The Coppa Italia preliminary round fixture between Spezia and Sampdoria ended in a 1-1 draw on August 19, 2025, forcing the tie to be decided by a penalty shootout. In a fiercely contested Derby of the Ligurian region, both teams had chances to win in normal time but ultimately could not be separated, leaving their cup fate to be decided from the spot. The match kicked off at 12:30 AM, with Sampdoria taking an early lead through a well-taken goal, putting the pressure on the home side. Spezia responded strongly in the second half, finding an equalizer to set up a tense finale. Both sides had opportunities to snatch a winner, but the defenses held firm. The draw means the match result will be determined by penalties, with the winner advancing to the next round of Italy's premier domestic cup competition, adding another chapter to this historic rivalry.