Italian football bad-boy Antonio Cassano celebrated his return to his former club Sampdoria yesterday as his new team Milan ran out 2-1 winners in their Italian Cup quarter-final.

Brazilian striker Pato struck twice – Stefano Guberti getting the hosts’ goal – to give Cassano some revenge against the club, who effectively sacked him earlier this season for disparaging remarks made about their president.

Milan were joined in the semi-finals later by cup holders Inter, who prevailed 5-4 on penalties away at Napoli after the match had finished 0-0.

Christian Chivu converted the decisive penalty for Inter after Ezequiel Lavezzi fired over for Napoli.

Napoli had the better chances in the 120 minutes but neither side failed to break through.

Palermo were the first side into the last four when they edged Parma also 5-4 on penalties on Tuesday.

Pato, who was sorely missed by Brazil at last year’s World Cup finals, scored both his goals early on, twice being set up by recent Milan signing Urby Emanuelson, whose Dutch compatriot Mark van Bommel also made his debut after joining from B. Munich this week.

Cassano, who has throughout his career made a habit of shooting himself in the foot at whatever club he has played for, was greeted on his entrance as a substitute for Robinho in the 78th minute by jeers and boos and cries of ‘Clown!’.

Samp president, Riccardo Garrone, had said before the match that he would not greet Cassano because he had no regard for him as a person anymore after the playmaker had joked “that if he had known he would finish up at Milan he would have insulted the president a long time before he actually did.”

Playing today
8.45 p.m. Juventus vs Roma