(IN THE PHOTO: Giampaolo Pazzini celebrates his goal) 
MILAN – Milan are through to the quarter finals of the TIM Cup after defeating Sassuolo 2-1 at the San Siro on Tuesday night. The rossoneri dominated the first half and took the lead on 38 minutes through Giampaolo Pazzini. In the second half Sassuolo levelled the scores from the penalty spot on 64 minutes, but Milan showed great spirit to restore their lead on 86 minutes through De Jong and win the Italian Cup tie. Milan will now meet the winner between Torino-Lazio. Tuesday’s cup win is also a big boost ahead of this weekend’s Serie A match at home to Atalanta. Ahead of that league match, here are some of the stats to emerge from Tuesday’s cup match: 3- by scoring against Sassuolo, Giampaolo Pazzini not only scored his first goal of the season, but also his third goal from the past three Round of 16 TIM Cup matches with Milan. The first was in the 2012/2013 season (the first goal in the 3-0 win over Reggina), the second in the 2013/2014 season against Spezia (Milan’s second goal in a 3-1 victory) and then the third against Sassuolo on Tuesday. His overall goals record in the TIM Cup now stands at 21 from 31 appearances.1- Alessio Cerci made his first start on Tuesday for Milan and marked it by providing an assist for Pazzini’s opening goal. The Milan number 22 also came close to getting his own name on the score-sheet, striking the post shortly after Pazzini’s goal.Nigel De Jong- The Dutchman’s decisive goal means he is the first player of the season to score in both Serie A and the TIM Cup. The midfield battler has 2 goals to his name in Serie A and one in the TIM Cup this season.181- the number of wins for Milan in the Italian Cup. (source: footballdata.it)