Lazio 2-2 Atalanta: Coppa Italia 2025-26 match report

The Stadio Olimpico hosted a compelling Coppa Italia fixture on Thursday evening, as Lazio and Atalanta played out a 2–2 draw. In a tactical battle between Maurizio Sarri’s 4-3-3 and Raffaele Palladino’s 3-4-2-1, both sides demonstrated resilience, though neither could secure the advantage required to settle the tie within regulation time.

The opening

The match began with significant intensity, and Atalanta appeared to have seized the initiative early. In the 9th minute, the visitors found the back of the net, but the celebrations were short-lived; a VAR intervention ruled the goal out, denying Atalanta an early lead and forcing the game back into a scoreless deadlock.

As the first half progressed, the tactical contrast became clear. Sarri’s Lazio sought to control the tempo through their midfield three, while Palladino’s Atalanta utilized their wing-back system to stretch the pitch. The physicality of the contest was highlighted in the 23rd minute when Marten de Roon was cautioned, signaling the visitors' intent to disrupt Lazio’s rhythm in the middle of the park. Despite several promising build-up plays from both sides, the defensive structures held firm, and the teams retreated to the dressing rooms at halftime with the scoreline unchanged.

The decisive moment

The game opened up significantly immediately after the interval. Lazio broke the deadlock just two minutes into the second half when F. Dele-Bashiru converted a chance set up by D. Maldini. The goal forced Atalanta to respond, and the visitors did so with efficiency. In the 51st minute, M. Pašalić leveled the score, capitalizing on a moment of defensive lapse to restore parity.

The hour mark brought a flurry of substitutions from both benches as the managers looked to inject fresh legs and tactical adjustments. Lazio introduced G. Isaksen, while Atalanta brought on G. Scalvini and M. de Roon. The game remained finely balanced, with Pašalić picking up a yellow card in the 69th minute as the pressure mounted.

The closing stages provided a frantic conclusion. In the 87th minute, B. Dia—who had been substituted shortly before—found the target to put Lazio ahead once more, seemingly securing the win. However, Atalanta’s response was immediate. Just two minutes later, Y. Musah found the equalizer, assisted by K. Sulemana, to silence the home crowd. Despite a late caution for I. Hien in stoppage time, neither side could find a winner, leaving the tie delicately poised.

Looking ahead

The result leaves both Lazio and Atalanta with significant work to do as they look toward the next stage of the competition. For Sarri, the focus will be on tightening a defensive unit that conceded twice, while Palladino will be encouraged by his side's ability to respond to adversity on the road.