Lazio Beats Milan 1-0 to Reach Coppa Italia Quarters

Lazio secured a place in the Coppa Italia quarterfinals with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over AC Milan on Thursday evening at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, setting up a clash with defending champions Bologna, who advanced earlier in the day with a dramatic 2-1 win over Parma.

The decisive moment in the Rome derby came in the 80th minute when Mattia Zaccagni rose to head home a corner from Nuno Tavares, beating Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan to seal the win for Maurizio Sarri's side. The match was a tense, low-scoring affair, with both teams struggling to create clear chances. Lazio started the brighter, as Valentin Castellanos and Toma Basic fired efforts wide early on, while Castellanos later produced the game's first shot on target in the 33rd minute, which Maignan comfortably saved. Milan responded in the second half, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek heading over and Alexis Saelemaekers forcing a save from Christos Mandas. The Rossoneri's best opportunity arrived with 19 minutes left, but Rafael Leao blazed a half-volley over the bar from close range, allowing Lazio to capitalize on the counter.

The victory carried added significance for Lazio, coming just five days after a controversial...