Lazio-Inter: Moment of Truth

Ninety minutes — or perhaps more — to lift the trophy under the Roman sky and carve their name into Italian football history. Lazio and Inter meet again just four days after the Nerazzurri’s 3-0 league victory: Inter are chasing a Serie A and Coppa Italia Frecciarossa double, while Lazio are aiming to crown their campaign with silverware that would make the season a resounding success and secure qualification for next season’s Europa League.

HEAD TO HEAD

The two teams have faced each other 185 times in official matches (92 in Milan, 92 in Rome, and the 1997–98 UEFA Cup Final in Paris): 45 wins for Lazio (most recent: 3–1 at the Olimpico, 2022–23 Serie A), 62 draws (most recent: 2–2 at San Siro, 2024/25 Serie A) and 78 wins for Inter (most recent 0-3 in Rome on May 9, 2026, Serie A).

In the last 9 matches (at the Olimpico and the Meazza), the record stands at 7 Nerazzurri wins and 2 draws. The Biancocelesti’s last victory dates back to August 26, 2022, a 3-1 home win in Serie A. Furthermore, in 6 of these 9 matches, they failed to score, netting just 4 goals in 810 minutes.

Lazio vs. Inter has been a title decider on four occasions: the 1997/98 UEFA Cup, a 3-0 Nerazzurri win in Paris with goals from Zamorano, Javier Zanetti, and Ronaldo; 1999/00 Coppa Italia, Lazio won 2-1 in the first leg at the Olimpico (goals by Nedved and Simeone after Seedorf’s opening goal for Inter) and 0-0 in the return leg at San Siro; 2000 Italian Super Cup, a 4-3 win for Lazio at the Olimpico, with a brace from Claudio Lopez and goals from Mihajlovic and Stankovic for the Romans, and Keane, Farinos, and Vampeta for the Nerazzurri. Finally, the 2009 Italian Super Cup saw another Biancocelesti win, 2-1 in Beijing, with goals from Matuzalem, Rocchi, and Eto’o.

Historical milestone: On May 15, 1966, Inter mathematically clinched the 10th Scudetto in their history by defeating Lazio 4-1 at San Siro on the penultimate matchday. Goals from Suarez, Mazzola, an own goal by Governato, and Domenghini for the Nerazzurri; Renna for the Capitolini.

COPPA ITALIA FRECCIAROSSA - LAZIO

Lazio are playing their 11th Coppa Italia final in their history (out of 77 appearances in the tournament, including the current one). The Biancocelesti have won the title seven times: in 1958 against Fiorentina (1-0 in Rome), 1997/98 against Milan (first leg 0-1 at San Siro, second leg 3-1 at the Olimpico), 1999/00 against Inter (first leg 2-1 at the Olimpico, second leg 0-0 in Milan), 2003/04 against Juventus (2-0 at home in the first leg, 2-2 in Turin in the second leg), 2008/09 against Sampdoria (6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes in Rome), 2012/13 against Roma (1-0 at the Olimpico), and 2018/19 against Atalanta (2-0 in Rome).

Three lost finals: 1960/61 (0-2 in Florence against the Viola, single-leg final), 2014/15 and 2016/17 against Juventus in Rome, with scores of 0-2 and 1-2, respectively.

Lazio’s all-time leading scorer in the Coppa Italia is Bruno Giordano, with 18 goals. In second place is Giuseppe Signori with 17 goals; rounding out the top three are Giorgio Chinaglia and Humberto Tozzi, tied for third with 13 goals each. Among the players currently on the roster, the top scorer in the competition is Tijjani Noslin, with 4 goals.

The Lazio player with the most appearances in Coppa Italia finals is Giuseppe Favalli, with 5 appearances (from 1997–98 to 2003–04). The player with the most goals in the finals is Stefano Fiore with 3 goals, all scored in the 2003–04 two-legged final (a brace in the first leg and a goal in the second leg).

COPPA ITALIA FRECCIAROSSA - INTER

Inter are playing their 16th Coppa Italia final in their history (out of 77 appearances in the tournament, including this year’s). The Nerazzurri have won nine titles: 1938–39 against Novara (2–1 in Rome), 1977–78 against Napoli (2–1 in Rome), 1981–82 against Torino (1–0 in the first leg at San Siro, 1–1 in the second leg in Piedmont), 2004/05 against Roma (0-2 away in the first leg, 1-0 at San Siro in the second leg), 2005/06 against Roma (1-1 in the first leg at the Olimpico, 3-1 in the second leg in Milan), 2009/10 against Roma (1-0 at the Olimpico), 2010/11 against Palermo (3-1 in Rome), 2021/22 against Juventus (4-2 in Rome), and 2022/23 against Fiorentina (2-1 at the Olimpico).

6 lost finals: 1958/59 and 1964/65 to Juventus (1-4 in Milan and 1-0 in Turin, respectively, in a single-leg match), 1976/77 to Milan (0-2 at San Siro), 1999/00 to Lazio (1-2 in the first leg in Rome, 0-0 at San Siro in the second leg), 2006/07 and 2007/08 to Roma (in the first instance, a 6-2 Giallorossi win in the first leg at home and a 2-1 Nerazzurri win in the second leg in Milan; in the second instance, a single-leg match ending 2-1 for the Romans).

With their 16th final in club history, Inter joins Roma in second place among the teams with the most Coppa Italia finals (Juventus leads with 22).

Inter’s all-time leading scorer in the Coppa Italia is Alessandro Altobelli, with 46 goals. In second place is Roberto Boninsegna with 36 goals; Sandro Mazzola rounds out the top three with 24 goals. Among the players currently on the roster, the top scorer in the competition is Lautaro Martinez, with 8 goals.

The Inter player with the most appearances in Coppa Italia finals is Javier Zanetti, with 10 appearances. The players with the most goals in the finals are Hernán Crespo (all scored in 2006–07) and Julio Cruz (between 2005–06 and 2006–07), with three goals each.

ROAD TO FINAL

Lazio’s run in the 2025/26 Coppa Italia: in the round of 16, they eliminated Milan (1-0 at the Olimpico); in the quarterfinals, Bologna (1-1 after 90 minutes at the Dall’Ara, 2-5 on penalties); and in the semifinals, Atalanta (2-2 at the Olimpico in the first leg, 1-1 in the second leg in Bergamo, 2-3 on penalties). The Biancocelesti’s goalscorers in this edition are Dele-Bashiru, Dia, Noslin, Romagnoli, and Zaccagni (one goal each).

Inter’s run in the 2025/26 Coppa Italia: in the round of 16, they eliminated Venezia (5-1 at San Siro); in the quarterfinals, Torino (2-1 at the U-Power Stadium in Monza); and in the semifinals, Como (0-0 in the first leg at Sinigaglia and 3-2 in the second leg at San Siro). The Nerazzurri’s scorers in this edition are Bonny, Calhanoglu, Diouf, and Thuram (two each), as well as Pio Esposito and Sucic (one each).

DID YOU KNOW?

Inter are coming off nine consecutive positive results across all competitions: a record of six wins and three draws, with 24 goals scored. Their last defeat came on March 8, Milan 1-0 Inter, in Serie A.

COACHES

This marks the third official meeting between Maurizio Sarri and Cristian Chivu: in the two previous encounters, both in the 2025/26 Serie A season, the Nerazzurri coach secured two wins (2-0 at San Siro and 0-3 at the Olimpico).

This is Maurizio Sarri’s second Coppa Italia final as a coach: in his only previous appearance, he suffered a 4-2 defeat in the 2019-20 Napoli vs. Juventus match while coaching Juventus.

This is Cristian Chivu’s first Coppa Italia final as a coach: during his playing career, he appeared in six. With Roma, he suffered two losses (in the two-legged series against Inter in 2004/05 and 2005/06) and one victory (also against Inter in the 2006/07 two-legged series); with Inter, he suffered one defeat (in 2007/08 against Roma) and secured two victories (in 2009/10 against Roma and in 2010/11 against Palermo).

DISCIPLINE 

Suspended: none Squalificati: Maurizio Sarri

Cautioned: none Diffidati: Sucic, Kamate, Esposito (Inter); Gila, Tavares, Cancellieri, Lazzari (Lazio)

REFEREE

GUIDA (ALASSIO – BACCINI) IV:  ZUFFERLI, VAR: MAZZOLENI, AVAR: DI PAOLO, AA RIS.: PRETI

UPCOMING MATCHES

Inter-Verona

Roma-Lazio