Key Takeaways:
- Como advanced to the Italian Cup semifinals for the first time in 40 years after defeating Napoli via penalties last night
- The quarter-final in Naples finished 1:1 in normal time, with goals from Martin Baturina and Antonio Vergara
- Romelu Lukaku and Stanislav Lobotka missed crucial penalties for Napoli, while Jean Butez saved Napoli’s final spot-kick
Match Analysis: Stalemate and High Drama in Naples
Como became the third team to reach the semifinals of the Italian Cup this season, clinching their place after a tense penalty shootout win over Napoli. Cesc Fàbregas’ side eliminated the Partenopei in Naples after both Romelu Lukaku and Stanislav Lobotka failed to convert from the spot in the decisive shootout.
Regular time ended level at 1:1. The visitors struck first in the 39th minute when Martin Baturina dispatched a penalty calmly past Vanja Milinković-Savić, following Mathías Olivera’s foul on Ivan Smolcic inside the area. Napoli struck back almost immediately after the break, as Rasmus Højlund set up Antonio Vergara, who equalised in the 46th minute.
We’re going to semifinals!! pic.twitter.com/k3aNJqKDRW
— Como1907 (@Como_1907) February 10, 2026
Team Selection & Key Incidents
Napoli entered the fixture missing Scott McTominay, who had picked up an injury against Genoa, and the team’s organisation suffered as a result. Giovane Nascimento made his first start, while Vanja Milinković-Savić returned to guard the goal. In the early stages, Como signalled their intentions with Jayden Addai threatening to open the scoring.
After Baturina’s opener from the spot, Napoli looked to regain momentum, and their response was swift, with Vergara levelling less than a minute into the second half. The match took another turn when Jacobo Ramon fouled Højlund. Although he already had a yellow card, the referee opted not to dismiss the Spaniard, prompting Fàbregas to substitute him shortly after to avoid further risk.
Despite growing dominance from Napoli in the closing stages, they could not break down Como’s defence, sending the tie directly to penalties according to competition rules.
Penalty Shootout: Como Hold Their Nerve
In the shootout, Romelu Lukaku missed Napoli’s second attempt, failing to beat Jean Butez. The suspense continued as Como’s Perone had his penalty saved by Milinković-Savić, who subsequently stepped up to convert for Napoli with a fierce effort. However, the crucial moment arrived when Butez denied Lobotka, sending Como into the semifinals and sparking jubilant scenes, as this marked the club’s first progression to this stage in four decades.
| Italian Cup Quarter-Final | Score (Normal Time) | Penalty Shootout | Penalty Misses | Next Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Napoli vs Como | 1:1 | Como win | Lukaku, Lobotka (Napoli); Perone (Como) | Inter |
Statistical Notes & What Lies Ahead
This victory books Como’s place in the last four, where they will take on Inter for a spot in the final. It is a significant achievement for Fàbregas’ side, marking their deepest cup run in four decades. For Napoli, the absence of McTominay and missed opportunities from the penalty spot proved costly in front of a home crowd.
