Como vs Südtirol: Overview

Como 1907 showcased their resilience and attacking prowess as they came from behind to defeat FC Südtirol 3-1 in the opening round of the Coppa Italia at the picturesque Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia.

On a warm August afternoon in Como, with the sun reflecting off Lake Como creating a stunning backdrop, the home side demonstrated why they're considered one of the more exciting teams to watch this season. Despite falling behind to an early Daniele Casiraghi penalty, Cesc Fàbregas' men responded emphatically with Greek striker Anastasios Douvikas netting a quick-fire double before Lucas Da Cunha added a third to secure passage to the next round.

The atmosphere at the lakeside venue was electric throughout, with Como supporters showing unwavering support even after conceding first. Their patience was rewarded as the technical superiority of the home side gradually became evident, particularly in the final third where Douvikas proved clinical.

This victory means Como 1907 advance to face Sassuolo in the second round of the Coppa Italia, continuing their positive momentum after recently lifting the inaugural Como Cup during preseason. For Südtirol, managed by veteran coach Fabrizio Castori, the defeat was compounded by Filipe Bordon's late dismissal, leaving them to regroup before their league campaign begins.

The match represented a statement of intent from Como, who demonstrated character and quality that will serve them well as they look to make an impact in this season's cup competition.

"I'm pleased with how we responded after going behind early. The character shown by the team today speaks volumes about the mentality we're building here. Douvikas was exceptional in front of goal, and the whole team showed great determination to turn the match around," said Como coach Cesc Fàbregas after the final whistle.

"We knew Como would be a difficult opponent, especially at their home ground. Taking the lead gave us confidence, but unfortunately, we couldn't maintain it. The sending off late in the game was disappointing and something we need to address. Now we must focus on learning from this experience," reflected Südtirol manager Fabrizio Castori.

"Scoring twice feels great, but the most important thing is the team advancing to the next round. We've been working hard in preseason, and it's good to see that effort translating into official matches," commented Anastasios Douvikas, Como's two-goal hero.

"Como showed their quality today, especially in attack. They capitalized on their chances efficiently, which ultimately made the difference. For a club like Südtirol, these matches against higher-division opponents provide valuable lessons," noted Italian football analyst Paolo Condò in his post-match assessment.

Possession: Como 1907 61% - 39% FC Südtirol

The home side dominated the ball throughout the encounter, with midfielders Sergi Roberto and Nicolás Paz controlling the tempo effectively. Südtirol's approach was more direct, looking to capitalize on counter-attacking opportunities.

Shots: Como 1907 15 (8 on target) - 7 (3 on target) FC Südtirol

Como's attacking intent was evident in their shot count, with striker Anastasios Douvikas registering 5 attempts, converting 2. For the visitors, Daniele Casiraghi was their primary threat with 3 attempts including his successful penalty.

Corners: Como 1907 7 - 3 FC Südtirol

Cards: Como 1907 2 yellow - FC Südtirol 3 yellow, 1 red

Filipe Bordon's dismissal in the 88th minute capped a disciplinary struggle for the visitors, who accumulated three yellow cards before the sending off.

Individual Highlights:

• Anastasios Douvikas (Como): 2 goals, 5 shots, 3 on target
• Lucas Da Cunha (Como): 1 goal, 3 key passes, 89% pass completion
• Sergi Roberto (Como): 94% pass completion, 2 chances created
• Daniele Casiraghi (Südtirol): 1 goal (penalty), 3 shots

Como's superior technical quality was reflected in their 87% team pass completion rate compared to Südtirol's 72%. The home side also recorded 18 successful dribbles to Südtirol's 7, highlighting the individual skill at Fàbregas' disposal.

5' - Penalty to Südtirol: Against the run of play, the visitors were awarded a penalty after a clumsy challenge from Marc-Oliver Kempf. Daniele Casiraghi stepped up and confidently dispatched the spot-kick, sending Jean Butez the wrong way. Como 0-1 Südtirol.

23' - Douvikas equalizer: Como's pressure paid dividends when Greek forward Anastasios Douvikas latched onto a clever through ball from Nicolás Paz, calmly slotting past Marius Adamonis to level the scores. Como 1-1 Südtirol.

27' - Douvikas doubles up: Just four minutes later, Douvikas struck again. This time, the striker reacted quickest to a rebound following Lucas Da Cunha's shot, firing home from close range to complete the turnaround. Como 2-1 Südtirol.

51' - Da Cunha extends lead: Como started the second half with intent and soon had their third. Lucas Da Cunha cut inside from the right wing, evaded two defenders, and curled a beautiful left-footed shot into the far corner beyond Adamonis' reach. Como 3-1 Südtirol.

65' - Tactical shift: Fabrizio Castori responded by switching to a more offensive 4-3-3 formation, introducing Emanuele Pecorino to bolster Südtirol's attacking options as they sought a way back into the match.

71' - Álvaro Morata debut: Como's star summer signing was introduced to a standing ovation, replacing two-goal hero Douvikas for the final 20 minutes of the contest.

88' - Bordon dismissed: Any hopes of a late Südtirol comeback were extinguished when Filipe Bordon received a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Jayden Addai, reducing the visitors to ten men for the closing stages.

The Como 1907 versus FC Südtirol fixture has been relatively rare in Italian football, with the teams operating in different divisions for much of their history. Prior to this Coppa Italia confrontation, the head-to-head record stood at Como (2 wins), Südtirol (1 win), with 1 draw.

Historically, meetings between these sides have been tight affairs, with an average of 2.5 goals per game across their previous encounters. This 3-1 victory for Como represents their highest scoring output against Südtirol to date.

This match marked their first-ever meeting in the Coppa Italia competition, adding a new chapter to their limited history of confrontations.

Key Individual Battles:

Sergi Roberto vs. Fabian Tait: Como's experienced midfielder Sergi Roberto dominated the central areas, completing 94% of his passes and effectively neutralizing Tait's influence on the game. The former Barcelona player's ability to dictate tempo proved crucial in Como's comeback.

Anastasios Douvikas vs. Simone Davì: Südtirol's central defender struggled to contain Douvikas throughout the match. The Greek striker's movement and clinical finishing made the difference, with Davì often finding himself a step behind in crucial moments.

Daniele Casiraghi vs. Marc-Oliver Kempf: Despite Kempf's early mistake leading to Südtirol's penalty, the Como defender recovered well to limit Casiraghi's effectiveness in open play. After the spot-kick, Casiraghi found opportunities limited against Como's increasingly confident backline.

This encounter demonstrated the growing gap in quality between the sides, with Como's technical superiority eventually telling despite Südtirol's disciplined approach and early advantage.

As this was a Coppa Italia first-round fixture taking place before the start of the league season, neither team has a current league position. However, the context surrounding both clubs provides insight into their respective situations heading into the 2025/26 campaign.

Como 1907 are preparing for their upcoming season with high ambitions following significant investment in the squad. Their victory in this cup fixture provides positive momentum as they look to establish themselves as a competitive force. The arrival of high-profile players and the appointment of Cesc Fàbregas as head coach signals their intent to achieve more than just survival this season.

FC Südtirol finished 10th in Serie B last season under Fabrizio Castori's guidance, a respectable mid-table position for the club from Bolzano. Their performance against Como, despite the defeat, showed glimpses of quality that could serve them well in their league campaign. With experienced players like Daniele Casiraghi leading their attack, Südtirol will be aiming to build on last season's foundation and potentially challenge for promotion.

In the Coppa Italia, Como's victory means they progress to face Sassuolo in the second round, while Südtirol's cup journey ends here, allowing them to focus exclusively on their league ambitions.