Inter hosted Como in the second leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final on Tuesday, with the tie level at 0-0 after the first meeting at the Sinigaglia Stadium. The Nerazzurri came into the return leg looking to move one step closer to a domestic double, while Como arrived chasing a chance to turn the cup into a guaranteed Europa League place.
For Inter, the stakes carried history as well as silverware. The club have not completed the domestic double since 2010, and this run has given them a clear route back to a feat that has been out of reach for 15 years. Como, meanwhile, were said to be seeking revenge after a 4-3 comeback defeat in the league, a result that had already sharpened the edge around this meeting.
Inter lined up in a 3-5-2 with J. Martinez behind Akanji, Acerbi and Carlos Augusto, while Luis Henrique, Barella, Calhanoglu, Zielinski and Dimarco filled the midfield and Bonny joined Thuram up front. Sommer was on the bench, and Bastoni and Lautaro were not in the squad. Como responded in a 3-4-2-1, with Butez in goal and Ramon, Diego Carlos and Kempf in defence, Van der Brempt, Perrone, Da Cunha and Valle across the middle, and Nico Paz, Baturina and Douvikas ahead of them.
The match was set up by a tense first leg that produced no goals, leaving both sides with everything still to play for in Milan. Inter had the domestic double in sight and Como had Europe in theirs, but only one of them could leave the tie with the cleaner path forward.