Conte: Milan clash too close to call

Posted Wednesday, February 08, 2012 by ESPN

Juventus coach Antonio Conte believes Wednesday's Coppa Italia semi-final first leg against AC Milan is too close to call.

Milan beat Lazio 3-1 at the San Siro to book their place in the last four as Juve overcame Roma 3-0, and Conte is confident both sides will give the competition their all alongside battling it out at the top of Serie A, where Juve are currently top of the league with one point ahead of Milan.

"We'll put everything we have on to the field," Conte told www.gazzetta.it. "The percentages are split 50/50, and the result will be decided on the pitch."

Conte also confirmed his three new signings will play at the San Siro.

"Marco Borriello, Martin Caceres, Simone Padoin will play," he said. "In goal we will play Marco Storari and who is in better shape at the moment out of [strikers] Fabio Quagliarella and Alessandro Del Piero? I think they're both well. I hope so. Del Piero plays."

Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri will be without a host of players, including Antonio Cassano, Alexandre Pato, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Alexander Merkel, Gennaro Gattuso, Alberto Aquilani and Mathieu Flamini.

However, striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is eligible for the cup clash against his former club after he was sent off 19 minutes into the second half of Sunday's Serie A clash against Napoli for slapping Salvatore Aronica.

In the other semi-final first leg, Siena take on Napoli at the Artemio Franchi on Thursday.

Edinson Cavani's brace fired Napoli into the last four at the expense of reigning champions Inter Milan, while Siena defeated Chievo 1-0 in the other quarter-final to book their spot in the semis for the first time.

Siena head coach Giuseppe Sannino admitted he was surprised to make it this far, but is prepared for a tough clash against Napoli, who held Milan to a 0-0 draw in the league last weekend.

"We reached this semi-final almost without realising it, but by working hard every day," Sannino told Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli. "I have often played youngsters who have not played much in the league and they have done well.

"Now we have to play with a carefree style, but keeping in mind that Napoli will face us at their home in the next game.

"Playing at home, obviously we have to take more risks, because then we will return to San Paolo, where the Napoli crowd always urge their team on to do more.

"We want to get a positive result to give ourselves a chance against Napoli in the second leg."