In the first leg of the Coppa Italia semifinal, Como drew goalless with Inter Milan. The match played at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia did not produce a winner, leaving the qualification open ahead of the return leg at San Siro. Piotr Zieliński started the match on the bench, coming onto the pitch in the second half, but he was unable to change the course of the encounter against the ambitious newly-promoted side led by Cesc Fabregas.

Goalless draw in Como

The first leg of the semifinal ended 0:0, which favors Inter ahead of the home return leg, but praises Como's defense.

Piotr Zieliński's performance

The Pole came off the bench in the 58th minute and, despite good reviews, did not change the outcome of the match.

Criticism on Inter's side

Coach Chivu openly criticized the team's performance, believing they did not play at a level worthy of Inter.

The first act of the Coppa Italia semifinal between Como and Inter Milan ended in a goalless draw, leaving a sense of dissatisfaction in both camps. Inter's coach, Cristian Chivu, made numerous changes to the lineup, which the media dubbed a revolution, but the rotations did not bring the expected quality in attack. Piotr Zieliński, the Polish midfielder of the 'Nerazzurri', came off the bench in the 58th minute of the match, replacing one of the midfield leaders. Despite a few flashes and solid ratings from Italian journalists, the Polish national team player failed to break down the hosts' tight defense. The Coppa Italia, known as the Italian Cup, is a competition with a tradition dating back to 1922, and Inter Milan is one of the most successful clubs in its history, having won it nine times. The match was characterized by great tactical discipline from the team led by Cesc Fabregas. Como, playing at home, managed at times to push the favored Inter into defense, and the best ratings in the team went to Vojvoda, who threatened the visitors' goal on several occasions. Meanwhile, among the Milanese ranks, criticism fell on young striker Pio Esposito, who failed to capitalize on the chance given to him in the starting eleven. Cristian Chivu did not hide his disappointment after the match, stating that his players' performance did not match the standards represented by the club from San Siro. „Non è stata una partita da Inter” (It was not an Inter-level match.) — Cristian Chivu The return leg, which will determine the finalist of the competition, is scheduled for April in Milan. Inter will have to show much greater efficiency in front of their own fans to avoid a sensational exit from the tournament. The squad situation and rotations in the lineup show that the coaching staff treats these competitions as a testing ground, which, however, in the absence of goals, raises concerns among fans ahead of the decisive phase of the season, in which the club is also fighting for success in the league.

Mentioned People

  • Piotr Zieliński — Polish national team player, Inter Milan midfielder, who came on as a substitute.
  • Cristian Chivu — Inter Milan coach, critically assessing his team's performance.
  • Cesc Fabregas — Como coach, satisfied with his team's performance against the favorite.
  • Mergim Vojvoda — Como player, highlighted for his good performance in the cup match.