Looking Ahead: Milan Face Clear Path To Coppa Italia Final

After beating Sampdoria 2-0 in the Round of 16 of the Coppa Italia, Milan will not face a bigger test until a potential final. The way that the Coppa Italia has unfolded has been bizarre, and if Milan take the competition seriously, there should be no reason for the Rossoneri to not be in the final.

The other teams in Milan's half of the bracket who advanced to the quarterfinals were Serie B club La Spezia; who upset Roma, Lega Pro side Alessandria; who beat Genoa, and the 19th-placed team in the Serie A, Carpi, who beat Fiorentina. In the quarterfinals of the Coppa Italia Milan will face Carpi. If they win that game and progress to the semifinals, the Rossoneri will face off against either La Spezia or Alessandria, with a ticket to Rome on the line.

Despite the apparently easy matchups, Milan's place in the final is far from guaranteed.  Just three weeks ago, Milan failed to beat Carpi. A semifinal berth is not a foregone conclusion.  However, if Milan take the competition seriously and field a strong lineup, the Rossoneri should be in the final with a chance to win their first trophy since the 2011 Scudetto.  With a trophy and a spot in European competition on the line, Milan have to put all their eggs in the Coppa Italia's basket.