Fiorentina vs. Juventus: Score, Grades, Reaction from Coppa Italia

Alessandro Matri scored on his first Juventus start since returning to the club on loan from AC Milan to propel the Old Lady into the Coppa Italia final with a 4-2 aggregate win over Fiorentina.

After trailing 2-1 following the first leg, the depleted Serie A champions-elect ran out comfortable 3-0 winners at the Stadio Artemio Franchi to maintain course for a first cup win in 20 years.

Matri opened the scoring in the 21st minute as he pounced on a loose ball from an Alvaro Morata strike before Roberto Pereyra added a second one minute before half-time.

Leonardo Bonucci added his name to the scoresheet in the 59th minute with a close-range volley on a night in which Juventus were without the likes of Carlos Tevez, Andrea Pirlo, Paul Pogba and Gianluigi Buffon.

However, Claudio Marchisio marked his return from injury with a needless second-half caution that will see him suspended for the final against either Lazio or Napoli scheduled for June 7.

The midfielder was not the only Juventus player set to miss the final after Morata was shown a straight red card two minutes before the end for what appeared to be a run-of-the-mill foul on Alessandro Diamanti.

Juventus will likely appeal that decision, however, with the former Real Madrid man playing such a key role in helping the team reach the final. 

Morata replaced the injured Tevez in the Juventus lineup while Matri came in for Fernando Llorente. 

Marchisio also returned to Massimiliano Allegri's midfield after injury.

There was an early chance for the visitors when a Pereyra cross almost found Arturo Vidal inside the area, but the Fiorentina defence were swift to block.

Mohamed Salah had the ball in the net in the fourth minute, but he was adjudged to have fouled Stefano Sturaro in the buildup.

Marcos Alonso produced a superb first-time strike in the 10th minute from outside of the Juventus area, but it whistled just wide of Marco Storari's goal.

Morata was set up for a free run on goal by a wonderful deep pass in the 21st minute, but he was called offside.

Seconds later, though, Juventus leveled the tie at 2-2. Marchisio dispossessed Borja Valero and chased down the right channel from where he crossed into the box. Matri controlled the ball into the path of Morata, whose blocked effort dropped for his fellow striker to poke it home past Neto.

Juventus now had a strong grip on the game, with Fiorentina unable to find a way to get Salah into positions to hurt the visitors.

The Viola appeared to have equalised in the 37th minute, but Gonzalo Rodriguez's header from a Mati Fernandez free-kick was ruled out for offside against the defender.

Morata almost put Juventus ahead five minutes before the interval with a fine curling effort from the edge of the area, but the strike went wide with the help of Neto's fingertip. But Giorgio Chiellini was cautioned for his vehement protest to the referee over the award of a goal-kick.

Juventus took the lead in the tie in the 44th minute when a fine passing move led to Morata striking at goal from just inside the area. Neto parried well, but the loose ball fell to Pereyra, who fired home to make it 3-2 on aggregate to the Turin club.

"

Pereyra's goal. #FiorentinaJuve https://t.co/pqp4DO8YAb

— Khaled Al Nouss (@KhaledAlNouss) April 7, 2015"

The home side were improved after the interval, but Juventus confirmed their superiority in the 59th minute. After Neto parried a Pereyra drive away, the subsequent corner found an unmarked Bonucci inside the area, and he volleyed home to make it 3-0 on the night.

But there was a downside to the game for Juventus and Marchisio, who reacted to a challenge on Morata to earn a yellow card that rules him out of the final.

Juventus, though, were a cut above their opponents in Florence, and Neto remained by far the busier of the two goalkeepers.

Matri left the field in the 75th minute to a rapturous reception from the traveling Juventus supporters, with Kingsley Coman replacing him.

There was a twist in the tale for Juventus after 87 minutes, though, when Morata was shown a straight red card for a foul on Fiorentina substitute Diamanti. The challenge might have been illegal, but it did not seem ugly enough to warrant the dismissal.

But the tie had already been won at this stage, with Fiorentina offering little threat to the Serie A leaders despite their makeshift starting XI.

It was a testament also to Allegri for adapting his squad to cope with injuries and resting of key players.

Selected Player Ratings

Alessandro Matri: A

The Juventus striker proved the doubters wrong as he opened the scoring in the 21st minute with his first goal in almost two years. He worked very well alongside Morata up front for Allegri's team.

Mohamed Salah: A-

The on-loan Chelsea forward looked dangerous early on but found service at a premium as the first half progressed.

Roberto Pereyra: A+

The Juventus midfielder had a superb display, capped with the second goal of the night. He was always looking for the creative outlet to his forwards and was a persistent threat to Fiorentina.

Post-Match Reaction

"

Si vamos Juve!!! Orgulloso de ser parte de este equipo. Aplausos aplausos y mas aplausos

— Carlitos Tevez (@carlitos3210) April 7, 2015"