Big guns progress in Coppa Italia

BOLOGNA: Juventus took the first step towards a record fifth consecutive Coppa Italia triumph with a 2-0 win over Bologna that ensured the defending champions will join AC Milan and Lazio in the quarter-finals.

Earlier, AC Milan secured a 2-0 extra-time win over Sampdoria. Lazio will join them thanks to a 4-1 win over third-division Novara in Rome.

Cagliari or Atalanta will face Juventus in the quarter-finals, while Milan set up a clash with Napoli or Sassuolo, and Lazio will take on the winner between Inter Milan and Benevento.

HIGUAIN DETERMINED TO LEAVE: GATTUSO

Milan:gonzalo Higuain has made up his mind to leave AC Milan, coach Gennaro Gattuso said amid speculation linking the striker to Chelsea. “When a player makes up his mind it becomes hard to convince them otherwise,” said Gattuso of Higuain.

MARADONA BACK HOME FOR RECOVERY

BUENOS AIRES: Diego Maradona has been discharged from a clinic to convalesce at home after surgery for a gastric hemorrhage overnight, his lawyer Matias Morla said. Maradona, now 58, was discovered to have minor stomach bleeding.