Gian Piero Gasperini can cap his transformation of Atalanta into a team now among the elite of European football with his first coaching trophy in the Italian Cup final against Juventus in Reggio Emilia on Wednesday. The 63-year-old has revolutionised the Bergamo side since taking over five years ago. On Wednesday, they bid for just their second ever trophy, after the 1963 Italian Cup, as fans return to football stadiums in Italy for the first time in over a year. Juve's season is now effectively in the hands of Gasperini's side who have already assured themselves a third consecutive season of Champions League football. But Juve's top-four finish will be dependent on Atalanta beating European rivals AC Milan in Bergamo next Sunday. 

It has been a mixed debut season for rival coach Andrea Pirlo who is chasing a second trophy after beating Napoli to win the Italian SuperCup in January. The Turin club's Champions League qualification will go down to the wire in Sunday's final game at Bologna. "Clearly it is an important final we are playing against Juventus," said Gasperini of a trophy which would cap a stellar season for Atalanta. "For the fans, the cup represents a trophy, and we will do everything to please them." Atalanta are also in the running for a club high second-placed finish in Serie A behind champions Inter Milan, and can also exceed their best-ever points tally, already equalled with 78. In addition, they could claim a club record number of league games won, now equalled with 23, and already have the top attack in the league with 90 goals scored.