Atalanta vs Lazio
It’s cup final time in Italy.
The Coppa Italia showpiece will be won and lost at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome and none of the established heavyweights will be there.
It is certainly one to savour with two finalists that few SBOBET fans expected to be contesting the occasion going head to head and craving silverware.
Talking Points
Atalanta have been a delight this term, providing both Coppa Italia highlights and Serie A surprises.
And now they are potentially 90 minutes away from claiming their first major piece of silverware since winning the trophy in 1963.
On that occasion, they were 3-1 winners over Torino. Although they have twice reached the final since then (1987 and 1996) it remains the club’s only major trophy.
Now their resurgence under Gian Piero Gasperini has the small club from Lombardy dreaming of glory.
They have already surpassed expectations by going into the final two league matches of the campaign in fourth spot.
If they stay there, they will qualify for the Champions League for the first ever time.
To see off chasers AC Milan and Roma would defy even their staunchest supporters.
To win the Italian Cup, after seeing off Cagliari, reigning champions Juventus, and Fiorentina in a thrilling semi-final en route, would defy the Coppa Italia betting odds.
With a modest squad and an even more modest budget, arguably no team is more deserving in Serie A of Champions League football than Atalanta this season.
The club lead the division’s goal scoring charts with 73 goals so far and this attractive, attacking football has turned the heads of many football fans across Europe.
Atalanta head to the final without fear and with more than credible hopes.
It would be easy to call it a dream, but that really doesn’t do it justice. This has been mapped out, thought out and delivered with impressive attention to detail and no little stylish football. It deserves to bring a trophy, although their Roman rivals for silverware will have something to say about that.
Lazio certainly have the advantage in that the final will be played at their home stadium.
They last won the trophy in 2013 and coach Simone Inzaghi has already guided them to silverware in the form of the 2017 Supercoppa.
Yet they have slipped up of late, are out of the equation for Champions League qualification and have been so inconsistent they are likely to miss out on European football altogether next season unless they win the tournament.
Their cup form will provide Inazghi with reasons for optimism.
After seeing off Serie C outfit Novara in the first round, Lazio have progressed to the final with impressive quarter and semi-final victories over both Milan giants who are above them in the table.
If omens are your thing, both sides could actually struggle as Luca Banti has been confirmed as the referee.
Banti is seen as a safe pair of hands, given he also officiated the Supercoppa in January, which was contested by Milan and Juventus.
Lazio have won just eight of their 27 games when the 45-year-old has been manning the helm.Atalanta, meanwhile, fare even worse, picking up only four victories from a possible 16.
But don’t worry about stats like that – sit back and enjoy what should be an intriguing contest between one of the bridesmaids of Italian football and an underdog which is punching well and truly above its weight.
It should be a refreshing and uplifting occasion.
History
When these sides met just over a week ago at this venue, Atalanta pulled off an impressive 3-1 victory.
After Marco Parolo had given Lazio a third minute lead, the visitors hit back with goals from Duvan Zapata, Timothy Castagne and an own goal.
They also beat them 1-0 at home earlier in the season when Zapata scored a first minute goal which proved to be the only one of the contest.
Last season both encounters ended level.
A 1-1 draw at Lazio saw Musa Barrow and Felipe Caicedo trade goals, while the sides shared six goals in a 3-3 thriller earlier in the campaign.
Betting Tip
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Atalanta vs Lazio | Total Goal 2-3 @ 1.85 |
| May 16, 02:45 (GMT+8) |
Lazio start as slight favourites – but it is slight.
They are priced 1X2 @ 2.62 with Atalanta @ 2.65 and the draw @ 3.10.
With Asian Handicap betting odds, again there is little to separate the two sides.
Lazio 0.00 @ 1.95, Atalanta 0.00 @ 1.97, Lazio -0.25 @ 2.29 and Atalanta -0.25 @ 2.33 is testament to that.
A repeat of Atalanta’s recent success – correct score 1-3 – will provide you with a payout @ 21.00.
Lazio should win but virtually all the neutrals will want Atalanta.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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|---|---|---|---|
 = €20 (Highly confident) |
= €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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