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

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.

Inter youngsters allowed to flourish

FLORENCE, ITALY – JANUARY 25: Matteo Cocchi of Italy U17 in action during the International Friendly match between Italy U17 and Spain U17 on January 25, 2023 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images)

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.

MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 14: Francesco Pio Esposito of FC Internazionale Milano celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with his Head Coach, Cristian Chivu, during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and US Lecce at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on January 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

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.