Como stunned Napoli to reach their first Coppa Italia semi-final in 40 years after a 1-1 draw and a 7-6 sudden-death penalty win. Betting takeaway: Napoli remain 90-minute favorites, but punters could find value on Como to qualify in cup markets or on the “match to go to penalties” market after this dramatic, nervy tie.
Como shock Napoli on penalties to reach Coppa Italia semi-finals
Como produced a memorable cup upset at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, holding Napoli 1-1 before prevailing 7-6 in a dramatic sudden-death penalty shootout. Martin Baturina’s first-half penalty and Antonio Vergara’s immediate second-half reply sent the tie to spot-kicks, where Como held their nerve to clinch a place in the semi-finals for the first time in four decades.
Match timeline and key moments
First half: Baturina penalty gives Como the lead
The visitors started brightly and were awarded a penalty after Ivan Smolcic was brought down in the area. Martin Baturina calmly rifled the spot-kick into the near corner, beating the goalkeeper and giving Como a priceless lead against the odds.
Second half: Rapid Napoli response
Napoli levelled inside 60 seconds of the restart when Rasmus Hojlund’s flick failed to find a teammate but instead rolled into the path of Antonio Vergara, who kept his composure to finish one-on-one. Napoli grew into the game thereafter, piling pressure and creating several half-chances, but clear-cut openings were scarce.
Late drama and a contentious edge
The contest featured heated moments and a booking controversy that saw one player lucky to avoid a second yellow. Tactical adjustments followed as both sides searched for a winner, but neither could break the deadlock inside 90 minutes, forcing a penalty shootout.
Penalty shootout: Sudden-death theatrics
The shootout swung back and forth. Napoli missed a key spot-kick from a leading striker, while Baturina converted for Como. The contest extended into sudden death, with a goalkeeper penalty finding the net via a ricochet before Como’s goalkeeper produced the decisive save on Stanislav Lobotka to send Como through 7-6 on penalties.
Implications for both teams
Como’s cup run injects momentum and belief into a season that will now include a rare deep Coppa Italia run. For Napoli, the result is a bitter blow and adds pressure on squad selection and mentality in knockout fixtures. The match underlined Napoli’s vulnerability in one-off games and Como’s resilience in high-stakes moments.
Betting implications and what punters should consider
Punters should note that while Napoli remain the likely favorites to win in 90 minutes in most domestic matches, this result highlights two betting angles to consider: backing Como in “team to qualify” cup markets when they’re undervalued, and targeting markets that reflect tight knockout ties — for example, “match to go to penalties/extra time” or lower-margin, outcome-based props.
Also consider variance in penalty performance when markets list shootout-related options; recent cup form suggests Como can be trusted in high-pressure spot-kick scenarios.
What’s next
Como advance to the Coppa Italia semi-final and will prepare for their next opponent with renewed confidence. Napoli must regroup quickly and address the issues exposed in this loss if they are to remain contenders across domestic competitions.
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