Coppa Italia Preview: Inter Milan eye domestic double as Lazio chase upset

Inter head into proceedings as strong favourites to ascend to the throne for the first time since 2023, taking confidence from their scintillating record in this fixture.

Goals from Lautaro Martinez and Ange-Yoan Bonny on either side of half-time propelled the Nerazzurri to a comfortable 2-0 win in November’s reverse clash, extending Inter’s unbeaten run against Lazio to eight games.

Downtrodden giants

In addition to their dreadful streak in this match-up, Lazio suffered their heaviest-ever home defeat in Serie A against Inter last season, falling to a calamitous 6-0 loss in December 2024.

Avenging that result remains Sarri’s highest priority amid the uncertainty surrounding his future at the Olimpico, as the 67-year-old seeks only his third major title as a manager.

Despite earning praise for guiding Lazio through a turbulent campaign marked by transfer bans and fan unrest, Sarri could still oversee the club’s worst Serie A finish since the 2018/19 season.

Lazio could finish as low as eighth for the first time in seven years, yet that season also marked their most recent Coppa Italia triumph, as they beat Atalanta 2-0 in the final.

The Biancocelesti now gear up for their 11th appearance in this fixture, looking to win the competition for the eighth time, with only Juventus, Roma and Inter having lifted the trophy more often.

Prediction

Chivu has turned Inter into a force to be reckoned with this season, with the Nerazzurri cruising to the Scudetto in dominant fashion.

As the only Serie A side to hit an 80-goal landmark, Inter have scored at least 23 more goals than any other team in the league, while they also boast an eight-game unbeaten run heading into this weekend’s clash at the Olimpico.

Inter showed their fighting spirit in the Coppa Italia semi-final, overturning a two-goal deficit in a sensational 3-2 win over Como, netting three unanswered goals beyond the 60th minute to reach the final.

On the other hand, Lazio came from behind to beat Cremonese 2-1 on Monday, registering their third win in their last four domestic outings to bolster their spirits ahead of this high-stakes showdown.

Though the final takes place on their home ground, the Biancocelesti will still face a daunting task against a dominant Inter side that enter the match in superior form.

Indeed, anything other than Inter’s win would be a major surprise.