Coppa Italia: An Early Setback for Gattuso’s Lazio; Mantova Pulls Off an Upset. Frosinone, Genoa, and Verona Advance
Lazio suffered a setback in their season opener: Gattuso’s team was defeated 2-0 by Mantova at the Olimpico in the second-round match of the 2026-2027 Coppa Italia. It was a crushing defeat for the Biancocelesti against a Serie B team: the Rome-based side started well, with Dele-Bashiru hitting the post and creating other chances. However, Mantova defended well and threatened Mandas’s goal toward the end of the first half.
In the second half, Lazio squandered their lead through Cancellieri. Gattuso tried to shake things up by bringing on new signing Frattesi in the 70th minute, but five minutes later the visitors struck through Ruocco, who scored with a sliding finish after a defensive blunder by Lazio. Gattuso’s team threw everything forward in search of the equalizer but were caught out by Cajazzo in the 96th minute for the final 2-0 score. In the next round, Mantova will face the winner of Palermo vs. Lecce.
Frosinone and Genoa each scored four goals against Juve Stabia and Ascoli, respectively. Frosinone won 4-1 thanks to a brace by Kvernadze and goals by Cichella and Raimondo; the visitors’ goal by Candellone was in vain. In the round of 16, they will face the winner of Sassuolo vs. Cesena. De Rossi’s team defeated Ascoli by the same score: after Silipo’s early goal, the Grifone fought back and turned the score around before halftime with goals from Marcandalli and Baldanzi, then sealed their advancement in the second half with goals from Colombo and Havel. Genoa will face Sudtirol in the round of 32.
Verona’s path to qualification was more complicated, as they eliminated Virtus Entella only in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw in regulation time: Compagnon and Sarr scored for Hellas, while the Ligurians had found the net through Guiu and Franzoni. Misses by Guiu, Corona, and Tirelli from the penalty spot proved decisive.
Coppa Italia, Sunday night’s results
Frosinone–Juve Stabia 4-1
Genoa–Ascoli 4-1
Verona–Entella 2-2 (3-2 on penalties)
Lazio–Mantova 0-2
