Lazio, Sampdoria vie for cup success, Europa League berth

A berth in next season's Europa League will be at stake at the Stadio Olimpico tonight as Lazio take on Sampdoria in the Coppa Italia final.

Both teams currently occupy mid-table positions in the Serie A with the cup representing their only gateway to Europe next season.

Lazio are 10th in the Serie A with 47 points, three better off than Sampdoria who are 12th.

It has been a season of highs and lows for the two finalists. Both lacked consistency and never showed their true potential, except for their excellent run in the Coppa.

Suffice to say that in the semi-finals, Lazio knocked out Juventus while Samp eliminated champions Inter. On their way to the final, Lazio also had the better of Milan.

In Serie A encounters this season, Lazio beat Sampdoria 2-0 at home but the latter gained revenge with a resounding 3-1 success at the Marassi in January.

Thus, tonight's final promises to be a balanced encounter albeit Lazio appear to have a slight edge since they are playing at their home stadium.

The two coaches, Lazio's Delio Rossi and Sampdoria's Walter Mazzarri, are expected to seek pastures new after the end of the season.

Rossi has been in charge of Lazio since the summer of 2005. The former Salernitana and Atalanta boss assumed the reins of the team at a time when then new owner and president Claudio Lotito was rebuilding the club after bankruptcy under the tenure of Sergio Cragnotti.

Despite operating within a strict budget, Rossi managed to take the team to unexpected heights in 2006/07 with a top-four finish.

But few arrivals of note the following summer hampered Rossi's efforts and Lazio went out of the Champions League in the group stage.

Last season, they could only finish 12th. This term, Lazio were off to a blistering start but could not maintain consistency and faltered as the competition progressed.

The relationship between Rossi and some of his players was strained this season and at one stage, the Atalanta-bound trainer was on the verge of losing his job.

Sampdoria enjoyed a satisfactory campaign last term, finishing sixth. But, an early exit from the UEFA Cup and a lack of consistency in their performances hindered Sampdoria's progress in the league this season, in the process turning up the pressure on the players and Mazzarri.

Lately, he has been linked with a move to Roma to replace Luciano Spalletti. Tonight, Mazzarri will be looking to give the Blucerchiati the perfect parting gift by guiding them to their first cup triumph since 1993/94 when they beat Ancona in the final.

The two teams are expected to be at full strength, albeit Goran Pandev's presence is still in doubt for Lazio. But, the two players to watch tonight are Sampdoria's Antonio Cassano and Argentine Mauro Zarate, of Lazio.

Both have been in sublime form lately and their performances have inspired their team-mates to raise their efforts.

Cassano has rediscovered his form since his move to Sampdoria.

The playmaker had a torrid time at Real Madrid but, in Genoa, he not only returned to his best form but, more importantly, improved his behaviour on and off the field.

An eventual call-up by Italy coach Marcello Lippi in the build-up to next year's World Cup finals is on the cards for Cassano as the Bari-born stalwart has stayed away from controversy besides showing better attitude towards his team-mates.

One hopes that tonight's final will live up to expectations in terms of good football and a sense of fair play. May the best team win.