Inter Milan Seal Domestic Double with Coppa Italia Victory
Inter Milan completed their third domestic double on Wednesday night with a commanding 2-0 win over Lazio in the Coppa Italia final. The match, played at Lazio's home venue, the Stadio Olimpico, saw Inter take control early and never look back.
Lautaro Martinez, whose goal sealed the victory, showcased the trophy after the match. The Argentine striker has been Serie A's top scorer this season with 17 goals, despite injuries limiting him to 25 starts.
Match Summary
The opening goal came in the 15th minute when Adam Marusic headed into his own net from Federico Dimarco's corner. Denzel Dumfries then capitalized on a defensive lapse by Lazio's Nuno Tavares, stealing possession and setting up Martinez for a simple finish at the back post in the 35th minute.
Lazio rarely threatened a comeback. Gustav Isaksen fired wide just before halftime, and Tijjani Noslin missed a better chance from close range near the hour mark. Their best opportunity came in the 75th minute when substitute Boulaye Dia got behind the defense, but his shot deflected off goalkeeper Josep Martinez's face.
The result reflected the gulf in class between the two sides. Inter had already beaten Lazio 3-0 in the same stadium four days earlier in a league match. Lazio's sporting director, Angelo Fabiani, admitted before kickoff: "We didn't expect to reach this final, to tell the truth."
Chivu's Leadership
Cristian Chivu, in his first season as Inter's head coach, joined Roberto Mancini and Jose Mourinho as the only managers to lead Inter to a domestic double. After winning the Scudetto earlier this month, Chivu stayed out of the limelight, but on Wednesday he allowed himself to celebrate.
Chivu reflected on the journey, recalling a meeting after Inter's elimination from the Club World Cup last June. "I found a group of lads who were ready to put themselves at the team's disposal," he said. He praised every squad member with a rating of "dieci e lode" (10 out of 10 with honors), evoking Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci.
Chivu's place in Inter's history was already secured as a player in the treble-winning 2010 side. Now he has delivered the club's 10th Coppa Italia win, putting them alongside Juventus as the only teams in double figures.
Inter's Dominance
Inter's success stems from a coherent long-term plan and superior recruitment. Marcus Thuram, whose pressure forced Marusic's own goal, is joint-second in Serie A scoring with 13 goals. Federico Dimarco, who delivered the corner, has 18 assists and is a strong MVP candidate.
Despite injuries to key players, Inter's depth proved decisive. The champions have scored 85 goals in 36 league games, compared to Lazio's 39. As Chivu noted, "Winning two trophies is never something to take for granted. It's never simple."
