Como 0-0 Inter: Coppa Italia Semifinal First Leg Ends in Draw

Como and Inter Milan played to a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final at Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia on Tuesday evening, leaving the tie finely poised ahead of the return leg in Milan.

Como, under the management of former Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fàbregas, started brightly, pressing Inter and attempting to build attacks from the back. The first clear chance of the match fell to Como’s Vojvoda in the 17th minute, but his effort was blocked by Carlos Augusto. The home side continued to dictate the tempo for much of the first half, but failed to convert their pressure into a goal.

Inter, who recently parted ways with Simone Inzaghi, appointing Cristian Chivu as his replacement, struggled to find their rhythm in the opening stages. According to reports, Fàbregas had been Inter’s first choice to replace Inzaghi, but the Spaniard ultimately turned down the opportunity to remain with Como, a decision he attributed to loyalty to the club’s project.

The second half saw a more assertive Inter, with Darmian hitting the post early on. Como responded with a missed opportunity of their own, Alex Valle failing to capitalize on a cross from Vojvoda. Fàbregas felt his team deserved a goal, highlighting a missed chance from Valle as particularly frustrating. “It was a chess match, very tactical, where against the most dominant team in Serie A, we played the game we wanted to,” Fàbregas told Sport Mediaset, as reported by beinsports.com. “We were solid, had two or three very great chances…It leaves a slightly bitter taste in our mouths, as we feel like we could’ve at least won this 1-0.”

Inter dominated possession in the latter stages of the match, but lacked a cutting edge in the final third, with captain Lautaro Martínez sidelined through injury. Chivu made several changes to his starting lineup, deploying a different formation than Inter typically utilizes. Despite controlling the ball, Inter were unable to break down Como’s resolute defense.

Fàbregas had urged the Como fans to create an atmosphere akin to Boca Juniors’ famed “Bombonera” stadium, hoping to inspire his team. The atmosphere at the Sinigaglia was vibrant, but Como were unable to secure a victory. The second leg will be played at San Siro, with the outcome of the tie still very much in the balance.