Alessio Romagnoli, Lazio's suspended captain, could only observe from the stands on Wednesday as the Biancocelesti lost 0-2 to Inter in the Coppa Italia Final at the Stadio Olimpico, handing Cristian Chivu's Inter a domestic double to close out the 2025-26 season.

The defeat crystallises a painful symmetry for Romagnoli. The red card that ruled him out of Sunday's 3-0 Serie A loss to Inter also cost him a place in the most significant match Lazio have contested this season. Two finals against the same opponent, absent for both in the decisive moments. For a 31-year-old centre-back who has built his identity around leadership and defensive organisation, the suspension was not merely a scheduling inconvenience — it removed the player Maurizio Sarri's side most depends upon to impose structure at the back.

Lazio director Angelo Maria Fabbiani acknowledged before kick-off that the club entered the final as underdogs, and the result confirmed as much. Inter's Lautaro Martínez and Marcus Thuram started together in attack, and the Nerazzurri's quality told across 90 minutes. The final scoreline — Lazio 0-2 Inter — left no ambiguity about which side controlled the occasion.

Romagnoli's season numbers carry their own quiet weight. Across 31 Serie A appearances, he contributed zero goals and zero assists, which is unremarkable for a centre-back, but his average rating of 7.00 across those matches reflects consistent, reliable defensive work rather than the kind of individual errors that erode a defender's standing. His AI overall score of 75 out of 100 — with a potential ceiling of 72, suggesting he is performing above his projected ceiling — underlines that Romagnoli is operating at or near the top of his current register.

Sarri's Lazio finish the Serie A campaign ninth, on 51 points from 36 matches, a record of 13 wins, 12 draws, and 11 defeats. It is a mid-table conclusion that the Coppa Italia run partially redeemed — until Wednesday night removed even that consolation. The club's director admitted they did not expect to reach the final, which makes the manner of the exit slightly easier to contextualise, if not easier to accept.

For Romagnoli personally, the summer will carry a specific question: whether a captain who missed the two most consequential matches of the season through suspension can reset his authority within the squad and the dressing room. His performances across 31 league matches suggest the quality is not in doubt. The discipline record is another matter, and Sarri will want it resolved before next season begins.