Good evening everyone! Our coverage of the Coppa Italia semi-finals continue and we've got a tasty looking match-up in Turin, as the favourites Juventus host a very impressive and in-form Fiorentina side.

As expected, Juventus are marching towards another Serie A title and a draw against nearest challengers Roma on Monday evening saw them maintain their nine-point lead at the top. It's been a while since they won the cup though and you have to go all the way back to 1995 for their last victory.

Making the trip to Turin this evening are a Fiorentina outfit who have steadily improved since the turn of the year. In fact, since a 1-0 defeat against Parma in their first game back after the winter break, they have since gone unbeaten in 12 games and have risen up to 5th place in the Serie A table

TEAMS:

JUVENTUS XI: Storari, Caceres, Bonucci, Ogbonna, Padoin, Vidal, Marchisio, Pogba, Pepe, Coman, Llorente

FIORENTINA XI: Neto, Richards, Rodriguez, Basanta, Alonso, Kurtic, Badelj, Fernandez, Joaquin, Salah, Gomez

Juventus have made a host of changes from their draw in Rome and only four players retain their starting spots. The big news is the return of Paul Pogba, who has recovered from a muscular problem. There are also chances for Simone Pepe and Kingsley Coman to impress, with Carlos Tevez and Alvaro Morata named on the bench.

Meanwhile, Fiorentina have also switched things around from their last match and start with Mario Gomez and Mohamed Salah in a forward trio alongside Joaquin. Rumoured Juventus target Norberto Neto keeps his place in goal, while there is a rare appearance for Micah Richards in the back four.

Both teams come into today's match having claimed important results in their previous league fixtures. Juventus kept their firm grip on top spot by sharing a 1-1 draw with Roma on Monday, but they will probably feel that they should have come away with all three points as the hosts played most of the second half with 10 men.

Fans making up tonight's sell-out crowd continue to stream in as the warm-ups for #JuveFiorentina continue! pic.twitter.com/KhrP2S1Yt2 — JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) March 5, 2015

Fiorentina have also come through unscathed after a potentially season defining week. Last Thursday they made it through to the last 16 of the Europa League by beating Tottenham and they followed that up with a vital 1-0 victory over Inter Milan at the San Siro. That win saw them move to within three points of Napoli, who currently occupy the final Champions League qualifying spot.

Let's take a quick look at how each team has reached this stage of the cup. In the round of 16, Juventus made light work of Hellas Verona as they romped to a 6-1 victory. It was much tighter against Parma last time out, as Alvaro Morata's goal a minute from time sealed a 1-0 win. Meanwhile, Fiorentina eased to a 3-1 win over Atalanta in the last 16, before beating Roma 2-0 at the Stadio Olimpico thanks to a double from Mario Gomez.

12 - Juventus and Fiorentina are both unbeaten in their last 12 competitive games (8 wins, 4 draws). Top. #JuveFiorentina #CoppaItalia — OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) March 5, 2015

PREDICTION: While Juventus are the firm favourites, it will be interesting to see just how much has been taken out of them following their game against Roma. They have made changes and Fiorentina will see it as the perfect chance to take advantage. The Viola will also be buoyed by the recent form and I can see them getting something tonight, with a 1-1 draw how I envisage this first leg finishing.

The teams have finally made their way out of the tunnel and into a packed Juventus Stadium. There is a great atmosphere around the ground this evening and we should be getting started in just a few moments.

KICKOFF! We are underway at the Juventus Stadium!

CHANCE! Juventus come agonizingly close to taking an early lead. Fiorentina give the ball away poorly and Vidal takes advantage to burst clean through on goal. He then looks to bend a strike into the far corner, but the ball ends up going inches wide of the post.

The hosts have made a really great start to the match and they are putting the Viola defence under a huge amount of pressure. It has not given Montella's players any time to settle and they really do look a bit shell-shocked at the moment.

CHANCE! Despite all of the home side's pressure, Fiorentina come close to breaking the deadlock. Kurtic is picked out with a fine ball to the back post and he lashes in a first-time strike on the volley that goes across goal and narrowly wide of the far post.

The visitors have just settled in this game now after an uncertain start to the match. It is still Juventus though who are on top and Pogba threatens with a powerful strike from the edge of the box that is well blocked behind for a corner.

What an amazing solo goal this is from Salah! Fiorentina break quickly from a corner and the winger picks up the ball just inside his own half. He then drives forward and bursts past Padoin, before firing a brilliant strike into the top corner. He has been in wonderful form since joining from Chelsea and that is his fifth goal for the Viola.

That goal has just silenced the crowd and it has given Fiorentina something to hang onto. The away goals rule will come into play in the second leg so you never know just how crucial it will be. There's still plenty of time left for Juventus to respond though and it's hard to see them being kept out all evening.

YELLOW CARD! The first booking of the evening is shown to Kurtic, who goes in late on Coman and can't really have any complaints from the referee.

Fiorentina are getting plenty of men behind the ball and it's making it hard for Juventus to get in behind. The hosts are seeing the majority of the possession, but at the moment it's in quite deep areas and not really troubling their opponents.

It hasn't taken Juventus too long to respond and they are back on level terms with their first effort on target. Llorente is the man who scores, as he meets a great cross from Pepe and directs a header into the far corner of the net and beyond the helpless Neto.

Juventus have got be given a lot credit for getting back into this game so quickly and not allowing their heads to drop. They must surely be the favourites now to go on and press home their advantage, as another goal or two in this game looks a certainty.

SHOT! For the first time in the match, Fiorentina are enjoying a good spell of possession and they are forcing Juventus deep isnide their own half. They eventually manage a strike on goal, as Fernandez fires in from range and sees his effort tipped over by the keeper.

OFF THE POST! Fiorentina have just missed a huge opportunity to restore their lead. Juventus fail to deal with a corner and when Gomez heads the ball towards the back post Basanta arrives to meet it. He is just a few yards out, but somehow he can only turn his header onto the outside of the post, when it looked easier to score.

YELLOW CARD! There is a sense of frustration creeping into the home side's play at the moment and Pogba picks up a card for bringing down Fernandez from behind.

SUBSTITUTION: We haven't even reached half time, but the hosts have decided to make a change. It's Tevez who is coming on, with Coman the man to make way.

Tevez is immediately involved as he latches onto a long-ball over the top, before cutting in from the left and driving towards goal. He manages to get a decent shot away, but Fiorentina get plenty of men back to block his effort and clear the danger.

YELLOW CARD! Badelj is the third player to be shown a card in this first half for a foul on Marchisio.

Juventus are ending the half strongly and Vidal has a sight of goal when he he meets Padoin's lofted cross to the back post. The Chilean then tries to loop a header across goal and into the far corner, but it ends up dropping just wide.

We are going to have one minute of time added on to the end of this first half.

It's half time in Turin and the teams have headed into the break on level terms. A wonder goal from Mohamed Salah gave Fiorentina an early lead, but Juventus struck back and a fine header from Fernando Llorente means that it is all to play for in this cup tie.

The hosts made the better start to the game, but Fiorentina grew in confidence thanks to Salah's goal and they should have scored a second goal when Jose Basanta headed against the post from close range. It has been a very watchable game so far and there should be plenty more excitement to come after the break.

Get in! @llorentefer19 celebrates after drawing us level with a fine header. Great cross by @pepigno7 #JuveFiorentina pic.twitter.com/ykzuV6bBWL

— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) March 5, 2015

I've already mentioned the impact that Salah has made since his arrival and he has proved his quality yet again today. He has now scored five goals in seven games for the Viola and his strike in the first half was certainly the pick of the lot.

Juventus take the kick off and get the second half underway!

Just as they did in the first half, Juventus have begun strongly and they threaten when Pepe gets in behind down the right. He then drills a low ball across looking for Tevez, but the Argentine is crowded out before he can get a shot away and it is eventually cleared.

SAVE! What a moment this would have been for Richards. The full back bursts onto Salah's pass and drives in a low shot that requires Storari to get down and push behind at his near post.

In the past couple of minutes the visitors have really taken control of the match and they are in again with Salah finding space inside the box. His shot is eventually blocked, but Juventus are not heeding the warning signs.

Juventus just can't get on the ball at the moment and they are defending very deep on the edge of their own box. It's not often you see the best team in Italy pushed so far back, but they are facing a Fiorentina side bursting with confidence.

Fiorentina have been well on top and they deservedly score a second thanks to some shocking defending from the hosts. Marchisio loses the ball just outside his own box and Salah is quick to steal in and race through on goal, before sliding an effort into the bottom corner.

SUBSTITUTION: Juventus have responded to falling behind by bringing on Morata for Llorente.

SAVE! The Bianconeri have been poor since the break, but they come close to levelling when Morata latches onto a pass over the top and pulls the ball back for Vidal. The Chilean then tries to sidefoot a low effort into the bottom corner, but Neto is there to push the ball to safety.

SUBSTITUTION: Gomez is forced off with an injury that he has failed to shake off and Ilicic is on to replace him.

SAVE! Neto is forced into action again as a cross from Pogba almost finds the top corner, but the keeper is there to tip the ball over. He collided with the post after making that save and is now receiving some treatment from the medical staff.

Neto is back up on his feet and it looks like he will be able to play on. Juventus get the game restarted from the corner, but Pepe's delivery is poor and is easily cleared by the visiting defence.

YELLOW CARD! Basanta goes into the referee's notebook for dragging down Morata.

Pogba is starting to get involved a lot more for the hosts and he does well to work some space on the edge of the box, before curling in a strike. It ends up deflecting behind for a corner, but once again Juventus are unable to make anything of the set piece.

CHANCE! Ilicic comes within inches of making it three for Fiorentina, as he picks the ball up outside the box, before lashing in a powerful strike that heads just wide. Had that gone in, it really would have been difficult to see a comeback from Juve.

SUBSTITUTION: It's a third change for Juventus, as Pereyra comes on for Pepe.

YELLOW CARD! Caceres is the latest player to be shown a card for a foul on Joaquin.

SUBSTITUTION: Fiorentina are going to make their second change of the evening, as their goalscorer Salah heads off to be replaced by Diamanti.

YELLOW CARD! Marchisio hauls down Diamanti and gives the referee little choice but to show him a yellow.

SUBSTITUTION: Aquilani is the final player to come on for Fiorentina, with Badelj making way.

Juventus just don't look like scoring at the moment and they have really struggled to create any clear-cut chances in this second half, with Vidal's shot that forced a save from Neto their only attempt on target since the break.

CHANCE! What a massive chance this is for Juventus to score. Caceres meets a deep cross from Pogba at the back post and pulls back across the box. It comes to the unmarked Pereyra who looks to guide an effort into the corner, but he completely miss kicks the ball and sends it wide of the post.

With just five minutes left to play the next goal seems more likely to come from the visitors. They almost get it as Diamanti steals possession and races into the box. He then tries to play it across for Ilicic, but Ogbonna shows his strength and forces the ball behind for a corner.

YELLOW CARD! Fernandez is shown a card for time-wasting.

We are going to have five minutes of stoppage time.

YELLOW CARD The eighth booking of the evening goes to Tevez for a late challenge on Ilicic.

Fiorentina have defended brilliantly this evening and they have cleared everything that has come their way this half. There is not long left for them to hold on now, but Montella will be desperate for them to complete the job and not allow anything to slip.

The final whistle blows in Turin and Juventus have seen their 47-game unbeaten home run ended by Fiorentina. The visitors were good value for their win and it gives them a huge advantage ahead of next month's return leg.

That's all we've got time for this evening, after a great night of Italian football. I hope you have enjoyed our coverage. Until next time, goodbye!