Juventus stays on the treble trail
One down, two to go for Turin giant after seeing off Lazio in cup final
ROME — Juventus secured the first title of a possible treble by winning the Italian Cup with a convincing 2-0 victory over Lazio in the final on Wednesday.
Dani Alves gave Juventus a 12th-minute lead in the first half with a volley following a cross from Alex Sandro. Thirteen minutes later, Leonardo Bonucci was left unmarked to tap in following a corner.
“Compliments to the lads for a great match. We played an extraordinary first half,” Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said.
“We really need to finish off the Serie A title now.”
Juventus, which has won the league and Cup double in the past two seasons, can clinch a record sixth consecutive Serie A title — and a record third straight double —with victory at home to C rot one on Sunday.
Allegri’s side also faces Spanish league giant Real Madrid in the Champions League final in Cardiff on June 3.
Days after seeing its title celebrations put on hold at Stadio Olimpico following a 3-1 loss to Lazio’s city rival Roma, Juve was back to its formidable best.
And Allegri expects more of the same on Sunday.
“This win has given us a boost for Sunday. We absolutely have to wrap up the championship,” said Allegri.
“The lads delivered a great technical and defensive performance that has more than made up for last week against Roma.”
The Bianconeri became the first club to win three straight Italian Cups and brought their record haul in the competition to 12.
After the Roma lapse, its first Serie A loss since January, the victory was a welcome shot in the arm ahead of the European final against defending champion Madrid and Cristiano Ronaldo.
“We got things wrong on Sunday, and it’s been a wakeup call for us. It’s helped us rediscover our qualities,” Bonucci said.
Lazio, whose last trophy was its 2013 cup triumph, had hoped to emulate city rivals Roma and play party pooper at Stadio Olimpico.
But despite a battling display by Simone Inzaghi’s men, Lazio spurned its few chances andwasoutplayedbytheslick passing play inspired by Argentine playmaker Paulo Dybala.
Inzaghi refused to fault his players.
“There’s some bitterness, but we came up against a top Juve side,” said the former Lazio player and brother of ex-Juve, Milan and Italy striker Filippo Inzaghi.
“I’m sorry we haven’t given joy to the fans and the players, but we have to look positively at our season.
“We’ve reached the Europa League with three games to spare and, apart from that, reaching the final is the best thing we’ve done this season.”
Italy President Sergio Mattarella awarded Juventus the trophy before confetti in the green, white and red colors of the country’s flag showered the Stadio Olimpico pitch.
As has been the case for most of the season in the cup, Juve captain Gianluigi Buffon was rested and replaced in goal by Brazilian Neto.
Lazio took the initiative at the start when Balde Keita blasted a shot off the post from a sharp angle.
But Juventus responded immediately with a long Gonzalo Higuain strike fthat Lazio goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha punched away.
Alves scored five minutes laterandDybalaalsothreatened, along with Higuain, before Bonucci’s goal.
Lazio striker Ciro Immobile headed wide just on the halfhour mark and was denied by Neto after the break.
Immobile missed from close range with 11 minutes to go and soon Juventus was celebrating.