Key Takeaways
- Antonio Conte described Napoli’s goalless draw at Como as a ‘good performance’ and vital progress towards Champions League qualification
- The Partenopei were second best in the first half but improved after the break, hitting the woodwork through Matteo Politano
- The result keeps Napoli secure in second place, while Inter Milan can win the Scudetto with a point against Parma
Antonio Conte insists Napoli delivered a strong performance during their goalless Serie A encounter with Como, claiming the hard-earned point represents ‘another step forward’ in the race for Champions League football. The stalemate at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia mirrored the 0-0 result from the reverse fixture in Naples last November.
The hosts created the better openings during the first period. Defender Amir Rrahmani produced a crucial goal-line clearance to deny Tasos Douvikas, while goalkeeper Alex Meret was forced into a sharp save to keep Como at bay. Napoli improved significantly after the interval, with Matteo Politano striking the crossbar and Scott McTominay dragging a late counter-attack wide of the target.
‘It was certainly a good performance,’ Conte told DAZN Italia following the match. ‘Without that level of display, you do not come away unscathed from a game where both teams had so much at stake. Como are fighting for survival, so they perhaps needed the three points even more than us.’
The head coach admitted his side started the match too cautiously. ‘We were a little too timid in the first half and did not apply the right pressure. We must respect their goalkeeper, who reads the game brilliantly. One wrong movement and he is off his line immediately, forcing our defenders to sprint back and cover the space.’
Conte noted a marked improvement after the restart. ‘We raised our quality in the second half and created chances to win the match. There are three games remaining. This is another step forward, not just for a top-four finish, but to climb as high as possible in the table. The lads deserve praise for their effort against a difficult opponent.’
The manager made key tactical adjustments during the contest, introducing Frank Anguissa and pushing McTominay into a more advanced role. However, he was critical of his team’s passing at times. ‘We lost possession carelessly on a couple of occasions, which created unnecessary tension. Our central midfielders were too stretched and not compact enough. The playmakers need to work in tighter coordination.’
Conte also defended a player who was withdrawn early in the match. ‘He is in the same condition as he was last week. He performed very well against Cremonese and found the net, but some matches are more difficult than others. I decided to bring on Anguissa and move McTominay forward to give us fresh energy.’
The draw strengthens Napoli’s grip on second place in the Serie A standings. Meanwhile, city rivals Inter Milan can secure the Scudetto title on Sunday evening with just a single point from their home fixture against Parma at the San Siro.