Motta gives Lazio the final

Season 2025-26

Coppa Italia, Semi Final, Second Leg

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

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New Balance Arena, Bergamo

Atalanta Lazio 1-1 (2-3 pens)

Four penalties saved by the young keeper give the Biancocelesti the final against Inter.

Official SS Lazio photo

The team

Maurizio Sarri decided to put in the same team that had won in Naples with a few exceptions: Adam Marusic returned from injury and Patric was chosen over Danilo Cataldi.

This was the most important game of the season for the Biancocelesti. Winning the cup was the only way to get a European ticket.

Official SS Lazio photo

First half

Atalanta pressed hard, heavy and fast in the first twenty minutes with Lazio mainly on the defensive. In the 9th minute Ederson from the left crossed into the box for Sead Kolašinac who was unable to get to the ball, Edoardo Motta punched the ball away but it reached Nicola Zalewski who tried a volley but Motta saved. In the 21st, Ederson to Zalewski to Lorenzo Bernasconi on the left, cross into the box, Charles De Ketelaere headed down to the Pole, quick shot, wide. Another Bernasconi cross in the 24th minute reached Kolašinac who tried a header which went wide.

After this initial outburst, the match slowed down. Atalanta were unable to do much, more worried about Lazio’s counter attack, and the Biancocelesti were content to manage the game defensively.

Second half

Atalanta had a chance in the 51st minute when De Ketelaere from the right crossed low towards the centre of the box, just inside, for Nikola Krstovic who, despite the freedom, shot directly at Motta.

In the 61st minute a possible game changer. De Ketelaere crossed from the right, Mario Gila tried to intervene, the ball jumped in front of Motta who tried to catch it, in came Krstovic who intervened, the ball trickled towards Ederson who scored. Did the Atalanta forward foul the Lazio keeper? VAR called the ref who determined that he did. No goal. As a matter of fact, Krstovic kicked Motta’s hand. There was also a possible penalty as Gila in trying to clear the ball kicked it onto his hand but in these cases they are hardly ever given.

First substitutions for Lazio: in came Manuel Lazzari and Gustav Isaksen for Marusic and Matteo Cancellieri. Atalanta too made a change with Giacomo Raspadori coming in for Zalewski.

In the 74th minute long ball for Tijani Noslin who beat Giorgio Scalvini for speed, tried to go around Marco Carnesecchi but his attempted shot went wide. But Sclavini had hit the ball with his hand. VAR to work. No penalty. Compensation?

In the 77th minute in went Oliver Provstgaard and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru for the injured Gila and Toma Basic. Shortly after Cataldi came in for Patric.

In the 84th minute corner for Lazio. Mattia Zaccagni took it, ball in the box, Alessio Romagnoli anticipated Berat Djimsiti and it was 1-0 for Lazio.

The Biancocelesti had had difficulty in holding onto the lead in the first leg at the Olimpico, and nothing changed in Bergamo. Ninety seconds after the Lazio goal, Raspadori for Krstovic in the box, Biancocelesti too deep, the forward passed to Pasalic outside the box, quick shot, deflection off Kenneth Taylor and it was 1-1.

On the wings of enthusiasm the home side pushed forward. In the fifth minute of injury time, Raoul Bellanova crossed from the right, Lazzari managed to get there but Davide Zappacosta crossed from inside the box on the left. Scamacca headed the ball towards the top left corner but Motta with an exceptional save palmed the ball onto the crossbar and Nuno Tavares cleared.

Extra time was needed.

Extra time

Almost immediately Atalanta changed Scalvini with Honest Ahanor and then they scored. In the 95th minute De Ketelaere crossed inside the box, Zappacosta headed towards the centre and Raspadori scored. But Zappacostaa was in offside and hence no goal.

A few minutes later Sarri substituted Zaccagni with Pedro.

Both teams realised that penalties were going to be the most likely outcome but Lazio had a chance in the 117th minute. Nuno Tavares with a free kick sent the ball inside the box and Romagnoli was just a fraction late for a header which could have caused Carnesecchi a lot of trouble had there been an impact.

Penalties

Atalanta were first up. Raspadori sent Motta the wrong way and it was 1-0 for the home side. Next came Nuno Tavares, just like in Bologna. He did not look at the keeper and whacked the ball towards the right, Carnesecchi parried. Next it was Scamacca's turn. He did not look at Motta and shot low towards the left, Motta saved. It was now Cataldi’s moment. He was confident he would score. His shot however hit the right post. Still 1-0 for Atalanta. Zappacosta could have almost closed the tie, but Motta again parried. Isaksen now. Ball went right, keeper went left. 1-1. Pasalic next, big whack to the left, Motta saved once more. Taylor had the chance to put Lazio ahead and he did not miss. 2-1. De Ketelaere needed to score to keep the Bergamaschi in the tie. But Motta once more parried and Lazio were in the final.

Motta hero of the day with four out of five penalties saved. The Biancocelesti back in the final with the possibility to salvage a season, even though beating Inter, who had come back from 2-0 down at home with Como to win 3-2, would not be easy.

Who played for Atalanta

Carnesecchi, Scalvini (94' Ahanor), Djimsiti, Kolasinac (71' Kossounou), Zappacosta, de Roon (71' Pasalic), Ederson, Bernasconi (56' Bellanova), De Ketelaere, Zalewski (71' Raspadori), Krstovic (89' Scamacca)

Substitutes: Pardel, Sportiello, Bakker, Musah, Sulemana, Samardzic, Obric

Manager: Palladino

Who played for Lazio

Motta, Marusic (67' Lazzari), Gila (77' Provstgaard), Romagnoli, Tavares, Basic (77' Dele-Bashiru), Patric (84' Cataldi), Taylor, Cancellieri (67' Isaksen), Noslin, Zaccagni (102' Pedro)

Substitutes: Pannozzo, Giacomone, Pellegrini, Dia, Ratkov, Belahyane, Hysaj, Maldini, Przyborek

Manager: Sarri

Referee: Colombo

Goals: 84’ Romagnoli, 86’ Pasalic

Penalty shootout: Raspadori goal, Nuno Tavares saved, Scamacca saved, Cataldi post, Zappacosta saved, Isaksen goal, Pasalic saved, Taylor goal, De Ketelaere saved

Booked: Kolasinic (A), Cancellieri (L), Scamacca (A), Lazzari (L)