Inter host Como at San Siro/Giuseppe Meazza for the Coppa Italia semifinals second leg with the tie finely balanced after a 0-0 first game. The first meeting in Como was tight but telling: Como led shots 5-3 and corners 6-1, while Inter dribbled more efficiently and completed more clearances. With a packed house expected in Milan and Simone Sozza appointed as referee, small margins should decide who reaches the final.

What the first leg told us

Como created the game’s only big chance and posted 51% possession, edging the shot count 5-3 and shots on target 1-0. Inter were cleaner in duels on the ball, completing 11 of 13 dribbles, but ran into a well-organized back line that made 19 clearances. Set pieces leaned Como’s way too, with a 6-1 corner advantage. Sozza oversaw no major controversies in that match, but his career sample is card-happy: 875 yellows and 25 reds in 189 games.

Inter’s trends and standouts

Across their Coppa Italia run, Inter have packed plenty into three matches: 7 goals for and only 2 against, with 55% average possession and 89% pass accuracy. They’ve generated 10 big chances and 14 shots on target from 32 attempts, plus 6 fast breaks with 1 goal. In Sofascore Ratings, Andy Diouf leads Inter so far (7.57, 2 goals), while Marcus Thuram has contributed 2 goals and 1 assist and Davide Frattesi has 2 assists. Inter’s projected XI lines up 3-5-2 with Josep Martínez in goal; Manuel Akanji, Francesco Acerbi and Alessandro Bastoni at the back; Denzel Dumfries, Nicolò Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Federico Dimarco across midfield; Francesco Pio Esposito partnering Thuram up front.

Como’s strengths by the numbers

Como have played five Coppa Italia matches, scoring 10 and conceding only 3. The data points to controlled possession (62%), crisp passing (2714 of 3019 accurate, nearly 90%) and a steady flow of chances: 12 big chances created, 30 shots on target from 61 attempts. They’re also dangerous in transition with 7 fast breaks and 3 fast-break goals, and they win their duels at a 55% clip. The projected XI is a 4-2-3-1 featuring Jean Butez in goal; Ivan Smolčić, Jacobo Ramón, Diego Carlos and Álex Valle in defense; Maxence Caqueret and Máximo Perrone as the double pivot; Assane Diao, Martin Baturina and Nico Paz supporting Lucas Da Cunha.