Como boosted their push for European qualification with a commanding 2–0 victory over Juventus, exposing defensive frailties and controlling large spells of the contest.
Mërgim Vojvoda handed Como the lead in the 12th minute, his left-footed strike slipping past Michele Di Gregorio after a costly error at the back. Cesc Fàbregas’ side doubled their advantage in the 60th minute when Maxence Caqueret finished calmly inside the area following a sharp counter-attack. Juventus threatened from set pieces — Teun Koopmeiners struck the post from a late free-kick — but Massimiliano Allegri’s side struggled to create sustained pressure in open play.
The result leaves Juventus with defensive questions to answer ahead of their clash with Galatasaray, while Como continue to close the gap on the Champions League places with a disciplined and tactically mature display.
Juventus versus Como was a match that naturally attracted attention. How would Juventus approach it? Would they rotate players with Galatasaray awaiting them next Wednesday? Como, one of the most interesting teams in the league this season, were without their main creative force Nico Paz, who was suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the campaign. Both sides are fighting for a European place next season, adding further weight to the contest.
Juventus introduced tactical changes, perhaps already with Galatasaray in mind, testing a new structure. They lined up with three centre-backs, with Federico Gatti replacing Gleison Bremer, who could be preserved to ensure full fitness for next week. Lloyd Kelly played centrally, while Teun Koopmeiners was deployed as the left centre-back despite usually operating in midfield, and having previously featured as a second attacker under Igor Tudor. Andrea Cambiasso shifted to left wing-back, while Weston McKennie left midfield to operate as the right wing-back. Fabio Miretti supported from central areas as a second attacker behind a traditional centre-forward.
In the 4th minute, Martin Baturina attempted a long-range effort after being afforded space, but he focused too much on power rather than technique and sent his shot over the bar.
When attacking, Juventus pushed their centre-backs towards the halfway line, with the side centre-backs stepping into the opposition half. Ahead of them formed a wide, wing-shaped midfield line of six players. McKennie and Kenan Yildiz operated almost as wingers, while centrally Cambiasso and Manuel Locatelli positioned themselves on either side of Khéphren Thuram and Miretti, who alternated roles, with one advancing closer to the centre-forward. Locatelli and Cambiasso also stepped forward at times to support as secondary attacking options.
Como defended by narrowing their right-back alongside the centre-backs, forming a back three. Mërgim Vojvoda dropped from right midfield to right-back, while Álex Valle tucked in to create a back five. Ahead of them, Maxence Caqueret shifted from attacking midfield to operate wide right, with Baturina on the left. Tasos Douvikas remained the furthest player forward.
In the 5th minute, following a Juventus corner, Como attempted to counter. Locatelli quickly recovered possession and fed Yildiz, who drove centrally before unleashing a powerful, curling strike from outside the area. Jean Butez reacted well to make the save.
Como then pushed their pressing line higher, forcing a misplaced pass from McKennie. The ball broke centrally to Douvikas, who slowed play before releasing Vojvoda on the right. Vojvoda feinted past Koopmeiners, cut inside onto his left foot and struck powerfully. The shot was not placed far from Michele Di Gregorio, but the goalkeeper reacted slowly and spilled it into the net, gifting Como the opener.
In the 22nd minute, Lloyd Kelly produced an excellent through ball to Loïs Openda, who ran between the centre-backs and went one-on-one with Butez. Openda attempted a chip, but Butez comfortably gathered.
When pressing, Como formed a five-man line behind Douvikas. The central trio connected tightly with the striker to create a compact pressing diamond, with Caqueret on the right, Lucas Da Cunha on the left and Máximo Perrone slightly deeper. Vojvoda and Baturina held the width, while the defensive line stepped up towards halfway.
Juventus tried to build by positioning both wing-backs higher and forming a back five in possession. Locatelli aimed to dictate the tempo, with Thuram nearby for combination play. Ahead of them, Yildiz, Openda and Miretti stayed ready to attack long balls in transition.
In the 37th minute, Cambiasso’s throw-in reached Koopmeiners, whose attempted lob was poorly executed under pressure from Douvikas. Di Gregorio was forced to head clear as handling would have resulted in a foul with Baturina closing in. The ball dropped to Da Cunha, who won a duel and struck first time, smashing the crossbar. It was another defensive warning for Juventus.
Defensively, Juventus reshaped with McKennie and Cambiasso as full-backs in a back five. A line of four ahead blocked central access, with Miretti dropping right and Yildiz left. Openda led the press while remaining the outlet for transitions.
Como attacked with their centre-backs near halfway. In advanced areas, the full-backs pushed high, creating width. Caqueret operated as a roaming trequartista in the absence of Nico Paz, linking play, drifting wide and attacking the box. Vojvoda and Baturina stretched the pitch, while Douvikas led the line.
This structure defined the first half.
In build-up, Perrone dropped between the centre-backs to form a back three. Smolčić advanced as right-back, Da Cunha operated on the left, and Caqueret dropped deeper to assist progression. Near halfway, Vojvoda and Álex Valle waited to spring forward, with Baturina positioned ahead in support.
Rotations were frequent, with Da Cunha occasionally moving inside, Álex Valle retreating, Perrone stepping forward and Smolčić sliding into central defence. Caqueret alternated between deeper midfield and advanced attacking roles, while Smolčić occasionally surged forward into midfield spaces.
Juventus adjusted their press by shifting Openda wide right and pushing Thuram into the central pressing role, with Yildiz left. Miretti covered behind them, while Locatelli shifted to block the right-back. At times Thuram dropped back, Openda centralised, and McKennie or Miretti stepped forward to press. Behind them, a back five remained near halfway, with Kelly sweeping and Koopmeiners and Gatti central.
The first half ended with clear Como dominance. They defended well, controlled possession after scoring and dictated the tempo. Juventus made costly defensive errors, one leading directly to the goal and others nearly doing so.
In the 48th minute, substitute Francisco Conceição dribbled inside past Álex Valle and shot across goal, but Butez saved comfortably.
In the 52nd minute, from a corner routine, Álex Valle delivered to Perrone at the far post. Perrone mistimed his jump and only redirected centrally. Douvikas had two attempts, the first blocked by Gatti and the second fired over.
In the 60th minute, following another corner clearance, Da Cunha won a duel against Locatelli. Sergi Roberto switched play to Perrone, who threaded a pass for Da Cunha bursting forward. Da Cunha squared low across the area for Caqueret, who finished despite McKennie’s sliding attempt to block, doubling Como’s lead.
In the 64th minute, Yildiz’s corner found Lloyd Kelly, whose header deflected. Openda flicked on, Douvikas cleared, and Yildiz recycled possession. Koopmeiners later headed narrowly wide after clever movement. In the 84th minute, Koopmeiners struck a superb free-kick that hit the post. Conceição then crossed for Jonathan David, who opted to square rather than shoot, but the ball was too high.
In the second half, Como lowered their block and focused on counter-attacks. Juventus dominated possession but struggled to break through. Como’s second goal on the break effectively sealed the result. Juventus threatened from set pieces, with Koopmeiners striking the post from a free-kick that had Butez beaten. Juventus now turn to Galatasaray facing a significant challenge. Positively, Jonathan David featured again and Bremer may return.
With a deserved victory, Como move closer to Juventus and the Champions League places. Even without Nico Paz, they showed collective strength and ambition. The only concern is the condition of Baturina and how long he may be sidelined.
Embed from Getty ImagesWritten by Israel Schmidt de Azevedo
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