MILAN (AP) 鈥� Just four days after facing off against each other in the league, Lazio and Inter Milan meet again at the Stadio Olimpico. This time with a title at stake.
And both teams know that winning Wednesday鈥檚 Italian Cup final would mean much more than lifting the trophy.
For newly-crowned it is a chance to cement its domination of Italian soccer this season after the disappointment of last year. For Lazio, it is a path back into Europe.
Not since Jos茅 Mourinho led Inter to a treble in 2010 鈥� including the Champions League trophy 鈥� has Inter won the league and cup in the same season.
Inter coach Christian Chivu, who is quickly making a name for himself in the managerial ranks after helping Parma avoid relegation last season, played on the 2010 team.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no need to compare different eras or different teams,鈥� Chivu said. 鈥淭imes change, soccer changes.
鈥淏oth the 2010 team and this 2026 side have brought happiness to the fans, and that鈥檚 what matters most.鈥�
Chivu is in his first season at Inter after replacing Simone Inzaghi. Doing the double would assuage the disappointment of last campaign, which promised so much but ultimately left Inter empty-handed.
With just over a month to go to the end of last season, Inter was on course for a treble of trophies but finished one point below Serie A champion Napoli, lost in the Italian Cup semifinals and was in the most lopsided Champions League final in history.
There is no chance of a treble this year as by in the Champions League.
The Nerazzurri have bounced back from that disappointment and, after with three rounds to spare, show little sign of letting up.
Indeed in Serie A, in a dress rehearsal for Wednesday鈥檚 cup final in the same stadium in Rome.
Inter was utterly dominant in the first half but Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri placed the blame on his players鈥� approach.
鈥淚nter is stronger, but with this attitude we would concede two goals against any team,鈥� Sarri said after the match. 鈥淲e shouldn鈥檛 be scared, that attitude is our fault and not down to the merits of Inter.
鈥�(The final) will be a different match and it鈥檚 clear that we don鈥檛 want to have this approach, it鈥檚 also clear that Inter is technically superior.鈥�
For Lazio, it is the only chance to play European soccer next season as the winner of the Italian Cup qualifies for the Europa League.
If Inter 鈥� which will play in the Champions League next season 鈥� wins, then the Europa League place will be given to the team which finishes sixth in the league, with the seventh-place finisher going into the European Conference League.
Lazio is ninth, seven points below seventh-place Atalanta, with only two league matches remaining.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no need to change our heads, today鈥檚 approach is the result of the fact that today鈥檚 match didn鈥檛 count for anything unlike Wednesday,鈥� Sarri said. 鈥淏ut it is a mistake to think like that, there was some chance of reaching seventh place and these matches can create fear, which stops you.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not ideal, but I hope the boys are willing to show that this isn鈥檛 them because there鈥檚 a trophy up for grabs.鈥�
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