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Lazio vs Sampdoria
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It's the best chance of silverware in years for either Lazio or Sampdoria - in a tournament so closely associated with a former hero of both clubs.
Lazio and Sampdoria meet at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday night to contest the 61st Coppa Italia final. It is a wild departure from the ‘norm’ following a four-season monopoly by Inter and Roma and, believe it or not, Roberto Mancini will not be there, either…
In The Name Of ‘Mancio’
Mancini earned himself the nickname ‘Mr Coppa Italia’ in recent years after winning the trophy six times and finishing runner-up twice as player and a manager from 1998 to 2008.
The ex-Nerazzurri boss lifted the oft-maligned Cup in 1998 and in 2000 while playing for the Aquile and went on to write his name in the history books of the tournament as coach of Fiorentina in 2001, Lazio in 2004 and Inter in 2005 and in 2006.
Lazio have not won any silverware since that 2004 triumph, after which ‘Mancio’ left for the Beneamata, while Sampdoria have not even made a final appearance in 15 years since a 6-1 drubbing of Ancona on April 20 1994.
It was the Blucerchiati’s fourth and last triumph in the knock-out competition and Mancini played a part in every single one of them before eventually leaving the club in 1997 to join none other than Lazio.
For both clubs, Mancini’s departure signalled the end of an era: Samp ended up being relegated to Serie B in 1999, eight years after claiming their first ever Serie A title, whereas Lazio went from the lavish reign of Sergio Cragnotti, who led the club to their second ever Scudetto, to the frugal days of Claudio Lotito.
It goes without saying that Lazio and Samp have been by far the most important sides in Mancini’s career and even though ‘Mr Coppa Italia’ will not be directly involved for a change, he will certainly smile in the end, no matter who hoists the Cup aloft.
Five Is The Magic Number
It has been a rather disappointing Serie A campaign for both finalists and failure to get their hands on the silverware and a place in Europe come Wednesday night could spell the end of the road for either Delio Rossi or Walter Mazzarri. Or even both of them.
Lazio had a flying start to the season and even topped the Serie A table for a little while, but quickly lost their momentum and slipped into an anonymous mid-table position which cannot please their ambitious and passionate supporters.
However, it seems that Lotito is finally loosening the purse strings after running a tight ship at the club since taking over in 2004, as indicated by the Mauro Zarate deal. The future looks bright for the Biancocelesti, but a big question-mark hangs over Rossi’s future. Will he be the man to oversee the renaissance?
The Doriani have endured an even worse season, exiting the UEFA Cup at the hands of European minnows FC Metalist at the last 32 stage and hovering dangerously above the relegation zone in Serie A for several months.
Their misery was compounded by having to witness Genoa mount a serious Champions League qualification challenge, with the Grifoni also completing a double over their local rivals in the Derby della Lanterna.
The Serie A coaching world looks set for some sweeping changes in the summer and there is no doubt Rossi and Mazzarri could get caught up in the craze, perhaps regardless of Wednesday’s outcome.
Lazio have accounted for Benevento, Atalanta, Milan, Torino and Juventus on their way to the final, while Samp entered the tournament at the last 16 stage and knocked out Empoli, Udinese and Inter.
Both teams have claimed the Coppa Italia four times: Lazio in 1958, 1998, 2000 and 2004, while Sampdoria triumphed in 1985, 1988, 1989 and 1994.
Advertisement - article continues below »FORM GUIDE
Lazio
9 May (Serie A): Lazio 1-3 Udinese
2 May (Serie A): Inter 2-0 Lazio
26 April (Serie A): Lazio 0-1 Atalanta
22 April (Coppa Italia): Juventus 1-2 Lazio
18 March (Serie A): Genoa 0-1 Lazio
Sampdoria
9 May (Serie A): Sampdoria 5-0 Reggina
3 May (Serie A): Genoa 3-1 Sampdoria
26 April (Serie A): Sampdoria 3-3 Cagliari
23 April (Coppa Italia): Inter 1-0 Sampdoria
19 April (Serie A): Catania 2-0 Sampdoria
TEAM NEWS
Lazio
Delio Rossi will be without Brazilian midfielder Francelino Matuzalem, who sits out a ban, but Neapolitan fantasista Pasquale Foggia will be pushing for a start after shaking off a left ankle concern.
Defender Lorenzo De Silvestri is a major doubt after sustaining an ankle sprain last weekend, while Macedonian hitman Goran Pandev has recovered from a thigh strain and should partner Mauro Zarate up front.
Possible Formation (4-4-2): Muslera; Lichtsteiner, Siviglia, Rozenhal, Kolarov; Brocchi, Ledesma, Dabo, Foggia; Pandev, Zarate.
Sampdoria
Defenders Pietro Accardi and Stefano Lucchini have resumed training with the rest of the squad and are expected to make the trip to the capital, but midfielder Paolo Sammarco is still working on his own and will face a late fitness test on Wednesday.
Striker Claudio Bellucci is still recovering from meniscus surgery, so 19-year-old revelation Guido Marilungo is likely to sit on the bench at the Stadio Olimpico.
Possible Formation (3-5-2): Castellazzi; Campagnaro, Lucchini, Accardi; Raggi, Dessena, Palombo, Franceschini, Pieri; Cassano, Pazzini.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Lazio: MAURO ZARATE
With the competition’s top scorer Goran Pandev not in top shape, Lazio will be looking to Zarate to provide that spark of genius that has quickly made him a firm fans' favourite in Rome. He seems to have rediscovered his best form in recent weeks, scoring against Roma and Genoa, but still keeps frustrating his team-mates by hogging the ball too long. Time for him to justify the hefty transfer fee Lotito is about to shell out.
Sampdoria: ANTONIO CASSANO
‘Fantantonio’ has only won an Italian Super Cup in the peninsula so far and this isolated achievement just cannot do justice to his immense talent. He has finally found his feet in Liguria and even steered clear of his infamous ‘Cassanate’ this term. The 26-year-old splits public opinion, though, and his detractors, namely Marcello Lippi, still see him as a ticking bomb. Has he really grown up? And will this be his swan song in Blucerchiato?
PREDICTION
I would not expect any fireworks and it could turn into a very tactical affair with both sides gripped by fear. After all, it is their best chance of silverware in years and a lucrative spot in next season’s Europa League will also be at stake.
Lazio 1-1 Sampdoria [Lazio win 4-3 on penalties]
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