SSC Napoli will have Coppa Italia glory on their mind when they facea tricky chalenge in Como 1907 on Tuesday night.
Napoli’s pursuit of a seventh Coppa Italia continues on Tuesday night as the reigning Serie A champions welcome Como to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona for the third quarter-final. With Inter Milan awaiting the winner in the semi-finals, Antonio Conte’s side return to a venue where domestic defeat has become a rarity, having gone more than a year unbeaten on home soil in Italian competitions.
Napoli’s Coppa Italia journey began later than most due to European commitments that have since ended with an early Champions League exit. Their introduction to the competition was far from serene, as Cagliari pushed them to the brink in the last 16. A tense 1-1 draw eventually gave way to a marathon penalty shootout, where goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic emerged as an unlikely hero, saving multiple spot-kicks and converting one himself in a dramatic 9-8 triumph.
With Europe no longer a concern, Conte can still chase a domestic clean sweep, having already added the Supercoppa Italiana to last season’s Scudetto. While Napoli have slipped slightly out of the title race, falling behind both Milan clubs, recent back-to-back league wins have stabilised their position in third and restored a degree of authority.
Saturday’s trip to Genoa was emblematic of Napoli’s season, chaotic but ultimately successful. Goals from Rasmus Hojlund and Scott McTominay overturned an early deficit, only for the contest to spiral late on as Napoli surrendered their lead and were reduced to ten men. In the end, Hojlund’s stoppage-time penalty proved decisive, sealing a third straight win in all competitions and sending Conte’s side back to Naples with momentum intact.
Now back at the Maradona, Napoli will rely on a formidable home record; only Chelsea have beaten them there since the start of 2024. That resilience will be tested by a Como side enjoying the most ambitious and successful campaign in their history.
Como’s Coppa Italia run has already exceeded expectations. After overcoming Sudtirol and Sassuolo in the early rounds, Cesc Fabregas’s team have combined cup progress with an impressive Serie A campaign, emerging as genuine contenders for European qualification following two years of sustained investment.
Before last weekend, Como had been in scintillating form, scoring 12 goals across three consecutive victories. A 3-0 win over Lazio in Rome was followed by a ruthless six-goal demolition of Torino, before a commanding 3-1 victory over Fiorentina in Florence booked their place in this quarter-final.
That momentum was checked in dramatic fashion against Atalanta. Despite playing against ten men for more than 80 minutes, dominating possession, and registering 25 shots, Como were held to a frustrating draw. The cruelty of the result was compounded when star man Nico Paz saw a stoppage-time penalty saved by Marco Carnesecchi, leaving the young playmaker visibly distraught at full time.
With their weekend fixture postponed due to the Winter Olympics ceremony at San Siro, Como arrive in Naples refreshed and focused. They will also take encouragement from their earlier visit to the Maradona, where a disciplined 0-0 draw in November showed they are capable of stifling Napoli’s attacking rhythm.
Still, history and experience lean heavily in the hosts’ favour. Napoli’s depth, home authority, and familiarity with knockout pressure make them clear favourites, even against a fearless Como side enjoying its moment. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how the clubs could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.
Team News & Tactics
SSC Napoli
Napoli head into Tuesday’s Coppa Italia quarter-final with several key fitness concerns. Scott McTominay is a major doubt after being forced off midway through Saturday’s dramatic win at Genoa, and Antonio Conte will be hoping the Scottish midfielder can recover in time, given his importance at both ends of the pitch.
Napoli’s injury list is already extensive: Kevin De Bruyne, Frank Anguissa, and Billy Gilmour remain sidelined, while captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo is also unavailable. In wide areas, Matteo Politano and David Neres continue their recovery and will not feature. There is no Coppa Italia suspension for Juan Jesus, whose red card at the weekend applies to Serie A action only, meaning he will miss Sunday’s league clash with Roma but remains eligible for this cup tie.
There is more positive news between the posts. Vanja Milinkovic-Savic has recently returned to fitness and is pushing strongly to start, particularly after Alex Meret conceded a penalty against Genoa. Conte may opt for Milinkovic-Savic’s commanding presence and penalty-saving reputation in a knockout fixture where fine margins often decide outcomes.
Tactically, Napoli are expected to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, a system that allows Conte to maintain defensive security while supporting the attack with midfield runners. Vanja Milinkovic-Savic is likely to start in goal. The back three should feature Sam Beukema on the right, Amir Rrahmani as the central organiser, and Juan Jesus on the left, providing experience and physicality.
In midfield, Miguel Gutierrez is expected to operate as the right wing-back, with Leonardo Spinazzola providing width and penetration from the left. Centrally, Stanislav Lobotka should anchor the midfield, responsible for dictating tempo and recycling possession, while Scott McTominay, fitness permitting, would operate as the box-to-box presence, offering late runs into the area and aerial threat. If McTominay is unavailable, Conte may be forced into a more conservative adjustment.
Ahead of them, Antonio Vergara and Eljif Elmas are likely to play as the two advanced midfielders, tasked with linking play, pressing aggressively, and supporting the lone striker. Leading the line, Rasmus Hojlund is expected to start as the central forward, offering pace, physicality, and penalty-box presence.
This setup reflects Conte’s pragmatic approach in cup competition: solid at the back, structured through midfield, and reliant on decisive moments from advanced runners and the striker to break down a well-organised Como side.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Milinkovic-Savic; Beukema, Rrahmani, Jesus; Gutierrez, Lobotka, McTominay, Spinazzola; Vergara, Elmas; Hojlund
Como 1907
In contrast to Napoli’s mounting fitness concerns, Como arrive in Naples with an almost fully fit squad, giving Cesc Fabregas rare selection continuity for a high-profile knockout tie. The only confirmed absentees are Assane Diao and Edoardo Goldaniga, both of whom remain sidelined through injury.
There are no suspension issues to contend with, and the rest of the squad have benefited from an extended break, with eight full days to recover and prepare following the postponement of their weekend league fixture. That freshness could prove significant, particularly in attack. Como’s main threat is expected to come from Nico Paz and Tasos Douvikas, the club’s joint top scorers in Serie A with eight goals apiece.
Douvikas has also carried his form into the Coppa Italia, netting three times in the competition, while Paz continues to be the creative heartbeat of the side, capable of deciding games through technique and composure in tight spaces. Tactically, Como are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, a structure that allows Fabregas to retain midfield control while supporting a central striker with multiple creative outlets.
Jean Butez should start in goal, offering calm distribution from the back. The defensive line is likely to consist of Ivan Smolcic at right-back, Jacobo Ramon and Marc Oliver Kempf as the central defensive pairing, and Alex Valle operating at left-back, providing balance and overlap when required.
In midfield, Maximo Perrone is expected to sit deepest, anchoring play and screening the defence, alongside Lucas Da Cunha, whose role will focus on ball progression and linking defence to attack. Ahead of them, Mergim Vojvoda should operate from the right, Nico Paz is set to take up the central attacking midfield role as Como’s chief playmaker, and Martin Baturina is likely to start from the left, drifting inside to combine and create overloads.
Leading the line, Anastasios Douvikas should start as the lone striker, tasked with occupying Napoli’s back three and capitalising on service from the attacking midfield trio. This setup reflects Como’s ambition under Fàbregas: technically assured, structurally disciplined, and confident enough to test Napoli despite the intimidating surroundings of the Stadio Maradona.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Butez; Smolcic, Ramon, Kempf, Valle; Perrone, Da Cunha; Vojvoda, Paz, Baturina; Douvikas
Key Stats
- Napoli are unbeaten at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in domestic competition for over a year, with only Chelsea defeating them there since the start of 2024.
- Napoli are six-time Coppa Italia winners and are aiming to reach the semi-finals for the first time since lifting the trophy in 2020.
- Como have already eliminated two Serie A sides in this Coppa Italia, beating Sassuolo and Fiorentina en route to their first-ever quarter-final appearance.
- Como have scored 12 goals across their last three competitive win, their best top-flight campaign in six years.
- The two sides drew 0-0 at the Maradona earlier this season, showing Como’s ability to frustrate Napoli despite a significant gap in pedigree and experience.
Player to Watch
Scott McTominay
Scott McTominay’s influence on Napoli’s season has grown steadily, and his presence, if fully fit, could be pivotal in this Coppa Italia quarter-final. The Scottish midfielder has become one of Antonio Conte’s most trusted figures, offering a blend of physical authority, tactical discipline, and an increasingly reliable goal threat from midfield.
McTominay’s value lies in his versatility. Comfortable operating as a box-to-box midfielder or pushing into advanced areas, he provides Napoli with verticality that few others in the squad can replicate. His late runs into the penalty area have repeatedly unsettled defences, and his ability to arrive unseen makes him especially dangerous in tight, low-margin knockout ties.
Against a Como side likely to defend compactly and look to counter, McTominay’s timing could be decisive. He is often the player who bridges the gap between Napoli’s controlled build-up and their finishing phase, whether through direct carries, aerial presence at set pieces, or sheer physical pressure in second balls.
There remains a question mark over his fitness after being forced off at the weekend, but if Conte is able to call upon him, McTominay has the profile of a player capable of tipping the balance, not with flair, but with authority, intelligence, and decisive contribution when it matters most.
Prediction
SSC Napoli 2-1 Como 1907
Como have already shown this season that they can frustrate Napoli at the Stadio Maradona, and with a rested squad and nothing to lose, Cesc Fabregas’ss side should again make this a competitive contest. Their organisation and attacking quality, particularly through Nico Paz and Tasos Douvikas, mean Napoli cannot afford complacency.
That said, knockout experience and home authority remain decisive factors. Napoli’s depth, physicality, and ability to manage high-pressure moments, especially in cup football, should ultimately tell, even if patience is required.
