earn some redemption in Coppa Italia final?

Topics: TV Schedules, Atalanta, Juventus, Coppa Italia

Juventus will be desperate to get their hands on the Coppa Italia after an otherwise very disappointing season for the Bianconeri.

Preview: Atalanta vs Juventus

Simply put, it's been a very disappointing season for Juventus. For the first time in a decade, the Bianconeri aren't the champions of Italy, as their bitter rivals Inter now have won their first Scudetto since 2010. La Vecchia Signora were also dumped out of the Champions League at the first knockout round for the second straight season, and now face the prospect of not even qualifying for next season's edition.

Indeed, Juventus sit in fifth spot, meaning that they'll have to win their final match against Bologna this Sunday and also hope that the teams ahead of them slip-up. Although they did beat Inter over the weekend, that may not be enough. Andrea Pirlo, who's in his debut season in Turin, is pretty much guaranteed to be sacked once this term finishes, despite winning the Supercoppa Italiana against Napoli earlier this year. It's been nothing short of a baptism by fire for the 2006 World Cup winner, who also spent some time in Turin as a player after leaving AC Milan.

In fact, it's Atalanta who surprisingly are in the runners-up berth. No one certainly could've seen this coming. Yes, Gian Piero Gasperini's side have finished in third place in past seasons, thus gaining them a place in the Champions League, but La Dea have been punching above their weight lately. Clearly, they've been keen on showing everyone that they're not just a flash in the pan, and with their performance this season, Atalanta just may have done enough to finally achieve that.

La Dea are again the highest scoring side in the league, with 90 goals to their name, which demonstrates they are not just a team who'll score one goal and park the bus to hang on for three points. The Bergamo outfit have also lost just five matches, a very solid return considering they're a smaller team, with a fraction of the resources compared to the likes of AC Milan or Juventus, who are now hoping to dislodge them from second spot.

As of now, though, Atalanta have also booked a spot in the Champions League, and they're not going to give that up without a fight. They'll be facing Milan in their final game of the season, and have already beaten the Rossoneri, cruising to a very comfortable 3-0 win at the Stadio San Siro, so will fancy their chances of at least a point this weekend - especially given they've lost just one of their last 17 league games.

As for the Coppa Italia, this could present a good chance for Atalanta to finally end their long wait for a trophy in this competition. This is just their fifth Coppa Italia final in the club's history, and if they can win on Wednesday evening, it would be their first title since 1963 - 58 years ago.

Team news: Atalanta vs Juventus

Atalanta: No major injury concerns or suspensions for Atalanta heading into Wednesday's Coppa Italia final.

Juventus: This will be Gianluigi Buffon's final game for Juventus after the 43-year-old recently announced he'll be moving on after this season. Meanwhile, Alex Sandro will miss out due to a ban. Otherwise, Pirlo has no injury worries ahead of this match.

Match facts: Atalanta vs Juventus

Atalanta are in the final for only the fifth time in club history
So far, La Dea have won one Coppa Italia, during the 1962/63 season
Their last appearance in the final was during the 2018/19 season, when they finished as runners up
Meanwhile, Juventus are looking to win their 14th title
If the Bianconeri win, it will be their first title since the 2017/18 term