Italian Football 
/ Michael Lintorn / 24 January 2012 / Leave a Comment 
Diego Milito's sudden return to form has been pivotal to Inter's revival
"Inter were dire for much of their game on Sunday against Lazio, yet as is often the case when momentum is on your side, they found a way to get the win, their eighth in a row in all competitions."
Coppa Italia quarter-final week features three north-versus-south showdowns between top-seven sides, spread over three days. Michael Lintorn ponders each of them...
Juventus v Roma, Tuesday 19:45 BST, ESPN, Match odds: Juventus [2.0], Roma [4.4], The Draw [3.55]
Both of these clubs were busy last summer, hiring a new coach and completely overhauling their squads, but while things clicked right away for Juventus, Roma's ambitious work only started producing results after they held the leaders last month.
They've won every match since - though many of their opponents in that run were sides struggling for form - and have reached the semi-finals of this competition in six of the last seven years, doing so last year courtesy of a victory in Turin.
However, with Juventus yet to taste defeat all season, engineering a repeat is far more difficult than those stats suggest. Indeed, with the Old Lady winning six from ten at their new home and Roma erratic on their travels, the hosts are the more appetising of the pair at [2.0].
Under 2.5 goals is even more appealing at [1.87], having been a feature of their last four collisions and four of Juventus' five meetings with top-six rivals this term.
Best Bet: Under 2.5 goals @ [1.87]
Napoli v Inter, Wednesday 19:45 BST, ESPN, Match odds: Napoli [2.38], Inter [3.45], The Draw [3.35]
As Claudio Ranieri was willing to concede, Inter were dire for much of their game on Sunday against a very committed Lazio, yet as is often the case when momentum is on your side, they found a way to get the win, their eighth in a row in all competitions.
By contrast, things haven't been going to plan for Napoli recently, despite this being the period of the campaign in which they were expected to impress with the pressure of juggling domestic and European ambitions briefly lifted.
The return of Ezequiel Lavezzi from injury will improve matters, but with Inter the best team in Italy right now and Napoli triumphing in just five of their last 11 at the San Paolo, odds of above-evens on the visitors - holders and finalists in six of the last seven seasons - is too big to snub.
Best Bet: Inter to qualify @ [2.14]
AC Milan v Lazio, Thursday 19:45 BST, ESPN, Match odds: AC Milan [1.87], Lazio [5.0], The Draw [3.6]
Lazio have, in this not quite impartial observer's view, been better this term than in narrowly missing out on a Champions League place in 2010-11. But Sunday's loss to Inter, the latest in a long list of big games in which they have played well and not won, will likely sink their top-three bid, increasing the importance of the cup.
The first example of that trend came on the opening day, when they led the champions 2-0 in Milan, Djibril Cisse grabbing his first and only goal in Italian football, yet were forced to settle for a point.
That was Lazio's fourth straight draw with the Rossoneri, three of those encounters taking place at San Siro. So though the hosts appear generously priced, the standout option is to back both teams to score, a feature of AC Milan's last four Coppa Italia ties, just one of which they've won in 90 minutes.
Best Bet: Both teams to score @ [1.88]
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