Lupo and Nicolai silenced the 3,300-strong partisan home crowd as they earned a 21-16, 23-21 triumph over Samoilovs and Smedins.

In a repeat of the 2014 final, the Italian pair proved too strong for their opponents to ensure they returned to the top of the podium.

Nadja Glenzke and Julia Grossner of Germany took the women's crown as they fought back from a set down to beat Kristyna Kolocova and Michala Kvapilova of the Czech Republic 15-21, 21-17, 15-11.

Lupo and Nicolai began in ominous fashion as they comfortably claimed the first set and move to within one of sealing the gold medal.

Boosted by the Latvian fans inside the arena, Samoilovs and Smedins showed some fight in an evenly-contested second set.

The Latvian team even had a set point but Samoilovs served long and it proved costly as the Italians edged it to wrap up a straight games victory.

"I really cannot express my feelings right now," Nicolai said. 

"I want to thank everyone who worked with us for this moment, our staff and of course Daniele.

“It takes a great effort to become triple European champions and we are really proud we did it.

"It was not easy to play before such a partisan crowd. 

“We have played here before, so we know how passionate Latvian fans can be. 

"Last year we played the Olympic final against Brazil in Rio, so we know this happens [fans booing] when you play a final against a host team.”

A German winner was expected in the women's event but Glenzke and Grossner were not among the favourites to claim the title.

Having put out reigning Olympic, world and European champions Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst in the last eight, the German duo gradually became more confident, but faced tough Czech opposition in the final.

Kolocova and Kvapilova took the lead by winning the first before the Glenze and Grossner comeback began, culminating in a three-set success.

"We just can’t believe we were able to jump from our previous best result to the gold medal,” Glenzke said. 

“Perhaps people expected one of the German teams to win here, but I don’t think they expected us to do it.” 

Dutchmen Alexander Brouwer and Robert Meeuwsen clinched the men's bronze medal with a 21-17, 17-21, 15-11 win over Dries Koekelkoren and Tom van Walle of Belgium.

The women's bronze medal went to top seeds Chantal Laboureur and Julia Sude of Germany as they beat Kinga Kolosinska and Jagoda Gruszczynska of Poland 17-21, 26-24, 15-8.