Juventus start Miralem Pjanic, Paulo Dybala and new signing Tomas Rincon in the Coppa Italia against ambitious Atalanta.

It kicks off in Turin at 19.45 GMT and the winners go through to face Milan or Torino in the quarter-final on January 25.

The trophy holders begin the defence of their TIM Cup title without Gigi Buffon, who is recovering from flu, Dani Alves, Mario Lemina and Medhi Benatia.

Juventus start Miralem Pjanic, Paulo Dybala and new signing Tomas Rincon in the Coppa Italia against ambitious Atalanta.

It kicks off in Turin at 19.45 GMT and the winners go through to face Milan or Torino in the quarter-final on January 25.

The trophy holders begin the defence of their TIM Cup title without Gigi Buffon, who is recovering from flu, Dani Alves, Mario Lemina and Medhi Benatia.

Leonardo Bonucci is back on the bench for the first time since a thigh strain on November 27, while Patrice Evra is left out as he considers a move to Valencia and Giorgio Chiellini is suspended.

Rincon arrived from Genoa during the January transfer window and he is given his first start in midfield with Hernanes and Claudio Marchisio,

Pjanic had been expected to rest in favour of Juan Cuadrado, but the Bosnian again takes the trequartista role, this time behind Paulo Dybala and Mario Mandzukic.

Atalanta go into their first game since selling Roberto Gagliardini to Inter, while Marco Sportiello will reportedly undergo a medical with Fiorentina tomorrow or Friday.

Coach Gian Piero Gasperini has been a huge success so far this season and rotates the squad, resting Alejandro ‘Papu’ Gomez.

The Orobici famously struggle on their travels, losing seven of their last eight Coppa Italia away games.

However, Atalanta knocked Juve out the last time they met in this tournament during the 2004-05 edition. There was a 2-0 home victory and thrilling 3-3 draw in Turin.

Juventus: Neto; Lichtsteiner, Rugani, Barzagli, Asamoah; Rincon, Hernanes, Marchisio; Pjanic; Dybala, Mandzukic

Juventus bench: Audero, Del Favero, Semprini, Bonucci, Khedira, Sturaro, Cuadrado, Higuain, Pjaca

Atalanta: Berisha; Toloi, Caldara, Masiello; Conti, Freuler, Grassi, Spinazzola, Kurtic; Petagna, D’Alessandro

Atalanta bench: Sportiello, Bassi, Migliaccio, Pesic, Gomez, Konko, Raimondi, Melegoni, Gatti, Capone, Latte

Ref: Giacomelli

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