Two goals ruled out, then Lazio prevail on penalties
The second leg of the semi-final ends 2-3
The dream of reaching the 2025/26 Coppa Italia Frecciarossa final ends on penalties. In the second leg of the semi-final, the shootout sends Lazio through after both regular and extra time had finished 1-1 (following the 2-2 draw in the first leg). Two goals were ruled out for the Nerazzurri, while Scamacca struck the post at the end of normal time, before it all came down to penalties.
A bright and lively start for the Nerazzurri, with Zalewski going close twice in the opening stages (9’, 21’), before Zappacosta (22’) and Krstović (24’) also tested the opposition. The latter stages of the first half were much more balanced, with the game becoming increasingly tight and hard-fought.
After the restart, it was Krstović who first threatened for the Nerazzurri: after winning the ball back in the final third, the Montenegrin played a one-two with De Ketelaere before completing the move, only to fire straight at the keeper, who comfortably gathered the Atalanta No. 90’s effort. In the 61st minute, Éderson found the breakthrough, but after a VAR review, the referee ruled it out for a foul by Krstović on the goalkeeper, much to the Nerazzurri’s protests. On 74 minutes, Noslin also tried his luck, finishing wide. De Ketelaere tried it from range, straight at the keeper. Lazio took the lead in the 84th minute through Romagnoli’s close-range finish from a corner. Atalanta’s response, however, was immediate, and just two minutes later the Nerazzurri were back on level terms: Krstović laid it off for Pašalić, whose first-time finish, helped by a slight deflection off Taylor, beat Motta to make it 1-1. In the 95th minute, the Nerazzurri had a chance to win it, but Motta produced a superb save to deny Scamacca, tipping his header onto the post. The match thus went into extra time.
Five minutes into the first half of extra time, Raspadori made it 2-1, but after a VAR review, the goal was ruled out for a prior offside by Zappacosta. The deadlock holds until the end of extra time, sending the match to a penalty shootout. The match is ultimately decided on penalties, with Lazio coming out on top.
ATALANTA 2-3 LAZIO ON PENALTIES (1-1 after regulation and extra times)
Scorers: Romagnoli 84 (L), Pašalić 86 (A)
Penalty shootout: Raspadori (A) scored, Nuno Tavares (L) saved, Scamacca (A) saved, Cataldi (L) hit the post, Zappacosta (A) saved, Isaksen (L) scored, Pašalić (A) saved, Taylor (L) scored, De Ketelaere (A) saved.
Atalanta: Carnesecchi, Scalvini (Ahanor 94), Djimsiti, Kolašinac (Kossounou 70), Zappacosta, de Roon (Pašalić 70), Éderson, Bernasconi (Bellanova 56), De Ketelaere, Zalewski (Raspadori 70), Krstović (Scamacca 90). Unused Bench: Pardel, Sportiello, Bakker, Musah, Kamaldeen, Samardžić, Obrić, Ahanor. Coach: Raffaele Palladino.
Lazio: Motta, Marusic (Lazzari 67), Gila (Provstgaard 77), Romagnoli, Nuno Tavares, Basic (Dele-Bashiru 77), Patric (Cataldi 83), Taylor, Cancellieri (Isaksen 67), Noslin, Zaccagni (Pedro 102). Unused Bench: Pannozzo, Giacomone, Pellegrini, Dia, Ratkov, Belahyane, Hysaj, Maldini, Przyborek. Coach: Maurizio Sarri.
Referee: Andrea Colombo from Como
Assistant referees: Davide Imperiale from Genoa and Alessandro Costanzo from Orvieto;
Fourth official: Luca Zufferli from Udine;
V.A.R.: Rosario Abisso from Palermo;
A.V.A.R.: Fabio Maresca from Naples.
Notes: Kolašinac (A), Cancellieri (L), Palladino (A), Sarri (L), Scamacca (A) and Lazzari (L) booked.