Nerazzurri survive the lakeside ambush

The first half of this Coppa Italia clash was less of a football match and more of a collective siesta. At 0-0 by the break, the only thing Internazionale and Como had successfully accomplished was boring the San Siro into a state of existential dread. One could have been forgiven for thinking the two teams had signed a non-aggression pact over a pre-match espresso, with Inter looking like they’d rather be anywhere else and Como happy to simply exist in the same zip code as the champions.

Then, the second half happened, and suddenly we were treated to the kind of defensive negligence that makes tactical analysts weep into their clipboards. Inter decided to remember they are actually a European powerhouse, while Como decided to remind everyone they are the ambitious newcomers with more money than a small nation-state. It was GLORIOUSLY chaotic, a five-goal explosion that turned a dull Tuesday into a Lombardy thriller.

Inter eventually dragged themselves over the finish line with a 3-2 victory, though Simone Inzaghi likely aged a decade in the process. Winning is winning, but shipping two goals to a team that spends most of its time wondering if Cesc Fabregas still has his boots in the car isn't exactly a statement of intent. The Nerazzurri advance, but their backline currently has more holes than a block of premium Emmental.

For Como, this was a moral victory, which is the kind of thing you celebrate when you don’t actually win anything. They pushed the giants to the brink, proved they belong in the conversation, and then promptly exited the tournament. It was a valiant effort, but VALIANT doesn't put you in the quarter-finals. They can now return to their picturesque lake and focus on the league, while Inter continues their march toward another trophy they’ll probably complain about being too tired to lift.

In terms of the bigger picture, this result keeps Inter on track for a domestic double that their fans expect as a birthright. For everyone else, it was a reminder that even when Inter tries their hardest to COMPLICATE things, they usually find a way to let their superior wage bill do the talking. The road to the final continues, but someone might want to tell the Inter defense that the game starts at the whistle, not an hour later.