Juventus ease into Coppa Italia quarters

Bologna: Cristiano Ronaldo was among several regular players who didn’t start though defending champion Juventus nevertheless eased into the quarterfinals of the Coppa Italia yesterday.

Juventus, who achieved the league and cup double in the past four seasons, won at Bologna 2-0 and will next face Atalanta or Cagliari.

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said on Friday that Ronaldo would play at Bologna and insisted the superstar was calm after being asked this week by police to provide a DNA sample in a rape investigation. Ronaldo was in the reserves with fellow forward Paulo Dybala, while Mario Mandzukic, Juan Cuadrado, Andrea Barzagli and Joao Cancelo were injured. He was brought after the hour mark with the match all but won.