AC Milan host Carpi at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on Wednesday night in the Coppa Italia quarter-final, with the victors on the night in with a great chance of reaching the final in May.
With holders Juventus, Napoli and Inter on the other side of the draw, a victory for either side will see them face Serie B side Spezia or Lega Pro team Alessandria in a semi-final over two legs.
The Milan giants, who haven’t won the Coppa Italia since 2003, reached this stage of this year’s competition following a 2-0 victory over Sampdoria in the round of 16 at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris in mid-December thanks to goals from Mbaye Niang and Carlos Bacca.
The Rossoneri began their Coppa Italia campaign back in August, recording a 2-0 win over Serie B side Perugia in round three, and then defeated another Serie B outfit, this time Crotone, 3-1 after extra time in round four, with goals from Luiz Adriano and two extra time strikes from Giacomo Bonaventura and Niang.
The Biancorossi, meanwhile, have return from the festive break with two excellent results in Serie A. A 0-0 draw away to Lazio last midweek was followed up with a 2-1 victory over Udinese on Saturday, two results which gives Fabrizio Castori’s side a glimmer of hope of avoiding relegation from Serie A.
Last season’s Serie B champions have reached this stage of the Coppa Italia after a 1-0 victory over Fiorentina at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in the round of 16, thanks to a late Antonio Di Gaudio goal. In the previous two rounds, the Biancorossi recorded wins over Serie B side Livorno (2-0 aet) in round three and against another Serie B side in Vicenza (2-1).
Milan and Carpi have met already this campaign just over a month ago in Serie A, with the game ending 0-0 at the Stadio Alberto Braglia.
The Rossoneri are likely to be without striker Mario Balotelli with a groin injury, while defender Alex is another doubt with a knee problem. Long-term absentee Jeremy Menez resumed training this week but is unlikely to feature on Wednesday.
Carpi will be without defender Igor Bubnjic and midfielder Matteo Fedele who are both long-term absentees, while Brazilian forward Ryder Matos remains a doubt for the fixture.
Form Guide: Milan (D-W-W-L-D) Carpi (L-W-L-D-W)
Expected Starting XIs:
Milan: Donnarumma; Abate, Zapata, Romagnoli, De Sciglio; Honda, Montolivo, Bertolacci, Bonaventura; Niang, Bacca.
Carpi: Belec; Zaccardo, Romagnoli, Gagliolo, Letizia; Pasciuti, Cofie, Bianco, Di Gaudio; Lollo; Mbakogu.
