Serie A champion Inter aiming for the double in Italian Cup final, Lazio eyeing Europe

MILAN (AP) — Just four days after facing off against each other in the league, Lazio and Inter Milan meet again at the Stadio Olimpico. This time with a title at stake.

And both teams know that winning Wednesday’s Italian Cup final would mean much more than lifting the trophy.

For newly-crowned Serie A champion Inter Milan it is a chance to cement its domination of Italian soccer this season after the disappointment of last year. For Lazio, it is a path back into Europe.

Not since José Mourinho led Inter to a treble in 2010 — including the Champions League trophy — has Inter won the league and cup in the same season.

Inter coach Christian Chivu, who is quickly making a name for himself in the managerial ranks after helping Parma avoid relegation last season, played on the 2010 team.

“There’s no need to compare different eras or different teams,” Chivu said. “Times change, soccer changes.

“Both the 2010 team and this 2026 side have brought happiness to the fans, and that’s what matters most.”

Chivu is in his first season at Inter after replacing Simone Inzaghi. Doing the double would assuage the disappointment of last campaign, which promised so much but ultimately left Inter empty-handed.

With just over a month to go to the end of last season, Inter was on course for a treble of trophies but finished one point below Serie A champion Napoli, lost in the Italian Cup semifinals and was routed 5-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in the most lopsided Champions League final in history.

There is no chance of a treble this year as Inter was eliminated by Norwegian upstart Bodø/Glimt in the Champions League.

The Nerazzurri have bounced back from that disappointment and, after clinching the Serie A title with three rounds to spare, show little sign of letting up.

Indeed Inter crushed Lazio 3-0 on Saturday in Serie A, in a dress rehearsal for Wednesday’s cup final in the same stadium in Rome.

Inter was utterly dominant in the first half but Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri placed the blame on his players’ approach.

“Inter is stronger, but with this attitude we would concede two goals against any team,” Sarri said after the match. “We shouldn’t be scared, that attitude is our fault and not down to the merits of Inter.

“(The final) will be a different match and it’s clear that we don’t want to have this approach, it’s also clear that Inter is technically superior.”

For Lazio, it is the only chance to play European soccer next season as the winner of the Italian Cup qualifies for the Europa League.

If Inter — which will play in the Champions League next season — wins, then the Europa League place will be given to the team which finishes sixth in the league, with the seventh-place finisher going into the European Conference League.

Lazio is ninth, seven points below seventh-place Atalanta, with only two league matches remaining.

“There’s no need to change our heads, today’s approach is the result of the fact that today’s match didn’t count for anything unlike Wednesday,” Sarri said. “But it is a mistake to think like that, there was some chance of reaching seventh place and these matches can create fear, which stops you.

“It’s not ideal, but I hope the boys are willing to show that this isn’t them because there’s a trophy up for grabs.”

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Inter Milan's head coach Cristian Chivu celebrates their victory at the Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Parma, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Lazio's Gustav Isaksen, left, and Inter Milan's Luis Henrique vie for the ball during a Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Inter Milan, in Rome, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (Fabrizio Corradetti/LaPresse via AP)

Inter Milan's Petar Sucic celebrates after scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Inter Milan, in Rome, Italy, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (Fabrizio Corradetti/LaPresse via AP)

Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez, left, controls the ball from Lazio's Adam Marušić during a Serie A soccer match, in Rome, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (Fabrizio Corradetti/LaPresse via AP)

Inter Milan's head coach Cristian Chivu celebrates their victory at the Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Parma, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

BOSTON (AP) — Jarren Duran singled home the winning run to cap a three-run rally in the 10th inning after Boston blew a two-run lead in the ninth, and the Red Sox finished a four-game sweep of the rival New York Yankees with a 5-4 victory Sunday night.

Boston starter Sonny Gray took a no-hitter into the eighth against his former team before Amed Rosario singled with one out. That ended a brilliant outing for Gray, who had nine strikeouts to reach 2,000 for his career.

But the Yankees scored twice in the ninth off All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman to tie it 2-all, aided enormously by a brutal throwing error from two-time Gold Glove right fielder Wilyer Abreu.

New York scratched across two more runs in the 10th, taking advantage of another throwing error by Abreu after Rosario's sinking liner squirted out of his glove for an RBI single. But right-hander Fernando Cruz (4-3) was unable to hold the lead after closer David Bednar had pitched the previous two innings.

Boston's first four-game sweep of the Yankees since 2018 marked the first four-game winning streak this season for the last-place Red Sox.

New York arrived at Fenway Park with the best record in the American League but left a game behind Tampa Bay atop the AL East.

Justin Slaten (1-4) worked one inning for the win.

Anthony Seigler led off the bottom of the 10th with an RBI single that scored the automatic runner from second base and trimmed Boston's deficit to 4-3. Pinch-hitter Masataka Yoshida followed with a double before a sacrifice fly by Tsung-Che Cheng tied it at 4 and advanced Yoshida to third.

New York brought in Rosario from left field to form a five-man infield, and Duran hit a line drive to right where nobody was standing.

Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. was ejected for arguing after he was called out on a check-swing for strike three to end the sixth.

Yankees LHP Ryan Weathers (3-5, 3.95 ERA) faces Detroit RHP Casey Mize on Monday as New York returns home and opens a three-game series against the Tigers.

Boston is scheduled to start LHP Ranger Suarez (3-3, 2.83 ERA) against Washington LHP Andrew Alvarez on Monday to open a three-game set at Fenway Park.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Boston Red Sox's Willson Contreras celebrates after scoring on a two-run single by Caleb Durbin in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Sunday, June 28, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Boston Red Sox's Sonny Gray tips his hat to the crowd as he exits the game after giving up a hit in the eighth inning after pitching seven innings without a hit against the New York Yankees in a baseball game, Sunday, June 28, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Boston Red Sox's Jarren Duran, left, celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off one-run single in the tenth inning of a baseball game to win against the New York Yankees, Sunday, June 28, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Boston Red Sox's Jarren Duran, right, celebrates in front of New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells, left, after hitting a walk-off one-run single in the tenth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, June 28, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Boston Red Sox's Jarren Duran, right, celebrates in front of New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells, left, after hitting a walk-off one-run single in the tenth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, June 28, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)