Lazio secure Juve tie

Serie A strugglers Lazio overcame a stunning opener by Panagiotis Kone to claim a 2-1 win over Udinese on Thursday and book an Italian Cup quarterfinal with holders Juventus.

Elsewhere, M'Baye Niang and Carlos Bacca hit second-half goals as AC Milan ended Sampdoria's interest in the competition with a 2-0 win in Genoa.

Lazio coach Stefano Pioli is said to be barely hanging on to his job after seeing his side slip to 12th in Italy's top flight, 16 points behind leaders Inter Milan.

And the Italian looked a worried man in the 67th minute when Kone showed great control to collect a cross from deep on the left wing before turning and beating Etrit Berisha with a superb volley at the 'keeper's far post.

Alessandro Matri rescued Lazio with an equaliser that looked slightly offside three minutes later, with Danilo Cataldi heading a 79th-minute winner when Udinese 'keeper Alex Meret spilled a shot in front of goal.

Lazio suffered defeat to Juventus in last season's final and Pioli said: "It was a great reaction by the lads, they've been frustrated but we took the game to them after conceding the opener.

"They showed a lot of character and it's good to qualify for the quarter-finals. Now need to concentrate on the championship. This is not where we belong in the league."

Juventus booked their last-eight spot with a resounding 4-0 win over city rivals Torino on Wednesday when Simone Zaza hit a brace and Paulo Dybala and Paul Pogba were also on target for last season's double winners.

Napoli set up an exciting last-eight tie with Inter after a 3-0 win over Serie A basement side Verona at the San Paolo on Wednesday.