Jeremy Menez ended an 11-month goal drought with a brace as AC Milan booked their first Italian Cup final in 13 years with a 5-0 rout of third division Alessandria on Tuesday.
Milan, 6-0 winners on aggregate, last featured in the Cup final in 2003 when they won it for the fifth time. After a comprehensive victory which included a brace from centre-back Alessio Romagnoli and a late goal from on-loan Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli, the Rossoneri are now expected to meet Juventus in the May 21 final at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
Holders Juventus travel to Inter Milan on Wednesday, three days after outclassing Roberto Mancini's men 2-0 in Turin to boost their Serie A title bid, and with a comfortable 3-0 cushion from the first leg.
Mihajlovic praised both Menez and Balotelli, saying they would "be useful to us in the run-in".
"Mission complete," Mihajlovic told Rai Sport. "It was crucial for us to secure a place in the final and win with a big margin.
"We're happy, it's been 13 years and we've achieved one of our objectives of the season, although we'll obviously be looking to also win the final."
Menez emerged to become one of Milan's most valuable players when he joined the struggling Serie A giants from Paris Saint-Germain in 2014, only to be sidelined with injury at the end of last season.
The 28-year-old returned to Sinisa Mihajlovic's side recently with a series of cameo substitute appearances, but capitalised on his first start for the Rossoneri since April 2015 to underline his attacking credentials in timely fashion as they look to secure a top three finish this season.
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