The first act of this intriguing Coppa Italia semi-final ended goalless, but far from lifeless. Como and Inter Milan played out a tense 0-0 draw that leaves the race for a place in the final wide open heading into the decisive second leg at San Siro.

For long spells, it was Cesc Fabregas’s Como — currently sitting fifth in Serie A — who looked the braver, sharper side. Against the odds and in front of their own supporters, the hosts created the clearer opportunities and refused to be overawed by their illustrious opponents.

Mergim Vojvoda was a constant menace down the flank, repeatedly testing the Nerazzurri back line. One surging move seemed destined to break the deadlock, only for Carlos Augusto to produce a crucial last-ditch block before goalkeeper Josep Martinez demonstrated his composure with a string of confident interventions.

Inter Milan, meanwhile, looked short of cutting edge. With neither Lautaro Martinez nor Marcus Thuram fully fit to start, the visitors struggled to impose themselves in attack. Their brightest moment came via a dangerous delivery from Matteo Darmian that brushed the outside of the post — a reminder of their latent threat.

The clearest chance of the night, however, fell to Alex Valle of Como, who somehow failed to convert from five metres out, firing wide when the stadium had already begun to celebrate.

Marcus Thuram was introduced late on in an attempt to tilt the balance, but even his presence failed to unlock a disciplined and well-drilled Como defence.

2025-26, Coppa Italia

Como 1907 - Inter 0:0

Como 1907: Butez; Valle (Moreno A., 79); Ramon J.; Smolcic I.; Vojvoda (Van Der Brempt, 79); Diego Carlos; Perrone; Caqueret (Baturina M., 86); Sergi Roberto (Diao, 70); Nico Paz (Douvikas, 86); Da Cunha
Substitution: Diao (from 70); Moreno A. (from 79); Van Der Brempt (from 79); Douvikas (from 86); Baturina M. (from 86)
Bench: Törnqvist N.; Vigorito M.; Čavlina N.; Goldaniga; Kuehn N-G.; Rodríguez J.; Morata

Inter: Martínez J-p; Acerbi; Carlos Augusto; Bisseck; Darmian (Dumfries, 58); Bastoni; Sucic P.; Frattesi (Mkhitaryan, 86); Çalhanoğlu (Zielinski P., 58); Diouf A. (Luis Henrique T.L., 68); Pio Esposito (Thuram M., 58)
Substitution: Dumfries (from 58); Zielinski P. (from 58); Thuram M. (from 58); Luis Henrique T.L. (from 68); Mkhitaryan (from 86)
Bench: Sommer; Di Gennaro; de Vrij; Akanji; Dimarco; Barella; Lavelli