JUVENTUS came from behind to record a 2-1 defeat of Inter in the first leg of their Coppa Italia semifinal at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on Tuesday evening.

Lautaro Martinez’s early opener was overturned by a Cristiano Ronaldo brace, as the Portuguese became soccer’s greatest ever goalscorer by taking his tally to 763.

Inter led in just the ninth minute. A quick counterattack ended as Nicolo Barella — who had beaten Juventus almost single-handedly in Serie A — centred for Lautaro, whose driven effort went through Gianluigi Buffon to creep over the line.

But Ashley Young gifted the Bianconeri a way back. The Englishman needlessly pulled Juan Cuadrado’s arm, bringing the Colombian to ground, as Federico Bernardeschi had completely overhit a cross.

A penalty was given after VAR intervention, and Cristiano Ronaldo emphatically finished.

Another error saw Juventus get themselves in front. Samir Handanovic and Alessandro Bastoni got themselves mixed up and Cristiano took the ball off the Italian’s toe. With Handanovic far from goal, he passed in from a narrow angle.

Buffon did well to deny Matteo Darmian in the second half, and Merih Demiral had to block an Alexis Sanchez effort, but for all Inter’s possession they were unable to find a way to beat the veteran goalkeeper again.

Record 13-time winner Juve will be a favorite to reach a sixth final in seven years when the side bids to complete the job in the return game in Turin next Tuesday.

“This is just the first leg, we haven’t achieved anything yet,” Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo told RAI Sport. “What this does prove is that if we are fully concentrated, it becomes difficult for anyone against us.”

Inter, which beat Juventus 2-0 last month in Serie A, has it all to do to keep its hopes of lifting a first Italian Cup since 2011 alive.

“It was an important match, the Serie A game showed Inter are far from an easy side to face,” Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot said.(SD-Agencies)