sport news Juventus vs Inter: Coppa Italia final is last chance for Allegri and Inzaghi to ... trends now
It may not be the biggest prize Italian football has to offer, but for both Juventus and Inter Milan the stakes are still high heading into their clash in the Coppa Italia final.
On Wednesday night the two great rivals will do battle at the Stadio Olimpico 57 years after they last collided in this famous showpiece. And their latest duel could play out in one of two ways.
For Inter, victory in Rome will confirm what is slowly appearing to be a changing of the guard between the two sides, given Juve have now finished behind them in the last two Serie A campaigns.
Juventus and Inter Milan are set to lock horns in the Coppa Italia final on Wednesday night
The stakes are high for both sides heading into their battle at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome
As for the Old Lady, Wednesday's final may be the perfect puzzle to bring out their true colours after an underwhelming past 12 months.
It promises to be a gripping encounter, and Sportsmail are on hand with the key talking points ahead of this year's Coppa Italia final.
Two managers under pressure
Massimiliano Allegri and Simone Inzaghi both have the opportunity to save their respective seasons on Wednesday night. Defeat for either manager would leave them staring the grim prospect of a trophy-less campaign directly in the face.
By claiming the Coppa Italia, Inzaghi can relieve himself of some pressure amid Inter's fierce title joust with rivals AC Milan, who sit two points clear of them at the top of Serie A with as many games remaining.
It would be a major disappointment if his side ended the campaign empty handed, making this final even more important.
Massimiliano Allegri (L) and Simone Inzaghi (R) are under pressure to claim the trophy
Over in Turin, Allegri would draw further criticism for a perceived failure to implement a free-flowing and fluid style of play if Juve come unstuck here.
The Italian has endured an underwhelming season back at the club after returning last summer, crashing out of the Champions League and falling by the wayside in the title race.
Two coaches with contrasting footballing philosophies will pit their wits against each other at the Olimpico; with the obsessive and superstitious Inzaghi's dynamic 3-5-2 system up against Allegri's rigid 4-4-2 setup packed with experience.
Vlahovic can save Allegri
One of Allegri's most important tasks at Juventus is to bring the best back out of Dusan Vlahovic, the £62million striker who has now gone four games without a goal.
Question marks have risen over his management of Vlahovic, with many of the opinion that Juve's 'horizontal football' and lack of directness does not fit his style.
Dusan Vlahovic also heads into it without a goal in his last four appearances for the Old Lady
The £62million striker can save both Allegri and Juventus' season by rediscovering his form
However, on Wednesday night the Serbian has the chance to save Allegri from a failure of a campaign. He must put aside his struggles of the last month and rediscover the explosive form which saw him bag six goals in his first 11 Serie A outings for Juve.
If he is firing on all cylinders in Rome Juve will
