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Raffaele Palladino insists Atalanta see the Coppa Italia semi-final with Lazio as both a chance ‘to lift a trophy, but also guaranteeing access to a European competition.’
It kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday at 20.00 GMT (21.00 CET).
The second leg date has not yet been set, but will be April 21 or 22 in Bergamo.
By a curious twist of fate, these teams met in Serie A at the Stadio Olimpico on February 14, with Atalanta emerging 2-0 winners thanks to an Ederson penalty and Nicola Zalewski strike.
Palladino and Atalanta want the Coppa Italia
ROME, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Atalanta BC head coach Raffaele Palladino reacts during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and Atalanta BC at Stadio Olimpico on February 14, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)
“We are facing a Lazio side that we know well,” Palladino told Sport Mediaset.
“We only recently played against them in Serie A, we know they will be fired up and still bitter about that, so obviously they are highly-motivated to beat us this time.”
The semi-final is the only stage of the Coppa Italia to be played over two legs, home and away, as all the others are one-off matches.
BERGAMO, ITALY – NOVEMBER 30: Raffaele Palladino, Head Coach of Atalanta BC embraces with Kamaldeen Sulemana of Atalanta BC following the team’s victory during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and ACF Fiorentina at Gewiss Stadium on November 30, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
“It is important to see it over the two legs, even if there is a large gap between the games,” continued the coach.
“This is a competition that we really care about in particular, because Atalanta reached the Coppa Italia Final three times in the last seven years, so we want to make it four and perhaps beyond that.
“This is our dream, the primary objective is for this club to lift a trophy, and I think this is also a way of guaranteeing access to a European competition for next season.
Ederson holds up the trophy as Atalanta’s players celebrate after the UEFA Europa League final football match between Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen at the Dublin Arena stadium, in Dublin, on May 22, 2024. Atalanta won the game 3-0. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
“It is a truly very, very important match, we believe in ourselves, and have the right attitude going in.”
Atalanta are currently pushing for a top four finish, but it is an increasingly tight battle including Roma, Juventus and Como.