The final tie of the Coppa Italia last-16 sees Lazio welcome Serie A strugglers Parma to Stadio Olimpico on Thursday, as the home side ultimately aim for a sixth cup win since the turn of the century.
Simone Inzaghi's in-form side calculatingly picked off city rivals Roma in the Derby della Capitale last weekend and are strong favourites to book a meeting with Atalanta in the quarter-finals.
Match preview
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Having reached the final twice in the past four years - last lifting the prestigious trophy in 2019 - Lazio have been Coppa Italia specialists in the 21st century; also emerging victorious in 2000, 2004, 2009 and 2013.
With seven wins in all, one of the competition's most successful clubs now begin this year's challenge, at home to Parma, on the back of spectacular derby success.
Galvanised by beating Roma 3-0, the latest in a three-match run of wins which has seen the Biancocelesti gain ground on their fellow contenders for a European spot in the league, Inzaghi's men are undefeated this calendar year.
Integral to the improvement of a frustratingly inconsistent side has been a greater resilience in defence. After having conceded 25 goals in their first 16 games, Lazio have now put together two consecutive clean sheets - versus Roma and Thursday's Coppa opponents Parma.
Though the Aquile XI is likely to be given a fresh look by Inzaghi, having had a hectic first half of the campaign filled by midweek Champions League commitments and overcoming innumerable injuries and illnesses, the capital club are much-fancied to seal a spot in the final eight.
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Ahead of their trip to Rome, shot-shy Parma have registered the fewest goals in Serie A this season. Moreover, after Lazio's latest visit to Emilia-Romagna in early January, the Crociati have now failed to score at all in their last six home games, so will perhaps benefit from the change of scenery on Thursday.
'New' coach Roberto D'Aversa - who first took over in 2016 and guided Parma all the way from Serie C to the top tier - left the club last summer after a fallout with the board. President Kyle Krause's decision to recall the former Siena midfielder may well have been influenced by the fact that he is apparently still contracted to the club until next year.
Following that defeat to Lazio, D'Aversa managed to steer his confidence-drained charges to a 1-1 draw at Emilian rivals Sassuolo - a more than acceptable result, but one which could have been so much better if it were not for the concession of an injury-time penalty, converted by the Neroverdi's Filip Djuricic.
Nonetheless, the battling manner of earning that valuable point - particularly the image of Juraj Kucka heading in the opening goal with a bloodied and bandaged head - could give a little lift to the morale of an underperforming Gialloblu side.
To get past even a much-rotated Lazio outfit, though, will be a stern test, as Parma have won only once on the road this term and their top scorer in all competitions remains Gervinho, with just four goals.
Having made it into the fifth round courtesy of eliminating Serie B strugglers Pescara and Cosenza, the Crociati now take a step up in class in the last 16.
Lazio form (all competitions): WLDWWW
Parma Coppa Italia form: WW
Parma form (all competitions): LLLLLD
Team News
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Simone Inzaghi's squad is almost all available, as only Danilo Cataldi and Luiz Felipe are definitely out injured and goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha remains a doubt - Pepe Reina should therefore continue as the last line of defence.
Returning after injury, wing-back Mohamed Fares and first-choice forward Joaquin Correa could feature from the start in the Biancocelesti's customary 3-5-2.
Midfield lynchpin Lucas Leiva is suspended and will most likely be replaced by either Marco Parolo or Gonzalo Escalante, while captain Senad Lulic is back in the squad after almost a year's absence and could make an appearance at some stage. If Ciro Immobile is offered a well-earned rest, Felipe Caicedo or Vedat Muriqi would join Correa up front.
With the primary focus on getting out of relegation trouble in the league, Parma may also rotate their resources in Rome - injured Vincent Laurini, Yordan Osorio, Yann Karamoh and Lautaro Valenti are all expected to be absent again on Thursday.
In goal, Simone Colombi is set to take over from Luigi Sepe, while 17-year-old Daan Dierckx could continue in the Gialloblu back four due to a shortage of bodies in defence.
As Roberto Inglese's presence up front is in doubt due to injury, Roberto D'Aversa's attacking trident should be composed of Andreas Cornelius, Gervinho and either Juan Brunetta or Romania Under-21 winger Valentin Mihaila.
Lazio possible starting lineup:
Reina; Hoedt, Patric, Acerbi; Lazzari, Akpa-Akpro, Parolo, Pereira, Fares; Muriqi, Correa
Parma possible starting lineup:
Columbi; Busi, Dierckx, Iacoponi, Ricci; Hernani, Cyprien, Sohm; Brunetta, Cornelius, Gervinho
We say: Lazio 2-0 Parma
As any Scudetto hopes are long gone and Champions League success only an outside shot, Lazio must surely target a competition in which they often reach the final in odd-numbered years.
Parma are ill-placed to stop whichever two of the Aquile's four strikers are picked - and a quiet cup exit may not cause them too many sleepless nights with Serie A survival top of their agenda.
Top betting tip
Jonathan O'Shea
