Big day for Inter talent with Cocchi and Kamate full debuts, UEFA Youth League victory

It is a big day for the Inter youth academy, because while Matteo Cocchi and Issiaka Kamate get their senior full debuts in the Coppa Italia, they qualify for the UEFA Youth League Round of 16.

The Coppa Italia quarter-final kicks off against Torino at 20.00 GMT (21.00 CET).

It is played on neutral turf at the U-Power Stadium in Monza, as San Siro is preparing for Friday’s opening ceremony of the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.

There are two big changes in the starting XI of that Coppa Italia clash, as Cristian Chivu gives full debuts to wingers Cocchi, who celebrated his 19th birthday on Sunday, and 21-year-old Kamate.

While Cocchi had played 30 minutes in the Coppa Italia before, Kamate had never represented Inter at senior level before.

This makes it a doubly special day for the Nerazzurri youth academy, as they also earned a 3-1 victory away to FC Koln and booked their spot in the UEFA Youth League Round of 16.

Leonardo Bovio had put them in front, with Fynn Schenten equalising at the 80th minute.

There was a lot of added time and it was heading towards penalties until the Dilan Zarate popped up with the winner.

Just as Koln threw everyone including their goalkeeper forward for the last corner, Inter went on the counter and added a third with Roberts Kukulis depositing into the empty net from midfield.

The draw for the knockout round will be on Friday in Nyon.