Lazio twice took the lead in the Coppa Italia semi-final, only to be clawed back by Atalanta in a 2-2 thriller, as qualification goes down to the second leg in Bergamo.
These sides met in the 2019 Coppa Italia Final, with the Aquile winning 2-0, while La Dea returned the favour in Serie A only last month. It was the last chance for Maurizio Sarri to salvage the season, but while Pedro and Mario Gila returned, he was still missing Toma Basic, Nicolò Rovella and Samuel Gigot. Atalanta were in the race for the top four, the only Italian team left in the Champions League, and looking for a fourth Coppa Italia Final in eight seasons. Ederson, Charles De Ketelaere and Giacomo Raspadori remained on the treatment table.
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It was a bizarre atmosphere, as only 5,000 fans were inside the stadium, with thousands of Lazio ultras gathered outside in protest at President Claudio Lotito. Atalanta fans were also limited to just over 100 by restrictions.
See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.
ROME, ITALY – MARCH 04: A detailed view of empty seats as SS Lazio fans are currently boycotting their matches in protest prior to the Coppa Italia match between SS Lazio and Atalanta BC at Olimpico Stadium on March 04, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
Atalanta had the ball in the net after eight minutes with a sensational Davide Zappacosta control on a long Giorgio Scalvini ball, then his cross was nodded into the far bottom corner by Nikola Krstovic from 14 yards. However, Zappacosta was narrowly offside and the goal was disallowed by VAR.
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Mario Pasalic’s header was just wide from a Lazar Samardzic free kick, but Zappacosta came so close when his acrobatic volley into the ground on a Lorenzo Bernasconi cross bounced off the crossbar with Ivan Provedel beaten.
Instead, Lazio took the lead within 60 seconds of the restart. Fisayo Dele-Bashiru sprinted through the middle, completing an inspired give and go with Daniel Maldini and dinking the finish over on-rushing Marco Carnesecchi. It was his first goal of the season and one of the best of his entire career.
ROME, ITALY – MARCH 04: Fisayo Dele-Bashiru of Lazio celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Coppa Italia match between SS Lazio and Atalanta BC at Olimpico Stadium on March 04, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
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It didn’t last long, as Provedel only parried a ferocious Samardzic strike into the path of Pasalic to turn in the rebound at the back post and draw Atalanta level.
Maldini squirmed away for a dangerous pull-back from the by-line, then Carnesecchi palmed a Kenneth Taylor strike round the upright after great work from Gustav Isaksen to ride two tackles.
Giorgio Scalvini limped off with a knee problem, but Pasalic went from hero to villain by gifting Lazio a goal. He tried to chest down the Nuno Tavares cross inside the area, the control was not what he had intended and it allowed Boulaye Dia to pounce on the loose ball, turning in from seven yards.
ROME, ITALY – MARCH 04: Nuno Tavares of SS Lazio in action during the Coppa Italia match between SS Lazio and Atalanta BC at Olimpico Stadium on March 04, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)
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However, once again the lead did not last long, because moments later Kamaldeen Sulemana managed to pull back from the left despite Adam Marusic marking, finding Yunus Musah to fire in first-time from 14 yards.
Atalanta with the instant response! 🔵⚫ Yunus Musah has La Dea straight back on level terms in the Coppa Italia 🔥 pic.twitter.com/hSviEFtcOV
Dele-Bashiru 47 (L), Pasalic 51 (A), Dia 87 (L), Musah 90 (A)
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Atalanta worry as Scalvini limps off with new knee injury
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