Atalanta dominant again with 6-1 win over Cesena in Italian Cup, Roma rout Sampdoria

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Atalanta's Marco Brescianini scores their fifth goal of the game during the Italian Cup round of 16 between Atalanta and Cesena at Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo, Italy, Wednesday. (AP)
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  • Roma also eased through against lower-league opposition, beating Sampdoria 4-1 to secure a last-eight match against AC Milan
  • The quarterfinals will be played in February

MILAN: Serie A leaders Atalanta continued their domination of domestic soccer this season with another hefty victory in the Italian Cup albeit against second-division Cesena.

Charles De Ketelaere and Lazar Samardzic both scored twice as Atalanta cruised to a 6-1 win to book a place in the quarterfinals against Bologna.

Roma also eased through against lower-league opposition, beating Sampdoria 4-1 to secure a last-eight match against AC Milan.

The quarterfinals will be played in February.

Fresh from a club record 10th straight league victory, Atalanta — which lost the cup final to Juventus last year — showed no signs of easing up, even against lower league opposition.

Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini opted for a surprisingly strong starting lineup and Atalanta was 2-0 up in less than 10 minutes and 4-0 up by halftime following goals by Davide Zappacosta, De Ketelaere’s double and Samardzic’s first.

Marco Brescianini added a fifth early in the second half and Atalanta finally eased off the gas, although Samardzic doubled his tally in the 71st.

Substitute Joseph Ceesay netted a consolation goal in the final minute for Cesena.

Ranieri beat former club

Roma coach Claudio Ranieri steered his side to a morale-boosting victory over one of his many former clubs and avoided a potential upset against Sampdoria, who had already knocked out two Serie A teams.

Roma had lost in the league 2-0 at Como, who were one of the top-flight teams Samp had beaten on its cup run — the other being city rivals Genoa.

However, an early double from Artem Dovbyk and a delightful solo effort from Tommaso Baldanzi had Roma 3-0 up inside 25 minutes.

Gerard Yepes pulled one back for Samp in the 61st but Roma restored its three-goal advantage through substitute Eldor Shomurodov, moments after he replaced Dovbyk.