Hello everyone! We're at the semi-final stage of the Coppa Italia and in the first of our double bill this week, the holders Napoli will be looking to keep alive their defence of the trophy as they travel to Lazio, in what should be a cracker at the Stadio Olimpico!

Lazio could not be in much better form ahead of tonight's clash. They have won their previous three games in Serie A and have turned in some impressive displays. It has lifted them up to fourth in the table and a return to the Champions League is now within their sights.

Sitting just a place and two points ahead of Lazio in the table, are a Napoli side that have wobbled slightly in the past month. The Azzurri were beginning to put real pressure on Roma in the race for second place, but defeats away to Palermo and Torino have seen their stranglehold on a European place loosened.

TEAMS:

LAZIO XI: Berisha; Basta, de Vrij, Mauricio, Radu; Cataldi, Biglia, Parolo; Candreva, Klose, Felipe Anderson

NAPOLI XI: Andujar; Mesto, Albiol, Britos, Ghoulam; Inler, David Lopez; Gabbiadini, De Guzman, Mertens; Higuain

So, that's how the teams will be lining up this evening. Lazio welcome Antonio Candreva and Miroslav Klose back to their starting XI, with the in-form Felipe Anderson joining them in a front three. However, they are without a number of injured players, including captain Stefano Mauri while goalkeeper Federico Marchetti only makes the bench.

Napoli manager Rafael Benitez has decided to make a total of six changes to his side following their defeat at Torino on Sunday evening. Giandomenico Mesto, Miguel Britos, Faouzi Ghoulam, Gokhan Inler, Manolo Gabbiadini and Dries Mertens are the players that are handed starts. Perhaps most importantly, Gonzalo Higuain leads the attack and he has scored in each of his last four games against Lazio.

This isn't the only crucial game in the space of a week for Lazio, as they will host Fiorentina next Monday. The Viola sit just a single point behind them in the Serie A table so a victory for either side really could be the difference in the race for European football.

Napoli also have a pretty big week ahead of them, with a clash against Inter Milan to look forward to on Sunday. They will then host Dinamo Moscow in the last 16 of the Europa League, as they continue to challenge on three fronts.

Of course Napoli are the current holders of the Coppa Italia after beating Fiorentina in last season's final. One of the teams that they beat on their way to the trophy was Lazio, as a goal from Gonzalo Higuain proved enough to settle their last-16 clash.

3 - The last 3 #CoppaItalia trophies have been won either by Napoli (2) or Lazio (1). Sought. #LazioNapoli — OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) March 4, 2015

That's not the only time that Napoli have come out on top against Lazio, as they have won the previous four meetings between the teams. The last time they faced off back in January Gonzalo Higuain was once again the hero, as his goal saw them win 1-0 in Rome.

PREDICTION: It's tough to predict just how this game will pan out tonight, as two of the last four meetings have ended in 4-2 wins for Napoli, while the others have been edgy 1-0 victories also for the Partenopei. Lazio are probably in better form and will be looking to steal a first-leg advantage, but I don't think they will be able to stop their opponents from scoring. So, for those reasons, I am predicting a 1-1 draw here, with everything to play for in next month's second leg.

Right, the two teams have just made their way out onto the pitch, with the start of the mach now just a few moments away!

KICKOFF! We are underway at the Stadio Olimpico!

We haven't seen any attempts on goal in the opening stages, but Napoli have looked dangerous going forward. They almost get in behind as Mertens tries to pick out Higuain, but his pass is just too long and goes through safely to the keeper.

Both teams just look to be feeling each other out, but Napoli lose the ball cheaply allowing Candreva to drive forwards down the right. His ball into the box is a let down though and the visitors manage to escape the danger.

OFF THE POST! We all know how much of a danger Klose is in the air and the veteran striker meets a corner at the back stick, before directing a header against the outside of the post. Lazio are getting closer and you sense that we are not too far away from the opening goal.

CHANCE! It's another decent opening for the hosts as they win possession and find Basta down the right. The Serbian then finds some room and whips a great ball into the box that is met by Klose, but this time his header is straight into the gloves of Andujar.

Napoli haven't really clicked in attack so far this evening and despite getting into some promising areas their final ball is letting them down. At the moment it's Lazio who are playing the better football and are looking to make their home advantage count.

SHOT! Napoli manage to get their first attempt on goal as Mertens whips the ball into the box and the hosts fail to clear. It then drops kindly to Higuain who swivels on the ball and drills in a low strike, but he can't get enough power and it ends up being a comfortable save for Berisha.

SHOTS! It's starting to open up a bit now and both teams have attempts on goal in quick succession. Parolo finds some space and fires in a decent look effort that goes just over the bar, before Napoli break down the other end and Higuain drills a strike towards the bottom corner that the keeper does well to hold on to.

YELLOW CARD! Britos picks up the first booking of the match for a poor challenge on Klose.

CHANCE! What a big chance this is for Higuain to open the scoring. He makes a great run to the front post to connect with a pass from Mertens, but he can only touch the ball straight into the keeper's gloves. Any real contact from the striker and that would have found the back of the net.

SHOT! The game may still be goalless, but there has been some great openings for each team. This time it's Lazio with the chance, as a scramble inside the box ends with the ball landing at the feet of Parolo, who sees his snap-shot deflect just over.

It's been coming and it's Lazio who score the opening goal this evening. Anderson is the creator as he charges through the midfield before playing a wonderful ball through to Klose, who keeps his composure to slide a low effort into the bottom corner and beyond Andujar.

Napoli are pushing hard for a quick response, but they are leaving themselves very open to the counter attack. Lazio have already shown their qualities on the break and you get the feeling that there is more goals in this one tonight.

SHOT! Britos threatens from range with a stinging low drive for the visitors, but once again Berisha shows great handling and holds on under pressure. He has looked solid in goal this evening and has coped with the wet conditions especially well.

SHOT! Higuain has been Napoli's most dangerous player by far and he has another chance to score just before the break. He is quick to latch onto a header down from Albiol, before lashing a drive across goal and just wide of the far post.

CHANCE! How have Lazio not doubled their lead here? Klose latches onto a chipped pass over the top, before bringing the ball down on his chest and firing in a strike that is brilliantly saved by the keeper. The rebound then comes out to Anderson who sees his effort blocked on the line.

The whistle blows for half time and a goal from Miroslav Klose is all that separates the two teams. It was expertly taken from the German striker and he very nearly grabbed a second just before the break.

You've got to say that Lazio deserve their lead and they have created some great chances tonight. Napoli have also had some decent moments in the final third, but Higuain has not been able to find his usual killer touch in front of goal.

So, what can Napoli do to turn this game around in their favour? They have a number of players that could make the difference on the bench, with Callejon, Hamsik and Zapata all more than capable of grabbing a goal.

This is not the only game from the Coppa Italia taking place this week. In the other semi-final, Serie A leaders Juventus will take on a Fiorentina side that are full of confidence at the moment. You can follow all of the action from Turin live with us tomorrow evening.

Napoli take the kick off and get the match back underway!

Napoli have made a very bright start to the second half and they are taking the game to their opponents. They have seen plenty of possession and Gabbiadini is almost in behind after a fine pass from Higuain, but the ball is just inches out of his reach.

OFF THE BAR! The visitors are inches away from getting back on level terms. Some poor defending from a corner allows Lopez to rise unchallenged and he gets in front of the keeper before powering a header onto the crossbar.

YELLOW CARD! It's a first booking of the evening for Lazio as Basta is shown a card for hauling down Ghoulam.

SHOT! Napoli come close again to finding the net as Gabbiadini fires in a low drive from just outside the box through a number of bodies and it takes a slight deflection, but Berisha makes a fine save to turn the ball behind for a corner.

YELLOW CARD! Mesto takes out Klose and the referee has little choice but to show him a card.

Napoli have been well on top since the break and they finally score a deserved equaliser. Higuain bursts onto a threaded pass from Mertens and takes the ball wide of Berisha, before dragging a shot across goal that isn't heading in until Gabbiadini arrives at the back post to slide the ball into the empty net.

YELLOW CARD! Having just scored the equaliser, Gabbiadini picks up a card for a foul on Biglia.

SHOT! Lazio haven't threatened too much since the break, but Klose picks up the ball in space 25 yards out from goal and fancies his chances. He lashes in a powerful effort that is well hit, but far too central and Andujar is able to comfortably turn the ball over the bar.

YELLOW CARD! It's all kicking off at the moment with both sets of players coming to blows by the touchline. It all stemmed from a poor challenge by Albiol on the back of Klose and Spaniard is duly booked for the foul.

YELLOW CARD! The bookings are really starting to pile up now and Klose is shown a card for going in late on Albiol. That was probably just a bit of retribution for the German after the foul on him previously.

It's end to end at the moment and you just can't pick a winner. Napoli have impressed since the break, but there is still plenty of danger being posed by the home side.

SUBSTITUTION: Lazio make their first change of the evening, with Keita coming on for Candreva.

SUBSTITUTION: Napoli are also going to change things around, as Callejon is brought on to replace Gabbiadini.

CHANCE! The visitors create another wonderful opening here. Mertens does brilliantly to get in down the left and he pulls the ball across to De Guzman, who then sees his effort blocked by Badu.

SUBSTITUTION: Napoli are forced into a change, as Britos limps off to be replaced by Koulibaly.

YELLOW CARD! Keita has only been on the pitch for a few minutes, but he picks up a card here for a foul on Mesto.

SUBSTITUTION: The visitors make their third and final sub of the match, as Hamsik comes on to replace De Guzman.

SUBSTITUTION: Lazio also make a change here, as the goalscorer Klose is replaced by Perea.

YELLOW CARD! Inler becomes the fifth Napoli player to be cautioned for cynically bringing down Anderson.

CHANCE! Perea almost makes an immediate impact just moments after coming on as he gets up well to meet a corner and glances a header just wide of the far post.

Lazio are ending the match strongly and they have pegged Napoli right back inside their own box. They are whipping in a number of crosses, but the visitors have dealt well with the threat as they look to hold on to their slim advantage in the tie.

We are going to have four minutes of stoppage time.

SAVE! A slip from Basta gives Napoli possession and Hamsik finds Inler in the centre of the pitch. The Swiss midfielder then charges forward and unleashes a powerful low drive that Berisha does well to palm around the post.

It's all over at the Stadio Olimpico and in the end there was nothing to separate the two teams. Lazio were better in the first half and deservedly took the lead through Miroslav Klose's strike, but a good response from Napoli after the break saw them earn a draw thanks to Manolo Gabbiadini's close-range finish.

That's all we've got time for tonight, but make sure you join us for more Coppa Italia action tomorrow evening, as Juventus take on Fiorentina in Turin. Until then, goodbye!