Napoli Held to Goalless Draw at Como, Handing Inter Title Advantage

Key facts

• Napoli and Como drew 0-0 on May 2, 2026, at Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia in Como, Italy.
• Napoli remains second in Serie A, nine points behind leaders Inter Milan, who can clinch the title with a draw against Parma on Sunday.
• Como stays fifth, two points adrift of fourth-placed Juventus in the race for the final Champions League spot.
• Scott McTominay missed a late chance for Napoli, drilling wide from close range in the 79th minute.
• Matteo Politano hit the post for Napoli with a left-foot curler from outside the box.
• Anastasios Douvikas had a goal-line clearance for Como in the eighth minute after rounding the goalkeeper.
• Antonio Conte and Cesc Fabregas faced each other as managers, with Conte admitting Como had more at stake.
• Only three rounds remain after this weekend in Serie A.

Stalemate at Sinigaglia

Defending champion Napoli was held to a 0-0 draw at Champions League-chasing Como on Saturday, a result that could help Inter Milan clinch the Serie A title with three games to spare. The match at Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia saw both sides create chances but fail to find the net, leaving Napoli nine points behind leaders Inter, who host Parma on Sunday. Fifth-placed Como missed the chance to close the gap on fourth-placed Juventus, remaining two points adrift with only three rounds left.

Late Misses Cost Napoli

Napoli narrowly missed two late chances that could have secured victory. Scott McTominay sprinted onto a pass from the left in the 79th minute but drilled his finish just wide of the near post with only Como goalkeeper Jean Butez to beat. Minutes later, Matteo Politano tackled Jesus Rodriguez cleanly inside the penalty area and launched a counter-attack, his left-foot curler from outside the box smacking against the far post. The woodwork denied Napoli a breakthrough that would have kept their slim title hopes alive.

Como's Early Pressure and Goal-Line Clearance

Como had the first big chance inside the opening 10 minutes when Anastasios Douvikas sprang the offside trap on a Nico Paz pass and dribbled around Napoli goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic. However, Milinkovic-Savic managed to slow him down enough to allow defender Amir Rrahmani to get back for a decisive goal-line clearance. Martin Baturina also bent a finish wide of the far post, while Milinkovic-Savic rushed off his line to deny Assane Diao on a swift counter-attack. The match went into half-time goalless.

Second-Half Appeals and Saves

Napoli appealed vainly for a penalty early in the second half after Rasmus Hojlund went down near the byline, but the referee adjudged Hojlund had manufactured the contact and chose not to point to the spot. A deflected effort from just inside the box by Baturina then required a desperate one-handed save from a wrong-footed Milinkovic-Savic. At the other end, McTominay responded for Napoli with a towering leap at a corner in the 18th minute, but his header went over with Butez lost in a melee.

Title Race and Champions League Implications

The draw leaves Napoli's Serie A title defence effectively over, as Inter Milan need just a draw from their remaining four fixtures to win the league. Inter can claim the Scudetto on Sunday with three games to spare when they play mid-table Parma at the San Siro. For Como, the result is a blow to their surprising push for a maiden top-four finish and a first-ever Champions League qualification. They trail Juventus by two points, and Juventus can grow that advantage when they host Hellas Verona on Sunday. Third-placed AC Milan can draw level with Napoli on 70 points should they win at Sassuolo on Sunday.

Injury Returns and Tactical Battles

Como boss Cesc Fabregas welcomed back Nico Paz, Mergim Vojvoda, and Sergi Roberto from knocks, leaving only Jayden Addai on the treatment table. Napoli's Giovanni Di Lorenzo returned to the bench for the first time in three months after a knee injury, but Mathias Olivera, Juan Jesus, David Neres, Antonio Vergara, and Romelu Lukaku remained out. The match also saw a reunion between Fabregas and his former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, who had previously knocked Napoli out of the Coppa Italia quarter-final on penalties in February. Conte admitted after the match that Como probably had more at stake with Champions League qualification.

Outlook for the Final Stretch

With only three rounds remaining, Napoli's focus shifts to securing a second consecutive top-four finish, while Como must hope Juventus drops points in the season finale. Como's remaining fixtures are against sides currently in the bottom half of the table, giving them a chance to capitalize. However, their winless run against top-three sides this season (D2, L3) highlights the challenge. For Napoli, the draw means they can at best finish second, and Antonio Conte's future at the club remains uncertain amid speculation this could be his final campaign in charge.

The bottom line

• Napoli's 0-0 draw at Como leaves them nine points behind Inter Milan, who can clinch the Serie A title with a draw against Parma on Sunday.
• Como missed a chance to close the gap on fourth-placed Juventus, remaining two points adrift in the Champions League race.
• Scott McTominay and Matteo Politano missed late chances for Napoli, hitting the post and drilling wide respectively.
• Anastasios Douvikas had a goal-line clearance for Como in the eighth minute after rounding the goalkeeper.
• Only three rounds remain in Serie A after this weekend, with Inter on the verge of winning the title.