Atalanta's coach Gian Piero Gasperini shouts instructions during the Serie...

Atalanta's coach Gian Piero Gasperini shouts instructions during the Serie A soccer match between Cagliari Calcio and Atalanta at the Unipol Domus in Cagliari, Italy, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. Credit: AP/Gianluca Zuddas

MILAN — Serie A leader Atalanta continued its domination of domestic soccer this season with another hefty victory in the Italian Cup albeit against second-division Cesena.

Charles De Ketelaere and Lazar Samardzic both scored twice as Atalanta cruised to a 6-1 win to book a place in the quarterfinals against Bologna.

Roma also eased through against lower-league opposition, beating Sampdoria 4-1 to secure a last-eight match against AC Milan.

The quarterfinals will be played in February.

Fresh from a club record 10th straight league victory, Atalanta — which lost the cup final to Juventus last year — showed no signs of easing up, even against lower league opposition.

Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini opted for a surprisingly strong starting lineup and Atalanta was 2-0 up in less than 10 minutes and 4-0 up by halftime following goals by Davide Zappacosta, De Ketelaere’s double and Samardzic’s first.

Marco Brescianini added a fifth early in the second half and Atalanta finally eased off the gas, although Samardzic doubled his tally in the 71st.

Roma's Artem Dovbyk shoots at goal during the Italian Cup...

Roma's Artem Dovbyk shoots at goal during the Italian Cup soccer match between Roma and Sampdoria, at Rome's Olympic Stadium, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. Credit: AP/Andrew Medichini

Substitute Joseph Ceesay netted a consolation goal in the final minute for Cesena.

Ranieri beats former club

Roma coach Claudio Ranieri steered his side to a morale-boosting victory over one of his many former clubs and avoided a potential upset against Sampdoria, which had already knocked out two Serie A teams.

Roma had lost in the league 2-0 at Como, which was one of the top-flight teams Samp had beaten on its cup run — the other being city rival Genoa.

However, an early double from Artem Dovbyk and a delightful solo effort from Tommaso Baldanzi had Roma 3-0 up inside 25 minutes.

Roma's Artem Dovbyk, left, celebrates with teammates after scoring the...

Roma's Artem Dovbyk, left, celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal during an Italian Cup soccer match between Roma and Sampdoria, at Rome's Olympic Stadium, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. Credit: AP/Andrew Medichini

Gerard Yepes pulled one back for Samp in the 61st but Roma restored its three-goal advantage through substitute Eldor Shomurodov, moments after he replaced Dovbyk.