Lazio boss Maurizio Sarri revealed that he is enduring a striker shortage ahead of their semi-final second leg of a must-win Coppa Italia clash with Atalanta on Wednesday. 

The tie is finely poised following last month's 2-2 draw at Stadio Olimpico, with both sides quickly cancelling each other out in an entertaining affair between the Serie A sides. 

Fisayo Dele-Bashiru's 47th-minute opener had put Lazio in front, only for Mario Pasalic to restore parity, though Boulaye Dia restored their lead three minutes from time. 

However, Yunus Musah equalised two minutes later to ensure a share of the spoils, with all eyes now on the New Balance Arena to see who will progress to the final on May 13. 

Lazio arrive with confidence after beating Napoli at the weekend, becoming the first team to win four consecutive away games against them in Serie A history in the process.

But ahead of the clash, Sarri revealed that his team's hopes of reaching a second Coppa Italia final in three seasons had been hindered by an untimely injury crisis. 

Tijjani Noslin, Daniel Maldini and Dia are not fully fit for Lazio to use from the off, while Ivan Provedel, Nicolo Rovella and Samuel Gigot are also unavailable for Sarri to call upon.

"There isn't a match worth the whole season because it is assessed across all the games. It's a single match, which is important," Sarri said via TMW as quoted by Football Italia. 

"One single game doesn't change my judgment for the whole season. Atalanta are similar to Napoli; there are similarities, but there are also different individual players.

"Noslin has a slight knock. We'll see if he improves before tomorrow. The same goes for Maldini. He is clinically healed, but it's more difficult for him.

"He has some positive moments, but at other times the inflammation affects him. We are talking about a lad who has trained once in 20 days.

"Dia is feeling quite well. When you are unsure whether a player can play 90 minutes, it would be ideal to start them so you don't waste a slot.

"But I'm limited to three or four players; otherwise, I have to use all the slots in the first half. It's not easy to pick a line-up in these conditions.

"Four or five players are out already, so I can't take risks with everyone. I'm happy to play this semi-final. I've lost two finals on penalties, and I'd like to play the next one."

Atalanta, meanwhile, will be keen to progress to the final and win the tournament for the first time since 1962-63 after drawing with fellow European chasers Roma last time out. 

The stalemate leaves them seventh in Serie A and four points behind Gian Piero Gasperini's side, who occupy the final European place in the Italian top flight. 

Should Raffaele Palladino's side emerge victorious in the competition, they would automatically qualify for the Europa League and avoid the preliminary rounds. 

The winner of this tie will face Serie A leaders Inter or Como in the showpiece match, and Palladino acknowledged the importance of the semi-final in the context of their campaign. 

"I won't say this was a wasted opportunity, as we closed one point from Como and stayed at the same distance from Roma," Palladino said after the draw with Roma. 

"We won't give up until the last game. I think against Juventus and Roma, they were two really good performances, showing we'll fight it out with anyone. 

"Now the semi-final of the Coppa Italia is probably our most important match of the season so far, we really want to get into the final."