Key Takeaways
- Como and Napoli played out a 0-0 draw, repeating their earlier scoreline from this season at the Stadio Maradona
- Amir Rrahmani produced a crucial goal-line clearance to deny Tasos Douvikas an early opener for the hosts
- Matteo Politano struck the woodwork late in the match as Napoli’s best chance went begging
Cesc Fabregas and Antonio Conte shared another tactical battle at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, but neither manager could find a breakthrough as Como held Napoli to a barren draw in Serie A.
The two coaches, who previously worked together at Chelsea, met on the touchline once again following their Coppa Italia quarter-final clash earlier this season. On that occasion, Fabregas guided his side to victory on penalties. This time, the spoils were shared in a cagey affair that offered few clear-cut opportunities.
The result leaves Napoli sitting second in the table, though their pursuit of the summit continues to falter. Como remain in the hunt for a Champions League place, occupying fifth position ahead of kick-off.
Both sides welcomed back key personnel ahead of the fixture. The hosts saw Nico Paz, Mergim Vojvoda and Sergi Roberto return to the squad after fitness concerns, with only Jayden Addai unavailable through injury. Napoli received a boost with Giovanni Di Lorenzo named among the substitutes for the first time in three months following his knee rehabilitation. However, Mathias Olivera, Juan Jesus, David Neres, Antonio Vergara and Romelu Lukaku all missed out through various ailments.
The opening exchanges provided the best chance of the match. After eight minutes, Tasos Douvikas broke free from the offside trap to collect a through ball from Nico Paz. The striker rounded goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, but the stopper did just enough to delay the shot. That crucial intervention allowed defender Amir Rrahmani to scamper back and execute a spectacular goal-line clearance.
Como continued to press. Martin Baturina bent a shot beyond the far upright, while Milinkovic-Savic raced from his line to thwart Assane Diao following a swift counter-attack engineered by Paz. The Argentine midfielder also tested his luck from a set-piece, though his free kick sailed over the crossbar. From a subsequent corner, Jacobo Ramon failed to connect with a flick-on from close range.
Napoli struggled to create openings before the interval, though they improved marginally after the restart. Rasmus Hojlund appealed for a penalty after going down in the box, but the flag had already risen for offside. At the other end, Diao directed a header over the crossbar from the back post.
The Serbian goalkeeper was called into action again when a deflection almost wrong-footed him from Baturina’s half-turn, but he recovered to palm the ball away with one hand.
Scott McTominay spurned a glorious opportunity with eleven minutes remaining. The midfielder burst onto a pass from the left flank, but he dragged his shot across the face of goal and wide of the near post with only Jean Butez to beat.
Napoli’s closest attempt arrived shortly afterwards. Matteo Politano dispossessed Jesus Rodriguez with a perfectly timed tackle inside the penalty area before launching a counter-attack. The Italian winger then cut inside and unleashed a left-footed curler from distance, only to see his effort cannon back off the far post.
The stalemate mirrors the result when these sides met earlier this season at the Stadio Maradona. Once again, defences prevailed and the deadlock remained unbroken until the final whistle.