Who Is Going to Cop the Coppa?

Inter Milan vs Lazio

Many of Italy’s big guns are gearing up for the Coppa Italia.

Milan and Bologna are already into the semi-finals and next week attention turns to the remaining two quarter-finals.

While holders Juventus are expected to see off the challenge of Empoli, most eyes will be at the San Siro where 2023 winners Inter Milan host Lazio.

And this SBOTOP writer is expecting Coppa Italia 2025 highlights from two teams hungry for success.

Talking Points

The Coppa Italia was actually the last time Lazio lifted some silverware when two goals in the final eight minutes from substitute Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Joaquin Correa sparked celebrations in the 2019 final against spirited Atalanta.

The Lazio manager that night: a certain Simone Inzaghi.

He took over in 2016 and stayed for five years, before moving to the San Siro where he has enjoyed much success.

Inter have been in good form of late and in January had a period where they rattled off four straight wins in the league and Europe, scoring 11 times and conceding just once in the process, securing a top eight finish in the Champions League along the way.

Since then, they have won just one in four, drawing with city rivals Milan, losing to and then defeating Fiorentina – as the sides met twice in five days – and then being pipped by Juventus in the Derby D’Italia on Sunday.

It’s hardly panic stations though and the Italian champions are only two points off the Serie A pace, while Lazio are just behind fourth placed Juve on goal difference.

They drew 2-2 with leaders Napoli last weekend, showcasing their character as they rescued a point with three minutes remaining.

Lazio boss Marco Baroni prepares to face Inter Milan in the Coppa Italia showdown — Lazio manager Marco Baroni looks on before the Serie A clash against Napoli at the Stadio Olimpico

It was a display which satisfied head coach Marco Baroni with the exception of an injury to Taty Castellanos, ‘the only negative’ in an otherwise successful afternoon for the Biancocelesti.

Lazio made three signings in the January transfer window in Arijon Ibrahimovic from Bayern Munich, Reda Belahyane from Hellas Verona and Oliver Provstgaard from Vejle. All are aged 21 or under and are currently unavailable to feature in European matches but are yet to play in Serie A either.

Baroni has hinted the new recruits might be in for game time in the near future, particularly after the injury to Castellanos, but whether they will be thrown into such an important cup clash is unlikely.

Inter defeated Lazio in this competition at the semi-final stage last term and revenge may well be on the cards for a Lazio side who are performing above my expectations.

They knocked Lazio out of the Coppa in early December and would love another scalp.

History

Historically in the Italian top flight, Inter have won 70 times compared to 55 draws and 39 Lazio successes.

That includes a 6-0 rout just before Christmas when two goals in the final four minutes of the first half – Hakan Calhanoglu (penalty) and Federico Dimarco – opened the floodgates and the goals flew in after the break when Nicolo Barella, Denzel Dumfries, Carlo Augusto and Marcus Thuram added to the misery on the hosts.

Their most famous meeting came in the 1998 UEFA Cup Final (now Europa League) in which Inter recorded a 3-0 victory.

The meeting in the capital last season went the way of Inter as Lautaro Martinez and Thuram scored in each half to seal a 2-0 success.

That was one of three encounters last term.

In the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia, Inter ran out 3-0 winners with Thuram, Calhanoglu (penalty) and Davide Frattesi on target.

They also met at the San Siro in the penultimate league game of the season, by which time Inter had long clinched the title.

A 1-1 draw saw Daichi Kamada fire the visitors in front before Dumfries headed an equaliser with three minutes remaining to set the title party in full swing.

Inter have a fine record against Lazio. Indeed, Lazio have only won two of their last 10 meetings.