Douvikas wins physical battle with Edmundsson before scoring
Davide Casentini / Zuma Press / Profimedia
Como has conquered the Bentegodi with a goal from Douvikas, securing their first ever European qualification in the club’s history. Cesc Fàbregas’s side defeated an already-relegated Verona 0-1, mathematically guaranteeing a legendary achievement for the Lariano club. Now, their sights are set on the Champions League.
On a rainy Sunday morning in May at the Marc’Antonio Bentegodi, Como’s European ambitions under Cesc Fàbregas collided with the pride of a Verona team that had already been relegated but was coming off an impressive draw at Juventus.
Sammarco’s side came out with high intensity, determined to break a 10-match winless streak at home. In the third minute, Bowie surged down the left and set up Suslov, whose close-range shot was instinctively saved by a sharp Butez. Shortly after, Valentini struck the crossbar from a move that had started from an offside position.
The tempo remained subdued for the first half-hour. Como repeatedly tried to push forward and break through Verona’s defence with sustained possession. However, the Verona wall, led by an impenetrable Valentini, held firm without much trouble. The duel with Diao clearly favoured the Gialloblù centre-back, who thwarted every attempt from the Lariano attackers.
Meanwhile, bad news arrived for Como: Álex Valle picked up an injury and had to be replaced by Alberto Moreno, swapping one Spaniard for another. This forced the Lariano side to adjust their plans on the fly.
Verona then continued to dominate: Bernede saw his shot blocked on the edge of the box, and from the rebound, Bowie headed wide from close range. Controversy arose over two penalty shouts not given in favour of the Gialloblù (one for a foul on Suslov and another for a handball by Diego Carlos). However, it was Bowie who again worried Cesc with a shot from midfield after a mistake from Vojvoda, which drifted just wide.
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Como’s European Dream and Champions League Battle Remain Alive
After the restart, Cesc Fàbregas sought a reaction with a triple substitution: Smolcic, Baturina, and Caqueret came on for Vojvoda, Jesús Rodríguez, and Perrone.
The response from the Lariano side was not long in coming. In the 47th minute, Diao won a header from a Smolcic cross and grazed the left post of Montipò. Ten minutes later came the clearest chance: a great combination between Baturina and Da Cunha left the number 33 one-on-one with the Scaligero goalkeeper, but the wet grass played a cruel trick, causing him to slip and miss the potential 0-1.
The decisive moment that could seal Como’s first European qualification arrived in the 71st minute. Kempf launched a long ball from his own half, Edmundsson misjudged the flight and failed to clear with his header, leaving the ball for Douvikas. The striker controlled it and unleashed a powerful right-footed volley that nestled just inside the post, leaving Montipò with no chance.
Shortly after, a tight offside call on Valentini ruled out a potential equaliser for Bowie, who had been alert to tap in from close range.
The match ended 0-1. With this victory, Como has put the finishing touch on a historic season: the three points earned at the Bentegodi mathematically guarantee the club’s first ever qualification for European competition. Douvikas’s goal not only writes a new chapter in the club’s history but also keeps Fàbregas’s team fully in the race for a spot in the next Champions League, making the end of the league season more thrilling than ever.
Key Moments from Hellas Verona-Como
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