The Stadio Diego Armando Maradona was a cauldron of noise and nerves on February 10, 2026, as Napoli and Como locked horns in a Coppa Italia quarter-final that will be talked about for years. Few predicted such drama—on paper, Napoli were overwhelming favorites. But football, as ever, had its own script, and Como, under the guidance of Cesc Fabregas, flipped the odds in a night of high-stakes tension, tactical chess, and a penalty shootout for the ages.
Napoli limped into this crucial fixture with a laundry list of absentees. Scott McTominay, a midfield linchpin, was ruled out with a recurring ankle inflammation, joining David Neres, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa, Billy Gilmour, and Kevin De Bruyne on the sidelines. The return of goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic after a brief injury layoff offered some relief, while January signing Giovane was thrust into the attacking trident alongside Rasmus Hojlund and Antonio Vergara. Eljif Elmas, normally an attacking force, slotted into midfield to patch the gaps left by injury.
Como, meanwhile, arrived in Naples well-rested. Their Serie A clash with Milan had been postponed to allow San Siro to prepare for the Winter Olympics opening ceremony, gifting Fabregas precious days on the training ground. The Larians had already shown their mettle by holding Napoli to a 0-0 draw at this very ground earlier in the season. With Nico Paz, Martin Baturina, and Jayden Addai leading the line, and a tactical setup designed to frustrate, Como were quietly confident of causing an upset.
It was a night that saw both managers—Fabregas and Antonio Conte—renew acquaintances, their rivalry dating back to their days together at Chelsea. But from the opening whistle, the focus was on the players. The first half unfolded with Napoli probing and Como defending with discipline, but it was the visitors who struck first. In the 36th minute, a flowing move saw Valle whip in a cross for Smolcic, who was brought down by Olivera inside the box. Referee Manganiello, after a quick VAR check, pointed to the spot. Martin Baturina stepped up and coolly dispatched his penalty, sending Milinkovic-Savic the wrong way and Como’s traveling fans into delirium.
Napoli’s response was swift. Barely had the second half started when Rasmus Hojlund, perhaps trying to do too much, inadvertently set up Antonio Vergara with a misplaced pass. The young attacker pounced, racing clear and slotting past Butez to level the scores. Suddenly, the Maradona was rocking, and Napoli, buoyed by the equalizer, poured forward in search of a winner.
Yet, Como refused to wilt. Their defensive organization was impressive, with Jacobo Ramon and Diego Carlos repelling wave after wave of Napoli attacks. The tension boiled over when Hojlund was felled near the edge of the area by Ramon, who had already been booked. Napoli’s players and Conte erupted in protest, demanding a second yellow. The referee stood firm, and a furious Conte was heard telling the fourth official, "You need courage to make these decisions," as reported by Mediaset. Fabregas, sensing danger, quickly substituted Ramon for Vojvoda to avoid a potential red card disaster.
With neither side able to break the deadlock, the match headed to penalties—the second consecutive Coppa Italia match for Napoli to be decided from the spot. The shootout was a rollercoaster. The first five penalties for each team saw both sides convert four, but Napoli’s Romelu Lukaku missed his attempt, giving Como the initial advantage. The drama escalated in sudden death. Both teams matched each other blow for blow until the eighth round, when Stanislav Lobotka’s effort was saved, handing Como a historic victory and a semi-final berth for the first time in four decades.
The penalty sequence itself was a microcosm of the night’s drama. For Como: Da Cunha, Douvikas, Baturina, Smolcic, Perrone (missed), Diego Carlos, Vojvoda, Valle. For Napoli: Politano, Lukaku (missed), Spinazzola, Alisson Santos, Elman, Milinkovic-Savic (whose goal ricocheted off the crossbar and the keeper before going in), Gutierrez, Lobotka (missed). The sight of Lukaku and Lobotka in despair will linger, as will the image of Como’s players celebrating wildly in front of their jubilant supporters.
For Napoli, the defeat was a bitter pill. Sporting Director Giovanni Manna tried to put a brave face on things, telling Mediaset, "Transfer market? It’s complicated and we decided to focus on young players like Giovane and Alisson Santos, who have qualities for the future as well. We’re waiting for them and we’re calm. Scudetto? First of all, I’d like to be able to count on the whole squad or at least with ‘normal’ injuries. Unfortunately, we’ve had long-term injuries: I would have liked to compete with the full squad. The first goal was the Supercoppa and we’ve already won it, and in the Coppa Italia we want to go further. In the league, we’re in line with expectations."
The numbers before kickoff had painted a different picture. Predictive models gave Napoli a win probability of up to 75%, with Como’s chances hovering around 10%. But as history now shows, cup football cares little for statistics. Como’s tactical discipline, physical freshness, and belief—fostered by Fabregas—proved decisive. Their reward is a semi-final against Inter, and the chance to dream even bigger.
For Napoli, questions will be asked about missed chances and mounting injuries. For Como, it’s a night to savor—a reminder that in football, the underdog sometimes gets its day. As the dust settles in Naples, one thing’s certain: the Coppa Italia has found its latest fairy tale, and it wears the blue and white of Como.