Coppa Italia Final
Result: Lazio 2-0 Atalanta
Date: 15 May 2019
Venue: Stadio Olimpico
Lazio claimed their first Coppa Italia title since 2013 after defeating Atalanta 2-0 in the final held at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday evening. Atalanta were dominating possession in the early stages, as they looked to take the match to their opponents. However, the hosts had the first real opportunity of the game in the 23rd minute. Senad Lulic found space on the left and picked out a delicious delivery for Lucas Leiva in the six-yard box at the far post, but the midfielder just knocked his header wide. Two minutes later, the visitors hit the post. Marten de Roon did well to control a free-kick, swivel and unleash a half-volley at goal but it cannoned back off the upright. It was a feisty encounter, with tackles flying in thick and fast and yellow cards aplenty being dished out. Atalanta defender Andrea Masiello was lucky to escape with just a yellow card after cynically tripping Joaquin Correa when the Lazio forward appeared to be through on goal. Five minutes after the interval, Timothy Castagne was picked out by Duvan Zapata and got a fierce shot away at goal which was initially parried and then collected by Lazio goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha. The visitors were dominating the second half but were unable to produce that killer moment to find the breakthrough. In the 70th minute, Correa found himself through on goal after a careless mistake from Berat Djimsiti but Jose Luis Palomino made up a ton of ground to make a brilliant last-ditch tackle. Atalanta were still asking the questions with Lazio sitting back dangerously in defence. Hans Hateboer drove an inviting delivery through the heart of the penalty area, where it eventually came to Alejandro Gomez. The attacker twisted and turned, but could only smack an effort off the outside of the post and behind from a very tight angle. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic came on for Luis Alberto in the 79th minute and made an almost immediate impact three minutes after entering the field of play when he rose highest to head home a Lucas Leiva corner. Lazio nearly put the match to bed in the 86th minute. Correa found his way through on goal following another Djimsiti errot, but Gollini was smartly off his line to close down the angle and thwart him. In the closing stages, Correa did in fact seal the victory when he rounded the keeper and tapped in an to empty net with Atalanta having pushed forward desperately in search of an equalizer.
