Lazio vs Inter Milan
The showpiece of the Italian season is upon us and with it a chance for Inter Milan to make history.
Just 10 days after winning Serie A for the second time in three years, the opportunity awaits to become the first Italian team in eight years to secure a league and cup double.
Their opponents in Wednesday night’s Coppa Italia final at the Stadio Olimpico: a Lazio side they comprehensively defeated in the league at the weekend.
Yet a cup final can be a very different beast.
Talking Points
As Inter bid for one final set of Coppa Italia 2026 highlights, they know success would see them win a first Italian double since Juventus claimed both the Scudetto and Coppa in 2018.
Marcus Thuram, who netted against Lazio in a league meeting between the sides just a few days ago, is a sight doubt for the newly crowned Italian champions.
That aside, the only key absentee is Hakan Calhanoglu with the set-piece specialist still sidelined with a thigh injury.
Lazio, who last won the cup in 2019 when managed by future Inter boss Simone Inzaghi, have had a particularly tough route to navigate to reach this year’s showpiece.
After dumping out AC Milan in the last 16, Maurizio Sarri’s men eliminated holders Bologna and then Atalanta, progressing via penalties on both occasions.
Such an impressive run stands in stark contrast to some underwhelming league form and the Biancocelesti are no longer able to qualify for Europe through Serie A.
Defeat in this one would see them miss out on European qualification for a second straight season.
Sarri, a beaten finalist in this tournament in 2020 (ironically against a Napoli team he helped transform and reemerge as a major footballing power in Italy’s top-flight during his tenure) said in his pre-match press conference that his Lazio players will need to focus on their mental approach.
If they get that right, they are more than capable of winning their first silverware in seven years.
If not, then there could be more misery against opponents who have won the last three meetings in Rome by an emphatic 11-0 overall scoreline.
History
Historically in the Italian top flight, Inter have won 72 times compared to 56 draws and 39 Lazio successes.
That includes a 6-0 rout 17 months ago when two goals in the final four minutes of the first half – Calhanoglu (penalty) and Federico Dimarco – opened the floodgates and the goals flew in after the break when Nicolo Barella, Denzel Dumfries, Carlo Augusto and 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.
Inter and Lazio have faced each other in the Coppa Italia 18 times, with history favouring the Nerazzurri: seven wins for Inter, five for Lazio and six draws.
On Sunday, Inter ran out 3-0 victors in the capital – Lautaro Martinez, Thuram and Petar Sucic were the men on target as they eased to victory against hosts reduced to 10 men after Alessio Romagnoli’s red card on the hour mark.
Earlier this season, Inter also ran out 2-0 home winners, thanks to goals from Martinez and Ange-Yoan Bonny.
Their meeting in the San Siro in May last year ended 2-2, a result which ultimately cost Inter in the title race.
On that occasion a 90th-minute Pedro penalty earned the visitors a point as they twice fought back from behind.
He had also netted a 72nd-minute equaliser after home goals from Yann Bisseck and Dumfries.
Lazio have only won of their last 11 clashes.
Last season, Inter were 2-0 home victors over Lazio in the quarter-finals of this competition with Marko Arnautovic and Calhanoglu (penalty) the marksmen.
Betting Tip
The SBOTOP Coppa Italia 2026 betting odds strongly favour Inter, as you would expect.
Cristian Chivu’s side are priced 1X2 @ 1.66 and Asian Handicap -1.00 @ 2.13 compared to Lazio 1X2 @ 4.62 and Asian Handicap +0.50 @ 2.31.
The draw after 90 minutes will pay out @ 3.55, while a second 3-0 Inter success in the space of four days is on offer @ 13.00 with Correct Score.
I think this will be a much closer match-up.
Whether there are a few goals remains to be seen and bets include over 2.75 @ 2.08 and over 3.00 @ 2.44.I was tempted by total goal 0-1 @ 3.30 as I think it will be tight, yet I have not been brave enough so my *** tip is Total Goals 2-3 @ 1.99.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
