Roma looking to make cup history
The Coppa Italia will be awarded for the 60th time after Saturday's
final. The first team to lift the cup was Vado who beat Udinese 1-0
after extra time in 1922. If Roma beat Inter they will match Juventus'
record of 9 Coppa triumphs. Sixteen different teams have lifted the
domestic cup. Juventus have won it 9 times, followed by Roma (8),
Fiorentina (6), AC Milan (5), Inter and Torino (5), Lazio (4),
Sampdoria (4), Napoli (3) Parma (3), Bologna (2), Atalanta (1), Genoa
(1), Vado (1), Venezia (1) and Vicenza (1).
Crespo top scorer in Coppa finals
No player has scored more goals in Italian Cup finals than Hernan
Crespo. The Argentine striker scored twice against Fiorentina in
1998/99 (one in the first leg and one in the return fixture), and 3
times against Roma in 2006/07 (twice in the first leg and once in the
return).
One previous Coppa final on 24 May
The only previous Coppa Italia final played on 24 May was the first
leg in 2000/01 between Parma and Roberto Mancini's Fiorentina. The
Viola prevailed 1-0 thanks to Vanoli's 87th-minute goal and went on to
lift the trophy (Mancini's first as a coach) after a 1-1 draw at home.
Fourth consecutive final between Inter and Roma
Inter and Roma contest a Coppa Italia final for a record fourth season
running. Inter carried off the trophy in 2004/05 and 2005/06), losing
out to the Giallorossi last season.
Final hat-tricks for four players in Coppa history
Four players have scored a record three goals in one Coppa Italia
final. They are: Amadei (Roma 3-3 Venezia, 1941), Lushta (Juventus 4-1
AC Milan, 1942), Domenghini (Atalanta 3-1 Torino, 1963) and Giannini
(Roma 5-2 Torino, 1993).
Eriksson, Mancini: 3 cups at 3 different clubs, 4 triumphs each
Sven Goran Eriksson and Roberto Mancini are the only two coaches to
have won the Coppa Italia with three different teams, and to have
lifted the trophy four times. The Swedish coach won it with Roma in
1985/86, Sampdoria in 1993/94 and Lazio in 1997/98 and 1999/00.
Mancini equalled Eriksson's record by winning the cup with Inter in
2004/05 and 2005/06 after triumphs with Fiorentina in 2000/01 and
Lazio in 2003/04. Bersellini, Liedholm and Rocco have won three
Italian Cups apiece.
The Coppa Mancini
From AC Milan 0-1 Sampdoria on 30 June 1985 to Inter 0-0 Lazio on 18
May 2000, Roberto Mancini has taken part in more Coppa Italia finals
than any other player. He is also the player who has lifted the most
cups (6), with triumphs at Sampdoria in 1984/85, 1987/88, 1988/89 and
1993/94, and Lazio in 1997/98 and 1999/00. This winning trend hasn't
changed since Mancini became a coach. In 2000/01 he led Fiorentina to
a two-legged victory over Parma (0-1 in Parma, 1-1 in Florence). Three
seasons later Mancini's Lazio beat Juventus over two legs (2-0 in
Rome, 2-2 in Turin). In 2004/05 he led Inter to an aggregate victory
against Roma (0-2 in Rome, 1-0 in Milan), and his Nerazzurri side beat
the Giallorossi again two seasons ago (1-1 in Rome, 3-1 in Milan).
Mancini is the only coach to have reached five consecutive cup finals
(with Lazio in 2003/04 and with Inter in 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07 and
2007/08).
The road to the final
Inter disposed of Reggina (7-1), Juventus (5-4) and Lazio (2-0) over
two legs on their way to a fourth consecutive national cup final
against Roma, who knocked out Torino (4-3), Sampdoria (2-1) and
Catania (2-1).
Coppa scorers:
Inter (14 goals): Balotelli (4), Cruz (4), Crespo (2), Cesar, Pelé,
Solari, Cascione (Reggina, own goal).
Roma (9 goals): Mancini (3), Totti (3), Aquilani, Giuly, Vucinic.