Inter Milan clinched their second trophy of the 2026 season with a commanding 2-0 victory over Lazio in the Coppa Italia final at Rome's Stadio Olimpico. The result sealed a domestic double for Cristian Chivu's side, adding the cup to their Serie A crown and underscoring their dominance in Italian football. For Lazio, the defeat extended a frustrating campaign, missing out on a direct Europa League spot and failing to repeat their 2000 Coppa Italia triumph over Inter.
Chivu, in his first season at the helm, has engineered a remarkable turnaround. Fresh off securing the Scudetto, his Inter entered the final with confidence, having beaten Lazio 3-0 in the league just days earlier. Pre-match, Inter president Beppe Marotta expressed the club's ambition: "Quando si disputa una finale è sempre una serata splendida... la speranza di poter conseguire la decima vittoria che porterebbe metaforicamente un'altra stella." That tenth Coppa Italia title would further cement Inter's legacy, and the players responded with a clinical display.
Lazio, meanwhile, viewed the final as a lifeline. A season marred by fan protests and mid-table struggles left the cup as their only path to silverware and European qualification. Sporting director Angelo Mariano Fabiani highlighted the unexpected journey: "Chi si poteva aspettare che Motta ci portasse in finale parando quei rigori? Ce la godiamo fino in fondo." Goalkeeper Marco Motta's heroics had been pivotal, but on the night, his heroics were not enough to withstand Inter's firepower.
The match began at a frantic pace, with Inter's high press suffocating Lazio's build-up. Within minutes, Manuel Akanji earned a booking for a late challenge on Tijjani Noslin, signaling Inter's aggressive intent. The breakthrough came in the 14th minute: Federico Dimarco whipped in a dangerous cross from the left, and Lazio right-back Adam Marusic, under pressure, inadvertently headed the ball past his own goalkeeper. It was a disastrous start for Maurizio Sarri's men, who had hoped to leverage the partisan crowd.
Sarri, who had lost two previous national cup finals, acknowledged the stakes pre-match: "Personalmente ne ho già perse due... questo è un trofeo, deve essere dei giocatori e del pubblico, vogliamo dargli una grande soddisfazione." Yet his side struggled to create clear chances, with Inter dominating possession (71% in the first half) and registering eight shots to Lazio's two. Lazio's attack, led by Noslin and Gustav Isaksen, was largely isolated.
The second goal arrived ten minutes before halftime, gift-wrapped by Lazio's defense. Nuno Tavares's errant backpass was intercepted by Denzel Dumfries, who unselfishly squared for Lautaro Martínez to tap home. It was a cruel blow, epitomizing Lazio's defensive fragility. Lautaro, speaking before the final, had emphasized the squad's hunger: "Abbiamo la fame di vincere tutti i trofei, in ogni competizione vogliamo arrivare in fondo." That hunger was evident as Inter ruthlessly exploited every mistake.
The second half saw Lazio push forward desperately, with Sarri introducing Pedro, Matteo Cancellieri, Boulaye Dia, and Manuel Lazzari. Dia spurned their best chance, firing straight at goalkeeper Josep Martinez from close range after an incisive move. Noslin also came agonizingly close, his shot grazing the post. Yet Inter's backline, marshaled by Akanji and Alessandro Bastoni, held firm, limiting the Biancocelesti to half-chances.
Chivu, who had urged his players to "entrare in campo per fare determinate cose ma con la voglia di divertirsi e senza perdere entusiasmo e umiltà," saw his side manage the game effectively. Late substitutions, including Ange-Yoan Bonny and Carlos Augusto, refreshed the legs, while Lazio's frustrations grew. The final whistle confirmed Inter's tenth Coppa Italia, a historic milestone that underlines the club's return to the pinnacle of Italian football.
For Lazio, the defeat leaves lingering questions. Sarri, who claimed that "vincere il trofeo non mi cambia la vita," will face scrutiny over a season that has fallen short of expectations. The absence of a direct European berth further complicates their summer. In contrast, Inter's double-winning campaign, masterminded by a rookie coach, signals a new era of success. As Marotta noted, "È stato lo scudetto di Chivu e della squadra... È di buon auspicio per lui e per noi." This final served as yet another testament to that.
Based on reporting from Tuttosport.
