ROME — Two of Serie A’s brightest young talents were on full display when Juventus and Fiorentina each advanced to the Italian Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday.
Paulo Dybala scored one goal and set up another as Juventus beat in-form Atalanta 3-2, while Federico Bernardeschi converted a penalty in stoppage time and hit the crossbar as Fiorentina defeated Chievo Verona 1-0.
Defending champion Juventus will next face AC Milan or Torino, which play Thursday.
Six-time champion Fiorentina’s next opponent is Napoli, which beat Serie B side Spezia 3-1 on Tuesday.
The other Round of 16 matchups are: Inter Milan vs. Bologna; Sassuolo vs. Cesena; Lazio vs. Genoa; and Roma vs. Sampdoria.
At the Juventus Stadium, Dybala’s exploits made coach Massimiliano Allegri’s decision to rest Gonzalo Higuain pay off.
Mario Mandzukic nearly broke the deadlock in the early stages when he met a cross with his chest and the ball struck the post. Juventus then protested for an apparent penalty when Dybala was taken down a few minutes later.
Midway through the first half, the 23-year-old Dybala scored with a volley from outside the area following a touch from Mandzukic.
Twelve minutes later, Dybala threaded a pass through to Mandzukic, who made it 2-0 with an angled shot.
After Dybala was taken off, the final 20 minutes proved nervous for Juventus.
Abdoulay Konko pulled one back for Atalanta in the 72nd, hammering in a shot off the inside of the post from the edge of the area. Goalkeeper Neto, starting in place of Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon, had no chance to stop the shot.
Three minutes later, Miralem Pjanic restored Juventus’ two-goal lead with a penalty after Stephan Liechsteiner was fouled inside the area.
However in the 81st, Atalanta’s 18-year-old Ivory Coast forward Emmanuel Latte Lath beat Liechtsteiner to redirect in a cross and make it 3-2.
Juventus hadn’t conceded two goals at home since drawing 2-2 with Bayern Munich in the Champions League nearly a year ago.
"We knew it would be a tough match," Juventus defender Andrea Barzagli said. "We really risked a lot."
Dybala and Bernardeschi will go head-to-head when Juventus visits Fiorentina on Sunday.
Earlier, former Fiorentina fullback Massimo Gobbi stepped on Bernardeschi’s foot from behind and the Viola winger fell to the ground to draw the penalty. The 22-year-old Italy international then drilled his shot into the lower left corner.
Bernardeschi was involved in 12 of Fiorentina’s 24 shots, producing nine attempts and creating three more chances.
Both teams ended with 10 men.
Chievo midfielder Ivan Radovanovic was shown his second yellow in first-half added time and Bernardeschi hit the crossbar with the ensuing free kick.
Fiorentina forward Mauro Zarate was shown a straight red midway through the second half for a foul on Samuel Bastien.
