This is the fourth time Leonardo and Rossi have faced each other as coaches, and there has yet to be a draw. The record stands at 1 win for Leonardo (Inter-Palermo 3-2, Serie A 2010/11) and 2 wins for Delio Rossi (both ties between Palermo and AC Milan in Serie A 2009/10), with his teams always scoring - 7 goals in total. They also met once when Leonardo was still playing, wearing the colours of AC Milan: Salernitana 1-2 Milan on 20 September 1998 (Serie A). In that game Leonardo scored in the 86th minute to make it 2-0, after Bierhoff's 68th-minute opener; Salernitana grabbed a late consolation in the 88th minute with Breda's free kick.

As a coach, Leonardo's meetings with Palermo have always been with Rossi in the opposite dugout: 1 win for the current Nerazzurri coach and 2 for Rossi, with no draws.

This is the 23rd match-up between Delio Rossi and Inter in competitive matches. So far the current Palermo coach has managed a single win (Lecce 2-1 Inter in Serie A on 2 May 2004), with 5 draws and 16 victories for the Nerazzurri.

INTER. Suspended: Maicon. One booking away from suspension: Chivu, Kharja, Lucio, Sneijder, Thiago Motta. Ex-Palermo players: none. PALERMO. Suspended: Bacinovic, Bovo. One booking away from suspension: Balzaretti, Cassani, Liverani. Ex-Inter players: none.

Inter and Palermo are vying to win the 63rd edition of the Coppa Italia. The tournament was first held in 1922 and the first winners were Vado, who beat Udinese 1-0 in extra time. 16 clubs have raised the cup at least once, with Juventus and Roma currently sharing the record for most wins (9). Here is a complete list of all the winners, in order of number of cups: 9 - Juventus and Roma; 6 - Fiorentina and Inter; 5 - Lazio, AC Milan and Torino; 4 - Sampdoria; 3 - Napoli and Parma; 2 - Bologna; 1 - Atalanta, Genoa, Vado, Venezia, Vicenza. Inter and Palermo have never previously met in the Coppa Italia final but have crossed paths in earlier rounds on two occasions. Both times they met in the group stages of a now defunct format and both games were played in Milan, the two sides claiming one victory apiece. On 1 September 1976 Inter beat the Sicilian outfit by a single goal thanks to Mazzola's 31st-minute penalty; on 31 August 1980 Palermo got their revenge as they left San Siro with a 1-2 win, with goals coming Calloni (25th min) and De Stefanis (60th), after Muraro had temporarily equalised for the Nerazzurri (56th).

The stadium in Rome will be hosting its 17th Coppa Italia final decided in a single match. The previous editions were 1938/39 (Inter v Novara 2-1), 1958 (Lazio v Fiorentina 1-0), 1961/62 (Napoli v Spal 2-1), 1964/65 (Juventus v Inter 1-0), 1965/66 (Fiorentina v Catanzaro 1-1 after 90 mins; 2-1 AET), 1966/67 (AC Milan v Padova 1-0), 1971/72 (AC Milan v Napoli 2-0), 1972/73 (AC Milan v Juventus 1-1 after 90 mins; 1-1 AET; 4-1 on pens), 1973/74 (Bologna v Palermo 1-1 after 90 mins; 1-1 AET; 4-3 on pens), 1974/75 (Fiorentina v Milan 3-2), 1975/76 (Napoli v Verona 4-0), 1977/78 (Inter v Napoli 2-1), 1979/80 (Roma v Torino 0-0 after 90 mins; 0-0 AET; 3-2 on pens), 2007/08 (Roma v Inter 2-1), 2008/09 (Lazio v Sampdoria 1-1 after 90 mins; 1-1 AET; 6-5 on pens); 2009/10 (Inter v Roma 1-0). Inter have won the Coppa Italia in single-match finals played in Rome on 3 occasions: in 1938/39, beating Novara 2-1; in 1977/78 with a 2-1 win over Napoli; in 2009/10, 1-0 against Roma. However, the Nerazzurri have also lost two finals played in the capital: in 1964/65, after a 0-1 defeat by Juventus, and in 2007/08, when Roma won 1-2. Palermo have only been involved in one final played in Rome: in 1973/74 the Sicilians were beaten 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out by Bologna (1-1 after 90 mins and AET).

This is only the second time the Coppa Italia final has been played on 29 May: in 1997 Vicenza won the first, and so far only, Coppa Italia in their history, beating Napoli 3-0 after extra time in the return match of the two-legged final, with goals by Maini (21st minute), Maurizio Rossi (118th) and Iannuzzi (120th); Napoli had won the first leg at home 1-0 (Pecchia after 21 minutes). If Palermo - who are yet to win the Coppa Italia - were to claim the 2011 edition, it would make 29 May the date with most first-time winners of the cup.

This is the first time Leonardo has been involved in the Coppa Italia final since he started coaching. As a player, the Brazilian took part in the first leg of the 1997/98 edition, which AC Milan lost to Lazio: in the first leg played in San Siro, the Rossoneri with Leonardo won 1-0; the Brazilian was absent in the return leg in Rome, which Lazio won 3-1. Delio Rossi is involved in his second cup final as coach: in 2008/09 he guided Lazio to a 6-5 penalty shoot-out victory over Sampdoria (1-1 after 90 mins and AET). That season saw the final return to Rome, with the Olimpico designated as the venue by the Lega Calcio at the start of the season.

This year is the 62nd time Inter have competed in the Coppa Italia, and on 12 occasions they have reached the final, winning the cup 6 times: in 1938/39, 2-1 against Novara in Rome; in 1977/78, 2-1 against Napoli in Rome; in 1981/82, against Torino (1-0 in San Siro, 1-1 in the return leg in Turin); the last three have all been against Roma - in 2004/05 (0-2 away and 1-0 at home), 2005/06 (1-1 away and 3-1 at home) and 2009/10 (1-0 in a single match at the Olimpico, considered neutral turf). Inter have lost the final 6 times: in 1958/59 against Juventus (1-4 in a single match played in Milan); in 1964/65, again to Juventus (0-1 in a single match played in Rome); in the 1976/77 derby final against AC Milan (0-2 in San Siro), in 1999/2000 against Lazio (2-1 in the first leg in Rome; 0-0 in Milan); and in two recent finals against Roma - in 2006/07 (6-2 defeat at the Olimpico, 2-1 win in the return leg at home) and in 2007/08 (2-1 in Rome, considered as neutral turf for the final by the Lega Calcio). The Nerazzurri also took part in the final group stage that decided the winner (Torino) of the 1967/68 edition.

Palermo have previously reached the Coppa Italia final twice in their history, losing in bitter circumstances on both occasions. In 1973/74 the Rosanero side was beaten in Rome by Bologna 4-5 after penalties, (1-1 after 90 mins and 1-1 AET). The Sicilians had been leading since the 32nd minute (Magherini), but Savoldi's 90th minute strike forced the match into extra time; Palermo went ahead on penalties, scoring their first three while Cresci missed for Bologna, but the tide turned: Bologna converted their last two and Palermo's dream vanished as first Vullo then Favalli missed. In 1978/79 it was a similar story in the final played in Naples against Juventus: the Sicilians again took the lead early on (Chimenti in the 1st minute), their opponents sent the game to extra time with a late equaliser (Brio, 83rd), and their hopes were dashed just as penalties loomed, with Causio winning the cup for the Bianconeri in the 117th minute.

The last time Inter were beaten by the Sicilian outfit was on 10 September 2005, when Palermo edged a 3-2 victory at the Stadio Barbera in a Serie A fixture. The 11 competitive matches played since then have seen 7 Nerazzurri wins and 4 draws.

Inter's last defeat in the Coppa Italia came on 4 March 2009, when they lost 3-0 at Sampdoria. In the 10 games played in the competition since then, the Nerazzurri have won 8 games and drawn 2.

Samuel Eto’o has struck more goals in competitive fixtures past Sirigu than any other keeper since he arrived in Italy: 5 of the Cameroon striker's 51 goals have come against the Palermo shot-stopper. With those 5 goals, Palermo are his second favourite target: only against Roma has Eto'o hit the back of the net more often - 6 times. Samuel Eto’o is Salvatore Sirigu's worst nightmare on the pitch: of the 166 times the keeper has picked the ball out of the net in his professional career, 5 times the 'culprit' has been the Cameroonian. In terms of teams, only Udinese (12) have put more past him than Inter (11).

You can't say Palermo are boring to watch: there have been at least 3 goals in each of their last 9 competitive fixtures, with both sides scoring at least once. Over the course of those 9 games the Rosanero have notched up 17 goals but also conceded 16.

ROME - Inter have won the 2010/11 Coppa Italia by beating Palermo 3-1 in this evening's final.

A completely sold-out Stadio Olimpico hosted two sides who had never met before in the final to determine the winner of the 63rd edition of the Coppa Italia. Eto'o gave Inter the lead with a cool finish in the 26th minute, following Sneijder's perfectly weighted through ball. In the 76th minute, precisely the same combination sent the Nerazzurri fans wild with joy, as Inter placed a firm grasp on the cup. An eventful finale awaited, though, as Munoz pulled one back for Palermo on 88 minutes, before Milito stroked home two minutes into added time to seal the win. The Nerazzurri now have a seventh Coppa Italia to add to their trophy cabinet, and can count 15 trophies won in the last 7 years.

FIRST HALF – Leonardo had to make do without Maicon (suspended) and Cambiasso (injured) but was able to select Ranocchia, who recovered from flu to partner Lucio at the heart of defence, and Sneijder, who nestled in behind Eto'o and Pazzini. Kharja and Milito started from the bench.

It wasn't long after the Inno di Mameli (Italian national anthem) and Morganti's opening whistle that Palermo created the first chance of the game, Ilicic setting up Hernandez and the Uruguayan firing into the side netting with 2 minutes on the clock. The opening period saw the Sicilians throwing their weight around a bit: Hernandez elbowed Sneijder, Goian crunched into Pazzini from behind and Balzaretti fouled Lucio on the edge of the box, all within the first quarter of an hour.

On 15 minutes Stankovic played a long ball over the top looking for Pazzini, who held off the challenges of Goian and Munoz as he attempted bring the ball down, but it ran into Sirigu's arms.

In the 19th minute, Julio Cesar was alert to dive at the feet of Pastore as the Palermo playmaker raced into the box after playing a one-two with Ilicic. The Argentinian tried his luck again a minute later, after another exchange with Ilicic, but lifted his effort over the bar.

Goian asked to come off midway through the half and on came Carrozzieri, making his first appearance of the season after completing a two-year drugs ban.

The Olimpico exploded in the 26th minute when Inter took the lead: Thiago Motta won the ball while being brought down by Hernandez; Sneijder picked it up and, seeing Eto'o's run, slid a delightful pass in behind the defence for Samuel to latch onto, bear down on goal and sidefoot past Sirigu into the far corner. The Cameroon striker raised his hand to his chest after notching up his 36th goal of the season and repeated with Materazzi the same celebration seen in the Club World Cup final.

Five minutes later, Palermo almost found an equaliser  when, following Hernandez's cross to Balzaretti and a scramble in the box, Hernandez's deflected shot was kept out by Julio Cesar with a stunning reflex save.

Ilicic made a dangerous run into the box on 41 minutes, only to flop to the ground after an alleged foul by Ranocchia that rightly wasn't given.

The last action of the half saw Hernandez's central shot saved comfortably by Julio Cesar, so after 46 minutes played the half-time scoreline was Inter 1-0 Palermo.

SECOND HALF – The second half began with Julio Cesar keeping out an effort from Balzaretti, then Chivu made a crucial interception as Hernandez was heading for goal in the 49th minute.

Julio Cesar was called into action again soon after, getting up above everyone to claim the ball following Ilicic's free kick; he then made another timely intervention to pluck the ball away from Hernandez (52nd), with Lucio guarding the goal line.

Miccoli replaced Acquah on 55 minutes and it took the substitute just five minutes to make his presence felt: connecting with Pastore's cross, he nodded towards the far corner, only for an alert Brazilian keeper to fly through the air and turn the ball round the post with a great save.

Pazzini made way for Pandev on the hour mark, with Eto'o moved forward to play as the side's spearhead.

Another scramble inside the Nerazzurri box saw Palermo go close again, but after a series of rebounds Lucio cleared with an overhead kick.

After 67 minutes, a contrast between Chivu and Hernandez in the box led to more protests from the Sicilians, but the Romanian had clearly won the ball.

Inter went close in the 75th minute as Eto'o laid off for Sneijder, but the playmaker failed to connect. However, just a minute passed and the Nerazzurri extended their lead: Pandev won the ball with a little luck and fed Sneijder, who released Eto'o once more and the Cameroonian striker entered the box and slotted into the far corner with another display of clinical finishing. The Olimpico went wild as the cup edged ever closer.

Inter might have gone three up in the 86th minute, when Sneijder curled a lovely shot towards the top corner, yet it was matched by a top-drawer save from Sirigu. And Palermo's hopes were restored two minutes later when Munoz headed past Julio Cesar from Miccoli's corner, which in fact shouldn't have been given – Morganti and his assistants failed to see that the ball had gone out of play before the corner was awarded.

Moments after celebrating his goal, Munoz's evening was ruined when he was shown a second yellow for bringing down Mariga on the edge of the box as the game entered stoppage time. Eto'o stepped up to take the free kick and struck the ball sweetly but it came back off the underside of the crossbar.

Yet almost immediately afterwards Milito did put the game to bed, turning home Pandev's pull-back just yards from goal to put the Nerazzurri 3-1 up.

After five minutes of stoppage time, Morganti blew the final whistle on the 2010/11 Coppa Italia final - Inter were the winners.

The president of the Italian Senate, Renato Schifani, handed over two trophies: the Coppa Italia to captain Zanetti and the cup to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Italian unification to Marco Materazzi.

starting lineups

substitutes