Juventus exorcised the ghosts of recent seasons and emphatically claimed their 15th Coppa Italia title on Wednesday night, defeating Atalanta 1-0 in a tightly contested final at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico. This victory marks a record extension of their dominance in the Italian Cup, solidifying their position as the most decorated team in the competition’s history.
The Bianconeri, under pressure to deliver silverware after a trophy drought stretching back to 2020-21 (when they also defeated Atalanta in the Coppa Italia final), got off to a dream start. Dusan Vlahovic, the Serbian striker acquired last January, justified his hefty price tag with a clinical finish in just the fourth minute. Andrea Cambiaso provided the assist, finding Vlahovic with a pinpoint pass that allowed him to cut inside the box and fire past Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi.
This early goal set the tone for the remainder of the match, with Juventus adopting a controlled and defensively resolute approach. Massimiliano Allegri, the mastermind behind the victory, secured his place in Coppa Italia folklore. This triumph marks his fifth Coppa Italia title as a coach, surpassing the legendary figures of Sven-Goran Eriksson and Roberto Mancini, who each managed to win the competition four times.
“Very happy for the boys,” Allegri beamed at the post-match press conference. “They brought joy to the club, to the fans, and to me. Winning is never easy, but it is in our DNA.” His words hinted at a possible departure from the club, stating, “If I am no longer the Juventus coach next year, I will leave a strong team. The club will make its evaluations.”
Vlahovic, visibly emotional after the match, expressed his gratitude to the team and the fans. “I find it difficult to speak, I can only thank everyone,” he stammered to Mediaset. “We know the difficulties we faced, in the end we achieved the objectives set at the beginning of the year. I’m sorry for the Scudetto (Serie A title), but Inter deservedly won it.” While acknowledging the missed league title, he emphasized the team’s renewed ambition: “We are very happy, but next year we must aim to win everything. Juventus’ DNA requires this.”
Vlahovic nearly doubled the lead in the second half, but his headed effort was controversially ruled offside after a lengthy VAR review. Despite this setback, Juventus remained resolute in defence, effectively nullifying Atalanta’s attacking threat. Gian Piero Gasperini’s side, known for their attacking prowess, were surprisingly toothless throughout the encounter, failing to register a single shot on target. Their best chance fell to Ademola Lookman in the 80th minute, but his long-range effort cannoned off the post.
While Atalanta will be disappointed with the loss, they can take solace in reaching the Europa League final next week against Bayer Leverkusen. However, this defeat marks their fifth consecutive Coppa Italia final defeat, a stark reminder of their struggles to translate their attacking brilliance into domestic silverware.
For Juventus, this victory signals a potential return to dominance. With a rejuvenated squad and a trophy back in the cabinet, the Bianconeri can look forward to next season with renewed confidence and a hunger for more silverware.
