Cesc Fabregas has done a fabulous job as Como’s manager, and their progress within a short span shows exactly why it was the right decision to trust the Spaniard. The Italian minnows are now firmly in line to finish 10th in the league irrespective of what happens on the final matchday of the season.
Fabregas’s side did come short of winning seven Serie A games in a row following their draw against Hellas Verona in the most recent matchday. While they can hold their heads high for the impressive season under the bag, Como could now play a decisive role in determining which direction the Serie A title goes towards as they host Inter Milan on the final matchday of the campaign.
Inter Milan squandered a golden chance late in the season to get ahead of league leaders Napoli as they could only muster a 2-2 draw with Lazio in the most recent matchday. Napoli have only managed back-to-back draws against Genoa and then Parma, which presented the Nerazzuri with an opportunity at the San Siro last Sunday.
A Yann Bisseck strike at the stroke of halftime handed Simone Inzagi’s side the lead, but Pedro pegged back an equaliser midway through the second half. Denzel Dumfries took no time to restore that lead, although a late yet controversial penalty for Lazio, scored by Pedro ensured Inter Milan were undone in this clash.
Over in Parma, Napoli were handed a late penalty, which was ruled out by VAR, as Antonio Conte’s men would have outright won the Serie A title had that played to their advantage. Heading to the final matchday in Serie A, Napoli take on Cagliari at home, while Inter Milan travel to Como, as the two games will be held simultaneously on Friday night, with the title still in the former’s hands as things stand.
Top scorer Assane Diao joined Alberto Dossena and Sergi Roberto on the sidelines with an injury problem. Edoardo Goldaniga also misses out with a suspension, as beyond that Fabregas has a full squad to choose from, as he will set out strongly to stop Inter Milan from gaining an advantage.
Yannik Engelhardt and Marc Kempf are the main men in central defence, as Fabregas will continue to field a back four. Mergim Vojvoda and Alex Valle are the preferred choices in those two full-back positions.
Lucas De Cunha and Maximo Perrone are the central midfielders for Como, with Maxence Caqueret playing the advanced role in the No.10 position. Como’s main inspiration in the attacking third will be Nico Paz as Diao will be absent, and Tasos Douvikas will likely replace the latter at the top of the attack.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Butez; Vojvoda, Engelhardt, Kempf, Valle; Cunha, Perrone; Paz, Caqueret, Strefezza; Douvikas
Inzaghi will only have Benjamin Pavard miss this clash on the final matchday of the season. There are some doubts about Davide Frattesi and skipper Lautaro Martinez featuring in some capacity on Friday, as even if they are fit, the manager is unlikely to risk them given there is a Champions League Final on the horizon.
Irrespective of the European showdown later this month, Inzaghi is expected to treat this clash with Como as a key fixture of their season. Hence, the manager is likely to name his strongest available lineup for this one, which could include a frontline of Marcus Thuram and Mehdi Taremi.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Hakan Calhanoglu and Nicolo Barella are the main choices for central midfield, with Denzel Dumfries and Federico Dimarco in the wing-back slots. While overusing his defenders will pose a risk, Inzahghi will not hesitate to name Alessandro Bastoni, veteran Francesco Acerbi and Bissesck in his backline despite having some options as cover on his bench.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Sommer; Bisseck, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Taremi
Inter Milan needs a win without fail and Inzaghi will look no further than Thuram to get in the goals for his side. Ideally, he would like the Frenchman to get the job done early against Como, to allow him a good amount of rest ahead of the Champions League Final.
Thuram has been one of the best performers for Inter Milan, in a campaign when his strike partner and skipper Martinez has somewhat underwhelmed. This upcoming visit to Como is a big occasion for Thuram to once again assert his importance to the team, as his goals will be crucial to keep Inter Milan in the hunt for the title in the final match of the season.
Como does not have anything to lose or gain from this game on the final matchday, which will allow them to play without any pressure. Such a scenario is not particularly good for Inter Milan as they chase a win to do their part and give themselves every chance to win the title.
Inter Milan have a fantastic record against Como and that may play a part in getting the result. While the Nerazzuri are expected to push hard for three points, they might not keep a clean sheet in the process, although their quality of players will ensure three points a a tight finish to this season’s title race.
