Inter 0-0 Como — Coppa Italia semi first leg stalemate

Como and Inter Milan played out a disciplined 0-0 draw at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final, a result that leaves the tie very much alive ahead of the return at San Siro. The scoreline was earned against the backdrop of contrasting league form — Como sit fifth in Serie A with 48 points while Inter lead the table with 67 points from 27 matches — and fresh narratives: Como had eliminated Napoli in the quarter-finals, while Inter were still smarting from their recent Champions League exit to Bodo/Glimt.

Como vs Inter Recap

Christian Chivu’s Inter arrived in Como without captain Lautaro Martínez — sidelined by a calf strain — and with Francesco Pio Esposito expected to lead the line in his absence. Cesc Fàbregas’ Como missed the injured Jayden Addai (Achilles) and likely absentee Martin Baturina (ankle), but still fielded the attacking players who have propelled them to fifth in Serie A, including Nico Paz, who leads Como’s scoring charts with four goals this season. The match finished goalless as both goalkeepers kept clean sheets: Jean Butez extended his run of shutouts to add to the four clean sheets he already had in all competitions, and Inter’s Yann Sommer preserved his tally of six clean sheets across the season.

Tactical battle

Fàbregas set Como up in a 4-2-3-1 that had been used successfully in Serie A — the same shape that helped Como dispatch Napoli in the quarters — with emphasis on compact midfield protection and quick transitions through the likes of Lucas Da Cunha and Jesus Rodríguez. Inter, missing their primary striker, leaned on a reshaped forward line with Esposito and Marcus Thuram expected to provide support. Federico Dimarco continued his recent creative form (eight assists in his last ten games) as an attacking outlet for Inter, but Como’s defence, bolstered by the likely recall of Diego Carlos, kept him and Hakan Çalhanoğlu at arm’s length.

Key players

• Nico Paz (Como) — Recalled to the starting XI and Como’s top scorer with four goals this season; his presence in the final third is a major reason Como sit fifth with 48 points.
• Douvikas (Como) — The Greek striker has three goals this season and remains a central figure: he scored in Como’s recent 3-1 win over Lecce, underscoring Como’s potency at Sinigaglia.
• Jean Butez (Como) — The goalkeeper has been key domestically with four clean sheets already and produced another composed display in the Coppa Italia semi.
• Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter) — Thrust into a leading role while Martínez recovers, Esposito’s appearance highlighted Inter’s need to adapt after the striker’s calf strain.
• Federico Dimarco (Inter) — On the scoresheet in Inter’s recent 2-0 win over Genoa and riding a strong creative run (eight assists in ten), Dimarco remains one of Chivu’s primary attacking threats from left-back.
• Yann Sommer (Inter) — The veteran stopper added to his season tally of six clean sheets, ensuring Inter left Como with a goalless draw.

Form and context

Going into the tie, formlines told a nuanced story: Como had been performing strongly under Fàbregas with a recent run listed as WW-D-L-W (or DLDWW in some reports) that included the notable victory over Lecce and the cup scalp of Napoli. Inter’s recent run read W-L-W-L-W, and the Nerazzurri were coping with the double blow of a Champions League exit to Bodo/Glimt and the absence of Martínez. Inter’s 2-0 win over Genoa at San Siro — with goals from Dimarco and Çalhanoğlu — was the most recent reminder of their domestic strength, yet the Coppa Italia first leg in Como showed how quickly the balance can shift when injuries and momentum collide.

Coppa Italia implications

The 0-0 result leaves the semi-final open heading to the return at San Siro. Inter’s position as Serie A leaders on 67 points suggests they will still be heavy favourites on paper, but Como’s cup pedigree this season — eliminating Napoli in the quarter-finals — means Cesc Fàbregas’ side cannot be written off. The head-to-head this season includes Inter’s 4-0 win at the San Siro on 6 December 2025, a result that proves Inter can score freely against Como, but that memory will not decide the second leg: the tie now hinges on adjustments from Chivu and Fàbregas and on player availability, particularly whether Lautaro Martínez returns in time to influence the return leg.

What to watch next

Key questions ahead of the second leg include Martínez’s recovery timeline — his calf strain is expected to keep him out for several weeks — and Inter’s rotation after the Champions League disappointment. For Como, the fitness of Martin Baturina (ankle) and the long-term absence of Jayden Addai (Achilles) limit options, but the form of creators like Lucas Da Cunha and Nico Paz will be decisive. Inter will hope Marcus Thuram and Esposito can replicate domestic form while players like Dimarco continue to supply chances from wide areas.

For readers who followed our Coppa Italia preview, the match underlined the upset potential we flagged: Como’s home form and cup run are real threats. If you want comparative Coppa Italia analysis — including tactical breakdowns from other ties — see our Lazio vs Atalanta Coppa Italia preview for similar themes of underdog resilience.

ScorePoint AI readers looking for model-driven insight ahead of the second leg can use our AI predictions or chat with our AI assistant for bespoke scenarios and win-probability breakdowns. Our platform factors league positions (Inter on 67 points, Como on 48), recent form and injury lists — such as Martínez’s calf and Addai’s season-ending Achilles issue — into its Coppa Italia analysis.

In conclusion, the 0-0 draw at Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia was a cautious, tactical encounter that favoured defensive organisation: both Jean Butez and Yann Sommer kept their nets intact, Como protected a valuable home result after eliminating Napoli, and Inter were reminded that their path to another Coppa Italia final will require more than domestic dominance. The tie remains open — and the return at San Siro promises to be decisive.