Lazio vs. Juventus: 6 Things We Learned from Coppa Italia Semifinal 1st Leg

Lazio escaped with a draw from Juventus Stadium to become marginal favourites in their Coppa Italia semifinal.

Stefano Mauri poked home a late equaliser to silence the Juventini, cancelling out Federico Peluso's debut goal for the Bianconeri.

Here are six things we learned from this intriguing clash. Please feel free to discuss this game in the comments section below and I will endeavour to get back to you.

Pogba Mania Is Excessive

Paul Pogba's sensational display at the weekend against Udinese suggested that the Bianconeri's transition to the post-Pirlo era could arrive sooner than expected.

Pogba's two fine long-range strikes were a glimpse of one of his many exceptional talents, but without Andrea Pirlo, Juve are just not the same team.

Pogba is neat and tidy in possession, but he tends to enjoy driving forward and exchanging one-twos with an intent to move into the space beyond him, rather than developing the play from deep.

Luca Marrone is probably the most natural fit to replace Pirlo as Juve's quarterback, but it is still unclear whether the 22-year-old has the quality to succeed at such a high level.

It seems inevitable that Pogba belongs in the company of such illustrious names as Pirlo, Gianluigi Buffon and Claudio Marchisio, but his immediate future in the first team is still a little unclear.

As Pogba doesn't possess the consistency and variety of passes of Pirlo, Arturo Vidal's and Marchisio's positions become the most obvious roles for Pogba fill.

With neither player yet to reach their prime, Pogba might have to play a waiting game with Juve, despite sporadic impressive performances.

Resting Buffon Was a Error of Judgement from Conte

Antonio Conte rested Gianluigi Buffon for the first leg of this massive Coppa Italia semifinal, which was not a surprising decision.

Marco Storari has assumed this role since Conte arrived at the helm, even playing in the final against Napoli last season.

It is a dangerous policy that in part cost Juve the Coppa Italia last season, as the Partenopei exposed Juve's backup goalkeeper in the final in Rome.

Especially after last season's damaging defeat to Napoli, Conte—who considers the Coppa Italia a high priority—needs to select Italy's best goalkeeper in the second leg and potentially in the final that might follow.

Storari failed to command his area and instill confidence in his defence, dropping a routine catch to almost gift Lazio a goal in the first half.

As Stefano Mauri poked the ball towards goal from a corner late in the game, Storari managed some partial contact, but ultimately the ball slipped under his body.

It was another moment that might have been prevented if Buffon had been between the sticks.

Floccari Is Making Klose's Absence Unnoticed

Sergio Floccari is currently filling in for the injured Miroslav Klose, currently suffering from an abductor problem.

The former Parma striker is offering great cover with his strength and power to hold the ball up and pass it into the space to allow his teammates to join him.

The Biancocelesti are unbeaten since the German picked up his injury against Cagliari and remain in the Champions League places, which is the side's ultimate goal.

With two goals and two assists in the first three matches deputising for Klose, Floccari's role against Juve was rather different, but the 31-year-old performed it equally well.

Pulling Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli towards the wide areas allowed Lazio to expose Luca Marrone's lack of mobility and provide a direct threat through the middle of the pitch.

With Vladimir Petkovic tending to only field one striker, Floccari will probably find himself back on the bench soon, but he can feel a little hard done by, and maybe the Bosnian coach will be tempted to be a little more adventurous and trial both from the start.

Hernanes Fully Deserves His Recall to the Brazil Squad

Hernanes was called up to the Brazil national team in Luiz Felipe Scolari's first squad since returning as manager.

The Lazio playmaker has been excellent again this season, weaving his magic from deep as well as providing the Biancocelesti with that creative spark in the final third.

A moment of genius in the semifinal against Juventus came in the first half, when he picked up the ball on the halfway line and manipulated the ball with some quick footwork that left Alessandro Matri on his backside.

With the majority of the Lazio squad in the last few years of their careers, Hernanes' football intellect and sharp movement over short distances allow Vladimir Petkovic to set the side up differently each week, depending on the opposition.

Giaccherini Is the Most Versatile Player in Serie A

Emanuele Giaccherini is an underrated player in the Juventus squad, capable of fulfilling numerous positions in Antonio Conte's favourite 3-5-2 formation.

The former Cesena player usually occupies either of the wide roles in this formation, but he has adapted easily since his move to a central role at Juve, with close control and excellent movement off the ball helping the Bianconeri to smoothly develop attacks from deep.

Giaccherini also switched intermittently with Claudio Marchisio against Lazio as the second striker, assisting a rather isolated Alessandro Matri.

With Mirko Vucinic struggling with a knock, Sebastian Giovinco and Nicklas Bendtner injured and Fabio Quagliarella suspended, Conte had to conjure up a solution, and Giaccherini was the most obvious fit.

And lest we forget, Giaccherini also had a brief spell as a left-back with Italy at Euro 2012, which means that the 27-year-old is surely the most versatile player in Italian football.

Mauricio Isla Might Never Return to His Pre-Injury Form at Udinese

Mauricio Isla joined Juventus last summer as part of a double swoop on Udinese by the Bianconeri—Kwadwo Asamoah also made the move to Juventus Stadium.

The Chilean was originally a fine right midfielder, but Francesco Guidolin transformed him into one of the most dynamic centre-midfielders in Serie A.

It was therefore an odd move by the Bianconeri to sign him up when there was an abundance of options through the middle for Antonio Conte—Andrea Pirlo, Claudio Marchisio and Arturo Vidal, not to mention Paul Pogba and even Kwadwo Asamoah—only to convert him to a wide role on the left.

The 24-year-old suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury at the beginning of 2012 and barely featured for the Zebrette again before his move to the Old Lady.

Isla seems to lack that injection of pace that he once had, as well as the ability to link with teammates and drive forward.

With Stephan Lichtsteiner now cementing his place on the right and Emanuele Giaccherini and Simone Padoin equally adept at providing cover in this position, Isla's future at Juve appears to be bleak.