Italian Cup: Inter beats Lazio and reaches the last four

A much-revamped Inter Milan took the measure of Lazio Rome (2-0) to reach the semi-finals of the Italian Cup on Tuesday at San Siro, four days before their top-of-the-table clash with Naples in the league. From the start of the match, the Italian league leader, decimated by injuries, suffered from the changes decided by Simone Inzaghi to compensate for the absences.

But the visitors did not take advantage of their strong moment, lacking realism in particular on clear chances from Boulaye Dia (9th) and Gustav Isaksen (19th). After this alert, Marko Arnautovic put Inter on the royal road with a masterful left-footed strike, a perfect volley from 25m (39th).

Simone Inzaghi's men could have even gone into the dressing room with more margin if Asllani's shot which brushed the base of the post just before the break. Isaksen at the end of a solitary raid almost equalized for the visitors, but came up against goalkeeper Josef Martinez who was replacing the injured starting Yann Sommer (54th). Five minutes later, Martinez had to intervene on a close-range shot from Lazio captain Zaccagni. But Calhanoglu put an end to the visitors' illusions with a penalty following a foul by the ex-Marseillais Samuel Gigot on Correa (77th).

The Nerazzurri join AC Milan and Bologna in the last four, who booked their tickets in early February. The last qualifier will be known after the match between Juventus Turin and Empoli scheduled for Wednesday. The semi-finals will take place on April 2 and 23, with the final on May 14.