Atalanta and Lazio battled to a 1-1 draw in an epic Coppa Italia clash, with the match decided by a marathon penalty shootout that saw eleven spot-kicks taken before Charles De Ketelaere finally settled the tie.
The New Balance Arena hosted a tense cup encounter on April 22, 2026, as two ambitious sides looked to advance. Atalanta dominated possession with 66% of the ball, while Lazio sat deeper and sought chances on the break. The first 83 minutes produced few clear-cut opportunities, with both defenses standing firm.
The deadlock shattered in the 84th minute when Alessio Romagnoli rose highest to power home a header for Lazio. The defender's clinical finish sent the away supporters into raptures. It appeared Lazio would hold on for a famous victory at the Bergamo fortress.
However, Atalanta responded instantly. Just two minutes later, Mario Pašalić fired an equalizer to level the match. The midfielder's strike reignited hope for the home crowd and forced the tie into extra time.
The additional 30 minutes produced no further goals. Both teams created chances but lacked the final touch needed to break the deadlock. As the clock ticked toward penalties, tension mounted inside the arena.
The penalty shootout became a marathon affair. Gianluca Raspadori opened for Atalanta, converting his spot-kick. Nicolò Tavares responded for Lazio to keep the tie level. Gianluca Scamacca made it 2-1, but Danilo Cataldi equalized again.
The drama continued relentlessly. Davide Zappacosta converted for Atalanta, then Gustav Isaksen matched him for Lazio. Pašalić stepped up again and tucked away his second penalty of the shootout. Mateo Lazzari kept Lazio alive with another conversion.
At 5-5, De Ketelaere finally broke the stalemate. The Atalanta winger sent the Lazio goalkeeper the wrong way to seal a dramatic victory. After 120 minutes of football and eleven penalty attempts, Atalanta prevailed.
Atalanta's statistics revealed their control throughout. They registered 29 total shots with 21 coming from inside the box. Lazio managed just eight shots total, with their goalkeeper making five crucial saves to keep them in the contest.
Both Romagnoli and Pašalić earned player-of-the-match honors, each posting ratings of 8.2. Romagnoli completed 120 minutes and made three tackles. Pašalić appeared for 49 minutes but made two key passes alongside his goal.
The victory sends Atalanta through to the next round of the Coppa Italia. Lazio's cup hopes end here, though they can take pride in a competitive performance against a superior possession side.
