SAVE FROM HANDANOVIC! The Inter goalkeeper gets up brilliantly to deny Higuain, with the Slovenian reaching up to tip the ball over the crossbar! The Argentine has undoubtedly had an impact on this contest.
90' +2
A. Ljajić has scored a goal for Inter Milan! Assist by S. Jovetić.
The goalscorer turns provider for the second of the night, which should secure Inter's safe passage into the next round.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL! LJAJIC WRAPS UP THE WIN! The former Roma winger is released on the break and races to the edge of the box, before thumping a low finish into the bottom-left corner!
90' +1
Callejon is picked out by a free-kick delivery into the Inter penalty area, but the Spaniard can't knock a flick down into Higuain's path.
90'
There are five minutes of stoppage time at Stadio San Paolo!
88'
D. Mertens gets a second yellow card and is sent off.
RED CARD FOR MERTENS! After breaking into the penalty area, the Belgian winger goes down after a grab at his shirt from Miranda! The referee races over to give the Napoli man his second yellow, as it was adjudged to be simulation!
87'
Felipe Melo enters the game and replaces G. Medel.
Handanovic makes a nervy save to deny Mertens, with the Inter goalkeeper getting back quickly to his feet to push the rebound away from the onrushing presence of Higuain. The ball is scrambled behind for a corner, but once again a Napoli set piece is denied at the near post.
Felipe Melo replaces Medel for the away side, with the Brazilian coming into the game to add a freshness into midfield.
86'
We're into the final five minutes, with Sarri's side running out of time for a comeback. Koulibaly commits a needless foul on Jovetic, as the Frenchman tries to enthusiastically win possession back high upfield. Mancini's bench is busy once again, as the visitors try to alter things in order to close this victory out.
84'
Mertens whips in a cross from the left-hand side, but Higuain can only glance a near-post header wide of the top corner! That's the closest that the Partenopei have come in the second half, it must be said. Not long remains for the Argentine forward to have a telling impact on proceedings.
82'
Miranda is on hand to make another headed clearance, with Napoli trying to pile on the pressure and battle towards an equaliser. The visitors break down the left-hand side in an attempt to give their defence some respite, but Ljajic can only shoot into the side netting!
80'
G. Higuaín gets yellow.
Higuain is released over the top, with the Argentina international rising to try and lift a finish over the onrushing Handanovic! The goalkeeper gets there first, however, to head the ball away from danger! In the immediate aftermath, the Napoli substitute is penalised for a supposed push on Juan Jesus.
Higuain picks up a yellow card for the aforementioned push on Juan Jesus, as well as his angry reaction to the referee's decision.
Minute
Description
79'
D. Mertens gets yellow.
Mertens picks up a booking, with the Belgian winger appearing to be feeling the frustration that is shared by most of his teammates.
78'
Mertens is the target of a long ball forward, with the tiring winger needing to chase the pass right back to Handanovic. The Inter goalkeeper is starting to take his time over kicks and decisions, as the Nerazzurri look to take a positive result from one of Italy's fortresses.
76'
We're into the final 15 minutes at Stadio San Paolo, with the hosts now trailing! Inter have their 1-0 advantage, given to them out of the blue, with the Partenopei needing to respond if they are to stay in the Coppa Italia! Higuain and Mertens link up with a lovely one-two, but a third pass is hacked away by Miranda!
74'
S. Jovetić has scored a goal for Inter Milan! Assist by G. Medel.
Medel slides a pass into Jovetic, but it's the Montenegro international who does the hard bit!
GOOOOOOOOOOOOAL! JOVETIC GIVES INTER THE LEAD! The ex-Viola striker takes aim from 25 yards out, belting a powerful effort into the top-right hand corner and beyond a bemused Reina! The deadlock has been broken at last!
73'
R. Palacio enters the game and replaces I. Perišić.
Palacio comes into the game for the away side, with the Argentine providing some fresh legs in place of the quiet Perisic.
71'
M. Valdifiori gets yellow.
G. Higuaín enters the game and replaces M. Gabbiadini.
Hysaj breaks down the right-hand side, with the ex-Empoli man able to win a free kick from Ljajic. Medel rises highest at the near post to head clear, with both benches looking to be very busy indeed at present. The next few changes could shape this contest. Gabbiadini drives into the box for Napoli and goes down, but the referee doesn't point to the spot.
Higuain is brought into the fray for the home side, with Gabbiadini trudging off. Sarri has his star striker involved now.
Biabiany tries to drive forward at pace, with Valdifiori needing to cynically haul back his man in order to prevent a dangerous break for the visitors. The referee is straight over to brandish a caution.
69'
Mertens tries to break to the left byline, but is forced to check back onto his right foot. The Belgian's eventual cross is cleared, before the ex-PSV man is dragged to the turf by a struggling Nagatomo. Sarri's side are able to fill the box with blue shirts as a result, but Valdifiori's set-piece delivery heads straight into Handanovic's arms.
67'
Great header from Chiriches! The former Tottenham defender denies a curling Telles cross at the near post, with the half-clearance falling to Medel! The Chile international tries to strike the ball on the volley, but blazes over the crossbar. Inter are edging closer to a rare opener.
66'
Jorginho enters the game and replaces David López.
Jorginho comes into the midfield for the home side, with the ex-Verona man providing a more box-to-box presence than David Lopez.
65'
We're well into the last half an hour at Stadio San Paolo, with both coaches beginning to look to their benches. The visitors will be pleased with their showing at present, given their recent form, but Napoli's bench looks restless. More changes will be in the offing very soon.
63'
Ljajic breaks to the left byline, before checking back and picking out Jovetic on the edge of the box. The former Fiorentina striker takes aim from around 25 yards out, but Reina is able to make a simply save without moving.
61'
The aforementioned corner is cleared, but Inter attempt to keep their pressure on. Mertens tries to lead a break out for the Partenopei, but Nagatomo tracks back brilliantly to deny the Belgium international. Suddenly, there is an air of calm around the way the Nerazzurri are working.
59'
M. Hamšík enters the game and replaces Allan.
Hamsik comes into the game for the home side, with Allan taking his leave. The hosts need to press on and force the issue at the moment, as they are letting this contest slip out of their control. Inter break down the right-hand side through Biabiany in the aftermath, with the Frenchman winning a corner.
57'
Hamsik is being readied on the touchline for the hosts, with Sarri clearly needing to kick things up a gear. Inter have looked fairly comfortable since the restart, with Kondogbia and Medel managing to push up into much higher territory. The Nerazzurri are no longer trapped in their own half.
55'
Gabbiadini tries his luck from the edge of the penalty area, before forcing a very simple save out of Handanovic. Moments later, Callejon tries his luck from a similar range, but the Spaniard can only win a corner for the Partenopei. The resulting set piece is taken short, but danger is flicked away by Koulibaly.
53'
The opening 10 minutes of the second half have been much more direct, with Inter pressing much higher up the field. Mertens dribbles his way down the left, before cutting inside from the flank, but a delivery from the Belgian is cut out easily. The longer this stalemate continues, the more confident the Nerazzurri will be of securing a result.
51'
Inter work the ball from right to left, with Mancini's men attempting to start the second half in reasonable fashion. The away outfit pick themselves up a free kick on the edge of the box, but Telles can only fire a low strike into the wall. The loose ball falls to Biabiany, but the Frenchman's shot is scrambled away from danger. Another delivery is launched into the penalty area moments later, but Reina claims.
49'
Strinic drives down the left-hand side, but is forced back towards Allan. The Brazilian midfielder tries to curl a delivery in from deep, but Miranda is on hand to had the cross away ahead of Gabbiadini! Napoli have started the second half in reasonable shape.
47'
Miranda gets yellow.
Miranda picks up the first yellow card of the evening, with the ex-Atletico defender ploughing through the man of his man.
Gabbiadini streaks away down the left-hand side, before cutting a cross back from the byline, but nobody is present to meet the delivery in the danger area! Inter respond with a break of their own, but an attempted pass in behind for Biabiany to chase is cut out well by Chiriches.
46'
We are back underway in the second half at Stadio San Paolo! Napoli will be disappointed to not be ahead after a fairly bright first-half showing, but Inter have time to recover and force the issue themselves. This is a one-legged affair, after all!
45'
Napoli win themselves a free kick on the edge of the penalty area, with Medel penalised for a push on Gabbiadini. Handanovic is forced into a solid save on his right-hand side, after a curling effort from the aforementioned Italian forward.
43'
Allan tries his luck from long range, with the Brazilian midfielder sending a powerful attempt high and wide of the top right-hand corner! Inter respond with Perisic breaking down the left-hand side, but Hysaj tracks back to frustrate the Croatian winger.
41'
Koulibaly tries to release Mertens down the left-hand side, but the latter is stopped in his tracks by a solid tackle on the edge of the area. We're into the final five minutes of the first half at the Sao Paolo, but Inter continue to labour offensively. A cross from the left-hand side is cushioned back to Reina by the aforementioned French defender easily.
39'
Gabbiadini flicks a through ball towards Mertens, with the Belgian trying to lay a pass directly back to his teammate! Fortunately for Inter, the ex-PSV man fluffs his lines terribly. Even though the away outfit are sitting very deep, the Partenopei are continuing to cause some problems on the break.
37'
Telles is picked out on the left-hand side, but the Brazilian opts to slide a pass back to Jovetic. The former Man City striker is simply tackled, leading to a Napoli break! Callejon races down the right flank and curls in a delivery towards Gabbiadini, but Miranda intercepts!
35'
Inter continue to struggle to break out of their own half, with Mancini's defensive midfielder sitting on top of his central defenders. The visitors drop deeper and deeper, with Napoli working up a head of stream as a result. Only 10 minutes remain in the opening period, with the Nerazzurri probably aiming to just go in level.
33'
Handanovic has been equal to everything that the Partenopei have thrown at him thus far, with Mancini's men trying to take the sting of the game with some slow possession. Strinic breaks down the left, with Mertens then being released ahead of him. The Belgian winger curls in a great delivery, but Gabbiadini can only force an athletic stop out of the goalkeeper! Fortunately for the wasteful striker, the linesman's flag was raised for offside anyhow.
31'
Less than a quarter of an hour remains in the first half, with Inter continuing to falter when approaching the opposition penalty area. Napoli win themselves a free kick on the right-hand side, with Allan being brought down, but a whipped delivery into the box is punched clear brilliantly by Handanovic.
29'
Koulibaly drives from deep, with the French defender racing forward and unleashing a very ambitious long-range strike! Handanovic is happy to watch the ball loop over his own crossbar. Napoli continue to pose Inter more problems, but Gabbiadini hasn't seen much of the ball in central areas. Fortunately for the Partenopei, they do have Higuain on the bench if required.
27'
Strinic is found overlapping down the left-hand side, with the Croatian full-back cutting back a dangerous cross to Callejon! The ex-Real Madrid winger fires a low finish towards the bottom-right corner of the net, but Handanovic gets down brilliantly to make a smart stop!
25'
Jovetic manages to rob Koulibaly of the ball in the dangerous area, before angling in a curling cross! The loose delivery bobbles out to the edge of the box, before a long-range shot is blocked by Ljajic! Reina may well have been troubled, had the Nerazzurri teammates not got in each other's way.
23'
Kondogbia drives powerfully through the heart of the hosts' midfield, before Jovetic is released down the right-hand side. A cross is denied by Strinic, with Mancini's men struggling to get any service into the penalty box at present. Reina remains a relative spectator, but for collecting a few stray long balls.
21'
Telles breaks to the left byline, but a looping cross from the former Galatasaray full-back is terribly aimed into a pocket of defenders. Moments later, a lofted through ball is angled towards the run of Gabbiadini, but the Italian striker hasn't quite got the pace to prevent it from heading behind for a goal kick.
19'
Chiriches makes a valuable interception, with the former Spurs defender making a header to prevent Jovetic from taking down a lofted pass in the box. Reina would have been very exposed, but for the intervention of the Romanian midfielder. Inter are growing slowly into this contest.
17'
Biabiany is the target of a long through ball into the penalty area, but the pass skids off the turf and into the arms of Reina. The tempo of the contest continues to be fairly slow, with the two outfits sluggishly plugging away at one another. The aforementioned Frenchman then tries to race down the right flank, but Strinic stands up well to the ex-Parma man.
15'
Miranda makes an important headed clearance, with the Brazil international appearing to have the measure of Gabbiadini at the moment. Handanovic is forced into action, with the Inter goalkeeper punching a cross-cum-shot away from the left-hand side. The Partenopei continue to look comfortable, but their lone striker hasn't had much service to feet.
13'
Mertens is released down the left flank, with the Belgian forward able to win a free kick from Medel in the process. Napoli are able to fill the box with blue shirts as a result, but the aforementioned Chilean is present to head clear at the near post.
11'
Inter make their way down the right flank, before opening play out to the opposite wing. Mancini's men settle into a long stint of possession, but Napoli are organised and remain tough to play through. The hosts are well-drilled and continue to only afford the visitors space in non-dangerous territory. Koulibaly and Chiriches are yet to be tested.
9'
The opening minutes have been rather cagey, with both goalkeepers being kept busy with long balls and passes back to their feet. Napoli have seen much more possession, but neither outfit have created a dangerous opportunity as of yet. The Nerazzurri try to press high upfield and rob Valdifiori of the ball, but Nagatomo is penalised for his tackle.
7'
Telles makes a vital interception to deny Callejon, with a long ball looking to find the Spaniard in behind. Inter break down the other end, with Perisic whipping in a dangerous cross, but Reina makes a solid claim within his own six-yard box. Handanovic is forced into action moments later, but Mertens' dipping long-range attempt doesn't cause the Slovenian goalkeeper any trouble.
5'
Inter have been forced to sit very deep thus far, which is making it tough for Mancini's men to play their way out from the back four. The Partenopei look to take the leading role for now, with the hosts currently on a fantastic run of form. Despite a shaky start to the campaign, they're in with a chance of two trophies this season. Handanovic is forced to race off his line and deny Callejon from getting in behind.
3'
Miranda has to cover across to deny Mertens, after Kondogbia surrendered possession in a very dangerous area of the field. Both sides are keen to try and get a touch of the ball early on, in order to allow themselves to settle down quickly. Moments later, the same Napoli winger tries to stab a through ball towards Gabbiadini, but Nagatomo intercepts.
1'
We are underway in the first half of the Coppa Italia quarter final between Napoli and Inter, with Mancini's side desperately needing to get a win in order to get back on track. The Partenopei, meanwhile, just want to keep their current run going.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of tonight's Coppa Italia clash between Napoli and Inter, as Serie A's leaders go up against Roberto Mancini's third-placed personnel. The visitors have won merely one of their last five matches, while the Partenopei come into this fixture on a five-game winning streak.
Maurizio Sarri's men haven't conceded more than one goal in six consecutive clashes, with Napoli hitting fantastic form of late. At Stadio San Paolo, the hosts haven't lost in any of their last 14 games, as Gonzalo Higuain looks to inspire his teammates to silverware this campaign.
TEAM NEWS: Vlad Chiriches comes in at centre-back for the home side, with Ivan Strinic filling in at left-back. Mirko Valdifiori will link up with Allan and David Lopez in midfield, as Sarri opts to rotate his squad somewhat. Jose Callejon and Dries Mertens are deployed in the wide areas, with Manolo Gabbiadini getting a start up top. Marek Hamsik, Gonzalo Higuain and Lorenzo Insigne are among a strong set of substitutes.
TEAM NEWS: Juan Jesus and Miranda are at the heart of the away defence, with Jeison Murillo taking a seat on the bench. Yuto Nagatomo gets another start, with Geoffrey Kondogbia slotting into defensive midfield alongside Gary Medel. Jonathan Biabiany and Ivan Perisic will stretch play, with Adem Ljajic looking to support lone striker Stevan Jovetic.
Napoli substitutes: Rafael, Jorginho, Higuain, Maggio, Hamsik, Dezi, Gabriel, Insigne, Ghoulam, Albiol, El Kaddouri, Luperto.
HALF TIME! Both sides go in goalless at the break, with Napoli probably having the better of the opportunities. Handanovic has been forced into a few good saves, with Reina having noticeably less to do at present. This contest could go the full distance, but both coaches have some interesting substitutes to introduce.
FULL TIME! Inter progress into the semi-final stages of the Coppa Italia, courtesy of a 2-0 away win against Napoli. Goals from Jovetic and Ljajic wrapped up progression for the visitors, who managed to overturn a Partenopei who have been in great form of late. That's all that we have time for, we hope to see you again next time!
Commentary
More…