Como – Verona. Match Preview and Prediction

October 29, 2025 19:30. Como. Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium
Serie A. Round 9

Como – Verona

After a six-match unbeaten streak in Serie A, Cesc Fabregas' team will face Paolo Zanetti's team, who have not won a single win this season in the Italian top division and are close to the relegation zone. The fact that Verona has not defeated Como since 2004 (!), adds to the tension of the confrontation. Although in these 21 years the teams have met only four times - two victories for Como and two draws, which ended in goals. There has been no shortage of draws this season for either the home or away team: nine games in eight rounds for both teams combined – four and five respectively, with only Atalanta boasting more. Now, Fabregas' men are clearly aiming for more than just extending their unbeaten run to seven games.

How

If it weren't for three draws in their last four games, the Blue and Whites could have climbed up to the Champions League places – a logical step forward for a team that has been impressive in Serie A this season (continuing last year's surprises under Fabregas). The draw with Atalanta is not bad, but against Cremonese (who have only lost to Inter so far) the final score was affected by Jesus Rodriguez's red card, which prevented a late surge. It's not as dramatic as the previous draw with Genoa (remember, central defender Jacobo Ramon was sent off late in the match, allowing the Genoese to equalise in injury time and snatch a point) – but still the team dropped two points instead of gaining one. All this against the backdrop of Inter's defeat by Napoli and Bologna's draw with Fiorentina.

In the previous round, Como failed to score away from home against Parma: coach Carlos Cuesta, despite not having the strongest squad, conceded possession to the blue-and-whites, but effectively stifled their attack: Zion Suzuki only missed two shots on target (and six in total) – impressive considering the visitors had 70% possession of the ball. However, Parma didn't just sit idly by; they counter-attacked hard and threatened from set pieces. In the end, ten shots from three tested Jean Boutes in the visitors' goal. 0-0 - a tough, bitter draw. Although more was expected from Como: after the 2-0 win over Juventus, Fabregas' motivational speeches and Nico Paz's play: "4+4" this season is the leader in goals and assists, only Riccardo Orsolini is ahead in goals (5 for Bologna's top scorer, but no assists). It is no wonder that Tottenham called them in the summer (there were rumors of an offer of 70 million euros), and now Inter are reportedly offering around 60 million. On the other hand, Paz could return to Real Madrid - if he continues to score goals and make assists. Including in the game against the modest Verona.

Verona

The last round brought endless disappointment to the yellow-blue fans of Verona: the "tifosi" waited for a victory for an eternity and had every reason to celebrate three points in the game against Cagliari. In the middle of the first half, Brazilian Giovane passed a pass to central midfielder Roberto Gagliardini, and about an hour into the game he passed a pass to his Nigerian teammate Gift Orban. But the guests, who dominated possession for one and a half times (somewhat reminiscent of the game between Parma and Como), fought back in the last 15 minutes and avoided defeat. Two shots on goal for Cagliari, two big chances (according to Opta) – two goals: first Adam Obert passed to Riyad Idrissy, and in injury time Leonardo Pavoletti and Mattia Felici together equalized for the Sardinians.

On the one hand, the 2-2 score was a reward for Cagliari's proactive approach and dominance in possession; on the other hand, who is to blame for Verona squandering their four big chances, which amounted to 2.2 goals (while Cagliari barely scored half of the expected goal by one indicator, or one by the other)? In fact, Paolo Zanetti's team has no wins, only four goals in eight games and the largest gap in the league between expected and actual goals – three times! The Mastiffs create around 1.5 goals per game, but score only 0.5 on average (while conceding more than they should: 1.38 per game, despite their opponents only creating 1.22 goals). That's why they are only one or two points above the relegation zone occupied by Fiorentina, Pisa and Genoa (the Genoese and Viola are showing worse results in attack and conceding more than expected, while Pisa is terrible overall).

Como v Verona: expected lineups

The hosts have winger Jesus Rodriguez back from suspension - an option to freshen up the lineup (as is another winger Diao), but Alvaro Morata could miss the game. The Spanish forward was injured against Parma (joining compatriot Sergi Roberto and Alberto Dossena in the infirmary), so expect Greek striker Tasos Douvikas to lead the charge. Verona are likely to stick with the Giovane-Orban attacking duo (Gift scored two of the team's four goals and the Brazilian provided three assists), Antoine Bernede could play in midfield, and Armel Bella-Kotchap in central defence (due to the injury to Unai Nunez, the Spaniard will join Suslov, Castaños, Oyogoke, Belakhyane and Al-Musrati on the bench).

Como v Verona: Author's prediction

Fàbregas's men are unbeaten at home this season, with goalkeeper Jean Bouthez having kept two clean sheets in four games. However, the Blue and Whites have not scored more than two goals in any match, but even that should be enough against Verona, who are struggling defensively but mostly suffering from poor finishing: after the draw with Udinese, the Yellow and Blues have gone three consecutive away games without a goal. In Serie A, in seven months (!) the Mastiffs have only beaten Empoli (who are currently playing happily in Serie B, so personal history may not even matter. After the draw with Parma, Como will want to perform at least as well as they did against Juve in front of their tifos, and Fabregas is preparing another pep talk. So I'm backing a home win with a -1 handicap to increase the odds.