"The Comeback: Inter showed exactly why they are champions. Thuram opened the door; Dumfries kicked it down."

SERIE A ENILIVE  |  MATCHDAY 32  |  STADIO GIUSEPPE SINIGAGLIA, COMO
THURAM TURNS THE TIDE: INTER SURVIVE COMO THRILLER TO TIGHTEN SCUDETTO GRIP
Nerazzurri come from two goals down to win 4–3 at the Sinigaglia, going nine points clear 

FINAL SCORE 

 ^{Half-time: 2–1  |  Attendance: ~13,600  |  Ref: Davide Massa} 

MATCH REPORT 

Sunday night at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia served up one of the most dramatic encounters of the Serie A season. Como, buoyed by their best campaign in decades and riding an unbeaten home run, took a remarkable two-goal lead against the league leaders, only to be ruthlessly overhauled by an Inter side that refused to accept defeat. 

The final whistle confirmed a 4–3 victory for Christian Chivu's Nerazzurri – a result that extends their advantage at the summit to nine points with six rounds remaining. Inter arrived at the lakeside ground without the talismanic Lautaro Martínez, the Argentine having aggravated a thigh problem just days after returning from a seven-week injury layoff. In his absence, Francesco Pio Esposito was handed a rare start alongside Marcus Thuram, while the hosts looked to the creativity of Nico Paz and Martin Baturina to unlock a Nerazzurri backline that had gone unbeaten in the previous three away fixtures. 

FIRST HALF — COMO STRIKE TWICE 

Cesc Fabregas had set up his team to press high and exploit the space in behind Inter's aggressive defensive line, and Como's intent was clear from the opening exchanges. The opening goal arrived in the 36th minute when left-back Adrián Valle surged forward and finished crisply into the far corner after a flowing move through midfield – a goal fully deserved by a Como side that had clearly done their homework on Inter's vulnerability on the counter. 

The hosts doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time when Nico Paz – arguably the most gifted player on the pitch – drilled a low effort beneath Yann Sommer from the edge of the area. The Estadio erupted, and for a moment it seemed Como might be engineering one of the upsets of the season against a side with the best defensive record in Italy. 

• "Inter showed exactly why they are champions– the ability to suffer, adapt, and ultimately prevail. Thuram opened the door; Dumfries kicked it down."

However, Chivu's men refused to capitulate. Deep into first-half stoppage time, Marcus Thuram reacted quickest to a Nicolo Barella cross from the right, prodding home from close range to make it 2–1, transforming the mood heading into the dressing rooms. That away goal, arriving in the 45+1 minute, would prove to be the pivotal moment of the contest. 

SECOND HALF — DUMFRIES COMPLETES STUNNING COMEBACK 

Inter began the second period with renewed urgency, and the equaliser arrived as early as the 49th minute. Thuram was again the protagonist, winning a physical duel with Kempf before slotting home with characteristic composure. Within four minutes of the restart, Inter had turned a two-goal deficit into parity – a testament to the side's clinical edge and their opponents' inability to manage a precious lead. 

The statistics from the match underline the contrasting styles: Como registered 24 total shots and an expected-goals figure of 2.79, suggesting Fabregas's side more than played their part in an extraordinary game. Inter, however, were devastatingly efficient – scoring four times from just seven attempts. That ruthlessness, the defining trait of a championship-winning side, ultimately proved the difference. The decisive contribution came from an unlikely source. Denzel Dumfries, the Dutch right wing-back, put Inter in front for the first time in the 58th minute – meeting a Hakan Calhanoglu set piece at the back post to sweep home. The Nerazzurri were not done: in the 72nd minute, Dumfries doubled his personal tally with a composed finish from 12 yards, converting after Akanji nodded down another Calhanoglu delivery to give Inter a commanding 4–2 advantage. Como refused to surrender without a fight. A VAR check confirmed that a challenge on Nico Paz in the 89th minute had occurred inside the area, and substitute Lucas Da Cunha converted the resulting penalty to make it 3–4. 

The final minutes were frantic, but Inter's defence held firm to protect a victory that further reinforces their status as runaway leaders of the Scudetto race. 

GOALS TIMELINE 

 LINEUPS 

TACTICAL & CONTEXT ANALYSIS 

This match crystallised the narrative of Como's remarkable 2025/26 campaign. Under Fabregas, the Lariani have been the league's most compelling story – compact defensively (league-best 22 goals conceded) yet daring in transition. Their willingness to attack Inter from the first minute was admirable, and on another night the scoreline might have read differently. 

For Inter, the result consolidates a dominant season despite inconsistency in recent weeks. The absence of Lautaro Martínez, who was re-injured having only just returned from a six-week layoff, remains a significant concern as the campaign enters its final stretch. Yet Thuram's composed brace and Dumfries' crucial double – the Dutchman scoring the 3rd and 4th goals – underlined the depth of quality available to Chivu, who will derive great confidence from his team's character under pressure. 

Crucially, the victory arrives with one eye on the Coppa Italia semi-final second leg at San Siro on 21 April, where Inter face Como again following a goalless first leg played at this very Sinigaglia on 3 March. Sunday's encounter proved both sides are capable of producing spectacular football – and that rematch now carries the added spice of a European trophy berth. 

SERIE A — MATCHDAY 32 ROUND-UP

10–13 April 2026  |  All results from the round 

 * Fiorentina vs Lazio (Monday 13 April, 20:45 CEST) not yet played at time of publication.

ROUND 32 — TALKING POINTS 

Udinese's stunning 3–0 demolition of AC Milan at San Siro was undoubtedly the result of the weekend. Goals from a Bartesaghi own-goal (27'), Ekkelenkamp (37') and Atta (71') inflicted a crushing defeat on the Rossoneri, accelerating their alarming collapse in the title race. With 63 points after 32 matches, Milan now find themselves nine points behind Inter and have lost serious ground on Napoli (66 pts) above them. 

Juventus recorded a composed 1–0 win at Atalanta's Gewiss Stadium – their first victory as a visiting side in Bergamo this calendar year. A Jeremie Boga strike early in the second half proved the difference, with goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio making a series of crucial late saves to preserve the clean sheet. The result moves Spalletti's Bianconeri level on 60 points with Como (4th on head-to-head), while Atalanta slip to seventh on 54 points. 

Napoli were held to a 1–1 draw at the Ennio Tardini. Gabriel Strefezza had given Parma a shock lead inside the first minute, only for Scott McTominay to equalise on the hour. The dropped point momentarily halted Napoli's momentum. With 66 points and six games remaining, the Partenopei remain Inter's closest challengers, though the nine-point gap makes a title reversal look increasingly unlikely. 

At the foot of the table, the relegation battle intensified. Pisa were beaten 3–0 by Roma – a result that leaves them rooted to the bottom alongside Hellas Verona on 18 points each. Cremonese (27 pts) and Lecce (27 pts) occupy the other two danger positions, though Cagliari (33 pts) and Fiorentina (32 pts) cannot yet consider themselves safe. 

UPDATED SERIE A STANDINGS (TOP 6)