Inter Milan is set to host Lazio at the iconic San Siro on Wednesday night for the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia 2024-25. The defending champions hope to pave their way to the semi-finals, where they could face their city rivals, AC Milan.
The match kicks off at 21:00 CET (20:00 GMT), and it’s shaping up to be a thrilling encounter. Inter Milan must defeat Lazio to secure their 10th Coppa Italia trophy, which adds to the stakes of this clash. Their head coach, Simone Inzaghi, who previously managed Lazio, would be particularly eager to win against his former club; he guided Lazio to victory with numerous accolades during his tenure.
February has been challenging for Inter, who have recorded mixed results. The team drew the Milan derby, faced a heavy 3-0 loss against Fiorentina, and suffered another defeat at the hands of Juventus. Yet, they managed solid victories over Fiorentina and Genoa, with captain Lautaro Martinez scoring key goals to help them top Serie A by one point over Napoli. The pressure is on Inter to capitalize on their home advantage as they aim for not just the Coppa Italia but also have aspirations of claiming the Champions League title, with Feyenoord awaiting them next round.
Both teams are set to make adjustments for this pivotal match. For Inter, Marko Arnautovic and Mehdi Taremi are leading the attack, with several first-choice players unavailable, including Yann Sommer and Marcus Thuram, among others. Other regulars like Federico Dimarco, Benjamin Pavard, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan will be on the field as they prepare for the match.
Lazio, on the other hand, will look to Loum Tchaouna to spearhead their efforts. The Biancocelesti have been plagued by injuries, missing key players such as Valentin Castellanos and Elseid Hysaj. Manager Maurizio Sarri also faces selection challenges, as he rotates the squad before their next league match against AC Milan.
The potential absence of players like Alessio Romagnoli and the starting of Luca Pellegrini at left-back underline Lazio's current struggles, which have seen them draw their last two league matches. They will need to improve their performance considerably if they hope to beat the Italian champions and avoid suffering defeat once again, having only won two of their last nine meetings with Inter.
Fans eager to catch the action can tune in via several platforms. The match will be broadcasted live on Premier Sports 1 for the UK audience, and fans located in the USA can watch the live streaming on Paramount+. For those viewing from India, GXR World serves as the official broadcast partner, offering free live streaming of the match on their website.
Probable line-ups for the match are as follows: Inter is expected to line up in a 3-5-2 formation with Martinez leading alongside Taremi and Arnautovic. The expected lineup includes Pavard, De Vrij, and Bisseck at the back with Darmian, Zielinski, Mkhitaryan, and Dimarco forming the midfield. Lazio is anticipated to employ a 4-2-3-1 formation, featuring Mandas as goalkeeper and Tchaouna as their attacking focal point, supported by Isaksen, Dia, and Zaccagni.
Given the stakes of this match, both teams will leave it all on the pitch, making for what promises to be a captivating contest. Will Inter Milan seize the opportunity to progress toward yet another Coppa Italia title, or can Lazio muster up the performance needed to turn the tide? Football fans are set for an electrifying match at the San Siro.