Lazio have 45 minutes left to rescue their hopes of claiming a second Coppa Italia success in the space of three years, having gone into half time goalless against Napoli to trail on away goals.
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Antonio Candreva's driving run into the box very nearly led to the game's opening goal with just a few minutes on the clock, but Miguel Britos did well to get across and deny the winger.
The returning Marek Hamsik, back in the Partenopei starting lineup this evening along with Gokhan Inler, found the angle a little too tight after being played in by Dries Mertens up the other end, firing wide of goal with his poked effort.
It was Napoli who remained on top as the first half wore on, winning a few corners which culminated in Mertens narrowly missing the target when put under a little pressure by Etrit Berisha.
Some good work from Miroslav Klose on the edge of the box allowed Candreva to get in Lazio's first real attempt of the game, which once more ended a few inches the wrong side of the post.
The closest either side came to breaking the deadlock in a goalless first half came on the half-hour mark when Manolo Gabbiadini's free kick came crashing back off the upright.
Both teams, separated by eight points in the Serie A table, both had further attempts on goal, but neither could find the required cutting edge to find a way through in the remainder of the opening 45 minutes.
Daniel Lewis
