This Coppa Italia spherical of 16 fixture pits two reverse golf equipment towards one another. On one facet is Fiorentina, a fading large of the sport, raging (or maybe simply grumbling) towards the dying of the sunshine because it slips deeper into the relegation zone following a defeat towards Cagliari on Saturday. On the opposite facet is Como, the arriviste following each trendy tactical development, in competition for a Champions League place, and contemporary off an unholy 6-0 demolition of Torino on Saturday.
For many who aren’t cursed with reminiscence, this fixture already occurred in league play this yr and ended as a , notable for Stefano Pioli shifting to a again 4 that labored for the primary half at the start unraveled after the break. Maybe the Viola could have discovered a lesson. I doubt that very a lot, although.
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The match shall be performed Tuesday, 27 January 2026, at 20:00 CET/3:00 PM EST, on the Stadio Artemio Franchi in stunning Firenze. The clouds may crack open for some drizzle nevertheless it gained’t be as chilly as you may anticipate for January, no less than, with temperatures hovering round 10°C/50°F.
Three issues to observe for1. Urgent the pressers
Como presses increased than every other crew in Serie A, which is smart; the meta of the fashionable sport is successful the ball excessive up and letting gamers work out a pair fast mixtures to place themselves by way of on purpose. Fiorentina’s been fairly unhealthy at taking part in out the again, principally attributable to easy errors in possession. Vanoli’s principally erased these errors since taking on and shifting to a 4-3-3 however Pietro Comuzzo nonetheless coughed up the ball towards Cagliari a pair instances in unhealthy positions. Marin Pongračić (a lot improved lately) and Nicolò Fagioli have additionally made these forms of errors.
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Within the first assembly between these two, Fiorentina eradicated the issue of taking part in by way of Como’s press by as an alternative urgent the Lariani all the way in which up themselves. Cesc Fabregas’ boys weren’t prepared for that method and struggled badly: they conceded as soon as and had been fortunate to not ship one other one or two. Sadly, Fiorentina didn’t have the vitality or focus to maintain that method and collapsed after the break, permitting Como to impose itself for the ultimate 45 minutes and dig out a win.
I doubt Como shall be as prone to a shock press as within the earlier sport however Fiorentina must be extra proactive than common. Meaning the entrance 3 must set the tone out of possession, which hasn’t at all times been this group’s forte. Como’s energetic and disciplined so turning this right into a monitor meet favors the guests however the Viola can’t neglect to press.
2. Confidence
Fiorentina misplaced in mightily disappointing style towards Cagliari (2.09 to 1.28 in xG, per Understat) and that may be sufficient for everybody’s heads to drop once more. The earlier 4 video games noticed the membership pile up 8 factors, which is sort of half of its factors on the season. Returning to its spectacularly underperforming methods would put a nail within the coffin of this accursed season. The statistic that I feel tells the entire story is the crew’s xG: 24 objectives scored from 35.05 xG. That’s the mark of a squad that has no confidence.
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Vanoli’s first main hurdle was getting his gamers to neglect concerning the Pioli period and he cleared it, main the Viola to some optimistic outcomes. He’s received the gamers working with a little bit of perception, a shred of confidence, and a shadow of coronary heart. It’s straightforward to see progress, although, when issues go nicely. The second, increased hurdle comes after the inevitable setback following that temporary good run. If we see a great response right here, I gained’t fear an excessive amount of. If everybody’s moping round from the opening whistle, although, we’re again to sq. one. Getting knocked again down is ok; getting again up is what issues, and a crew this fragile may battle to get again up.
3. Hey, it’s a free hit
Right here’s the factor: this sport doesn’t actually matter for Fiorentina. A win can be nice, clearly, because it’d present that the Viola can beat this season’s darlings within the cup and stay a harmful opponent. A defeat may very well be defined away by prioritizing Serie A and ignoring the midweek fixtures (and I anticipate Jagiellonia Białystok shall be observing with nice curiosity). Briefly, the consequence doesn’t matter.
What does matter is, calling again to Level Quantity Two, is how Fiorentina performs. It’s fairly uncommon for a crew mired in a relegation combat to get a sport that doesn’t affect the standings, although, so no less than the strain’s off. Shoot, possibly we’ll even see some rotation, some begins for the brand new signings, however that may be a bit an excessive amount of pleasure. Sorry. I’ll reel it again in.
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Attainable lineups
Fiorentina (4-3-3): de Gea; Fortini, Pongračić, Comuzzo, Dodô; Ndour, Fagioli, Brescianini; Guðmundsson, Piccoli, Solomon ||| Como (4-2-3-1): Butez; Moreno, Kempf, Ramón, Smolčić; Caqueret, Perrone; Rodríguez, Paz, Kühn; Douvikas
Ted’s Memorial Blind Guess Division
Como’s immolation of Torino clearly received the bookies’ consideration as a result of they’ve received the guests as favorites. Frankly, that’s the best name. These are two groups at reverse ends of the desk, with completely totally different objectives for the season, and wildly diverging mindsets. I doubt that Fiorentina can overcome the buzzsaw equipment that Como’s turn into with out the ball and I doubt that the Viola can decelerate Nico Paz or Martin Baturina, so there aren’t that some ways to see a win.
What the hell, although. Let’s name it a 2-1 win for the hosts behind a purpose from Marco Brescianini and one other from Moise Kean off the bench to cancel out a stunner from Paz as Como shell the Fiorentina protection for 90 minutes and by some means don’t get the win. The xG stuff’s certain to even out ultimately and this may be a good time for it to start flipping, proper? Proper? Guys?
Forza Viola!
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