Stephan Lichtsteiner set up a Coppa Italia semi-final clash with Inter as holders Juve edged out Lazio 1-0 in Rome, yesterday.
Defender Lichtsteiner came back to haunt his former club, striking the winner just past the hour as Juventus triumphed in a repeat of last year’s final.
Simone Zaza fired against the post before Lichtsteiner turned in the rebound, with the solitary goal proving enough for victory.
Paul Pogba headed over early on, before Zaza failed to connect properly when well-positioned.
Alvaro Morata fluffed a one-on-one for Juventus after the break, only for Zaza to hit the side-netting from the rebound with the goal at his mercy.
Pogba wasted a second header as Juventus turned the screw, but just when the visitors were starting to sweat on the missed chances Lichtsteiner delivered.
The former Lazio defender’s strike then allowed Juventus to ease home, with Inter lying in wait in the last four.
Serie A
Sassuolo 1
Acerbi 40;
Torino 1
Belotti 22;
HT: 1-1. Att: 12,000.
Standings
P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
Napoli | 20 | 13 | 5 | 2 | 41 | 16 | 44 |
Juventus | 20 | 13 | 3 | 4 | 37 | 15 | 42 |
Inter | 20 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 25 | 13 | 40 |
Fiorentina | 20 | 12 | 2 | 6 | 37 | 21 | 38 |
Roma | 20 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 37 | 23 | 35 |
Milan | 20 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 27 | 23 | 32 |
Sassuolo | 20 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 25 | 21 | 32 |
Empoli | 20 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 25 | 24 | 31 |
Lazio | 20 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 25 | 29 | 28 |
Chievo | 20 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 26 | 22 | 27 |
Torino | 20 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 27 | 26 | 26 |
Atalanta | 20 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 21 | 24 | 25 |
Udinese | 20 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 18 | 31 | 24 |
Sampdoria | 20 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 29 | 32 | 23 |
Bologna | 20 | 7 | 2 | 11 | 22 | 27 | 23 |
Genoa | 20 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 23 | 26 | 22 |
Palermo | 20 | 6 | 3 | 11 | 19 | 33 | 21 |
Carpi | 20 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 19 | 35 | 17 |
Frosinone | 20 | 4 | 3 | 13 | 22 | 45 | 15 |
Verona | 20 | 0 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 32 | 9 |
Next fixtures
Saturday: 18.00 Frosinone vs Atalanta. 20.45 Empoli vs Milan.
Sunday: 12.30 Fiorentina vs Torino. 15.00 Verona vs Genoa; Inter vs Carpi; Lazio vs Chievo; Palermo vs Udinese; Sampdoria vs Napoli; Sassuolo vs Bologna. 20.45 Juventus Roma.