3 Great AC Milan vs. Lazio Coppa Italia Moments

Lazio used to get the better of AC Milan in the Coppa Italia. In the late 1990s, and even a few years after that, it was Lazio beating Milan on the way to more trophies.

There has always been a unique bond between the two clubs. They shared big players—Alessandro Nesta, Hernan Crespo, Christian Vieri, Jaap Stam—and they were big rivals.

The games lost headline status as Lazio plummeted into a sea of financial problems, but the two teams are back at it now, with the Biancocelesti leading Milan (and beating them again) in Serie A this year.

They play each other again in the Coppa Italia on Tuesday. Let’s take a look back at three rare moments between Milan and Lazio in this competition. 

Zlatan Scoring off the Bench

Antonio Calanni/Associated Press

Not often do we see Zlatan Ibrahimovic on the bench. Therefore, naturally, it is not often that we see him scoring as a substitute.

However, that’s exactly what he did against Lazio during the quarter-finals of the 2011-12 Coppa Italia.

With 20 minutes left, Ibrahimovic dashed in on goal and slipped the ball past a sprawling Federico Marchetti. 

The goal capped a 3-1 comeback win for the Rossoneri. 

Paolo Maldini Concedes a Penalty

Bruno Mosconi/Associated Press

Paolo Maldini almost never gave away a foul, but this time (perhaps the only time?) he conceded a penalty.

In the second leg of the 1998 Coppa Italia final, Maldini took down Roberto Mancini in the box. 

Yeah, it was a long time ago.

Lazio scored the penalty, and the fixture was tied 2-2 on aggregate.

It was all set up for Nesta (yes, Nesta) to win Lazio the cup. 

Alessandro Nesta Winning the Cup

Grazia Neri/Getty Images

Alessandro Nesta won almost as much with Lazio as he did with Milan, but it was a goal against his future team that won Lazio the Coppa Italia in 1998. 

It wasn’t pretty.

Nesta, then just 22 years old, slid in for the winner. The game ended 3-2 on aggregate, and the trophy was won at home.

It was Nesta’s first and only goal for Lazio, and it was probably the moment Milan discovered their future centre-back.