Inter Milan will hope to make it to yet another Coppa Italia semi-final when they take on Lazio in the last eight on Tuesday.
A place in the Coppa Italia semi-finals is at stake as Inter Milan welcome SS Lazio to the Giuseppe Meazza on Tuesday evening. With a potential clash against city rivals AC Milan looming in the next round, the Nerazzurri will be eager to get past Lazio and continue their push for silverware.
Inter are aiming to lift the Coppa Italia for the 10th time, while Lazio — seven-time winners — are looking to shake off recent struggles and deliver a statement victory against the Serie A leaders.
Simone Inzaghi’s side have had a rollercoaster of a month so far. They played out a tense Milan derby draw, suffered a heavy 3-0 loss to Fiorentina, and were beaten by Juventus in the Derby d’Italia. However, they also secured victories over Fiorentina and Genoa at Giuseppe Meazza, with Lautaro Martinez’s late goal against Genoa securing a crucial win that saw Inter reclaim the top spot in Serie A.
Despite losing the Supercoppa Italiana final to Milan last month, a potential treble remains on the cards. In addition to their title ambitions, Inter are set to face Feyenoord in the UEFA Champions League’s last 16 and remain among the favourites to claim the Coppa Italia crown.
Inter entered the competition at the round-of-16 stage due to their European commitments and comfortably beat Udinese 2-0 with Marko Arnautovic and Kristjan Asllani finding the net. Now, Inzaghi will face his former club, whom he played for and managed in a club-record 197 Serie A matches, winning 108 times.
He will be particularly confident heading into this tie, considering that the last meeting between these sides ended in a staggering 6-0 victory for Inter in December — Lazio’s worst defeat of the season.
Lazio had been enjoying their best run of form this season before they were brought crashing back to earth in that brutal 6-0 loss to Inter at Stadio Olimpico. Since then, their form has been inconsistent, and they have found victories hard to come by in league play.
The Biancocelesti have struggled in this fixture over recent years, winning just two of their last nine league meetings with Inter. Since Inzaghi’s switch to the Nerazzurri, Lazio have found it difficult to impose themselves in these encounters.
Like their opponents, Lazio were handed a bye into the last 16 and made the most of it by defeating Napoli 3-1, inspired by a stunning Tijjani Noslin hat-trick. They have since cruised into the Europa League knockout phase, where they will face Viktoria Plzen in pursuit of a quarter-final spot.
Despite their European progress, Marco Baroni’s men have drawn their last two league matches, against Napoli and Venezia, exposing some of their attacking inefficiencies. Now, they must shift into a higher gear to overcome one of the most dominant teams in Italy this season. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Team News & Tactics
Inter Milan
Inter Milan will be without their first-choice goalkeeper Yann Sommer, who underwent thumb surgery last week and remains sidelined. Additionally, French forward Marcus Thuram is unavailable, forcing Simone Inzaghi to make adjustments to his attacking setup.
Further concerns emerged in their recent match against Genoa, as Joaquin Correa — who started in place of Thuram — was forced off at half-time with a knee sprain. As a result, either Marko Arnautovic or Mehdi Taremi is expected to lead the attack alongside Lautaro Martínez.
Inzaghi also has fitness doubts over Carlos Augusto and Davide Frattesi, who may not be risked for this Coppa Italia clash. With a potential title decider against Napoli on Saturday, the Inter boss could rotate his squad further, meaning players like Stefan de Vrij, Piotr Zieliński, and Hakan Calhanoglu may be handed starts after featuring as substitutes in recent games.
The home side are set to deploy their familiar 3-5-2 formation, which provides defensive stability while allowing wing-backs to push forward and contribute to the attack.
In the absence of Yann Sommer, Josep Martínez is expected to start in goal. The defensive trio will feature Yann Bisseck on the right, Stefan de Vrij in the central role, and Alessandro Bastoni as the left-sided centre-back.
In midfield, Denzel Dumfries will operate as the right wing-back, while Federico Dimarco provides width on the left. The central midfield trio will consist of Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, and Piotr Zielinski, with Calhanoglu expected to dictate play from a deeper position.
Up front, Lautaro Martínez will lead the line, partnered by Mehdi Taremi, who could get the nod ahead of Marko Arnautovic. Martinez’s goal-scoring instincts and Taremi’s ability to link play will be crucial in breaking down Lazio’s defence.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Josep Martinez; Bisseck, de Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Zielinski, Dimarco; Lautaro Martinez, Taremi
SS Lazio
Lazio will have to cope without top scorer Valentín “Taty” Castellanos, who remains sidelined due to injury. His absence means that Tijjani Noslin, the hero of their Coppa Italia last-16 victory over Napoli, could once again lead the attack.
Additionally, Elseid Hysaj and former Inter midfielder Matias Vecino remain out, further limiting Lazio’s defensive and midfield options. There are also concerns over Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, who picked up a knock against Venezia and may not be available for selection.
There is uncertainty regarding the goalkeeping situation, as Christos Mandas started in Lazio’s last match at Stadio Penzo, with regular first-choice keeper Ivan Provedel dropped. However, manager Marco Baroni has since confirmed that Provedel remains his number one, leaving his inclusion in this match undecided.
On a positive note, influential midfielder Nicolo Rovella is available again after serving a one-match suspension, providing Lazio with an important boost in the centre of the pitch. Lazio are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, a system that offers them stability in midfield while allowing their attacking players to exploit spaces behind Inter’s backline.
Christos Mandas is likely to start in goal again, though there is a chance Ivan Provedel could reclaim his spot. The back four will see Manuel Lazzari operating as the right-back, with Mario Gila and Alessio Romagnoli forming the central defensive duo. Nuno Tavares is expected to take up the left-back role, contributing both defensively and offensively.
In midfield, Matteo Guendouzi will partner Nicolo Rovella, providing a balance between defensive coverage and forward progression. Their ability to disrupt Inter’s build-up play will be crucial in Lazio’s game plan.
Further up the field, Gustav Isaksen will start on the right flank, Pedro will play as the central attacking midfielder, and Mattia Zaccagni will provide width on the left. These three will be responsible for supplying Lazio’s lone striker Tijjani Noslin, who will look to build on his Coppa Italia hat-trick against Napoli and trouble Inter’s defence with his movement and finishing ability.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Mandas; Lazzari, Gila, Romagnoli, Tavares; Guendouzi, Rovella; Isaksen, Pedro, Zaccagni; Noslin
Key Stats
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Inter have won seven of their last nine league meetings against Lazio, with the only two defeats coming in 2022. Their most recent clash saw Simone Inzaghi’s side demolish Lazio 6-0 at the Stadio Olimpico in December 2024, marking Lazio’s worst defeat of the season.
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The Nerazzurri are aiming to win their 10th Coppa Italia title and have reached at least the semi-finals in four of the last five seasons. They have also won each of their last five Coppa Italia home matches, scoring 11 goals and conceding just two in that span.
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Lazio have not won at the Giuseppe Meazza against Inter in the Coppa Italia since 2000. In their last five visits to Inter in this competition, they have managed just one win (D2 L2), struggling to impose themselves in this fixture.
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Lautaro Martínez has been directly involved in six goals (four goals, two assists) in his last five Coppa Italia matches for Inter. His ability to step up in crucial moments will be key for the Nerazzurri as they chase another domestic trophy.
Player to Watch
Lautaro Martinez
As Inter Milan chase their 10th Coppa Italia title, Lautaro Martínez will once again be their most important player in attack. The Argentine forward has been in superb form this season, consistently delivering in big matches, and his ability to rise to the occasion makes him the key figure in this quarter-final clash.
Martínez has been a standout performer in the Coppa Italia, registering six goal involvements (four goals, two assists) in his last five appearances in the competition. His knack for finding the back of the net in crucial games was evident in Inter’s 1-0 win over Genoa last weekend, where he scored a late match-winner to reclaim the top spot in Serie A.
His movement, finishing, and ability to link up with attacking partners — whether it be Mehdi Taremi or Marko Arnautovic — will be vital in breaking down a Lazio defence that has struggled against top opposition. With Marcus Thuram injured, even more responsibility falls on Lautaro Martinez to lead the line and inspire Inter’s attack.
Given Lazio’s historical struggles at Giuseppe Meazza and Inter’s attacking strength, expect Lautaro Martinez to be the difference-maker once again in this high-stakes encounter.
Prediction
Inter Milan 2-1 SS Lazio
Lazio may put up a better fight this time, but Inter Milan’s superior squad depth and attacking firepower should see them through to the next round. Inter Milan’s strength in depth, home advantage, and dominant record against Lazio make them firm favourites to advance to the Coppa Italia semi-finals.
Lazio, on the other hand, will need to produce a near-perfect performance to stand a chance of upsetting the hosts, especially after their 6-0 humiliation in December. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Simone Inzaghi and his charges.
