Nine years ago today, Lazio overcame Roma 1-0 to win the 2013 Coppa Italia, beating their intercity rivals in the most important Derby della Capitale of all time.
The final between the two Roman sides was the first time that a Derby della Capitale was played in the decisive game in Rome, setting up an electric affair at the Stadio Olimpico.
The Biancocelesti qualified for the final after beating Siena, Catania and Juventus in their Coppa Italia campaign. The Giallorossi had to overcome Atalanta, Fiorentina and Inter.
Amusingly, Korean pop star Psy performed his hit song ‘Gangnam Style’ ahead of the match, something which didn’t please either set of fans. The supporters loudly and mercilessly booed and jeered the performance, which ultimately led to Psy cancelling his Italian tour.
In front of a crowd of around 70,000 fans, the two sides kicked off the most important Derby della Capitale of all time on that fateful May afternoon. It was a tense and tight affair, with neither team wanting to slip up in such a tense clash.
After 71 minutes, the deadlock was finally broken. Senad Lulic, who was close to leaving the club the following summer, managed to find the back of the net from close range after an Antonio Candreva cross led to a poor parry away by Bogdan Lobont. His goal gave Lazio a 1-0 lead, which they managed to hold onto throughout a painful 20 final minutes.
It was an instrumental moment in the history of the Derby della Capitale and led to the teasing phrase ‘la Coppa in faccia’ (the cup in your face), something Lazio fans still repeat to their Roma counterparts today.
📌 #onthisday
📆 26.05.2013
⚽️ Senad Lulic al 71'
🏆 La vittoria eterna!#CMonEagles 🦅 pic.twitter.com/p14PVSWG7o— S.S.Lazio (@OfficialSSLazio) May 26, 2022
