Como Can Take Positives From Napoli Defeat as Duo Sparkle

It was always going to be an arduous task, but Como left Naples on Friday night with their heads held high.

I Lariani faced off against Antonio Conte’s high-flying Napoli side at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on the back of good form. After losing two of their first three games back in Serie A for the first time in 21 years, the Lombardy side picked up seven points from the next three, beating Atalanta at the Gewiss Stadium in a cracking encounter, while seeing off Hellas Verona at home.

Napoli, by contrast, had stormed to the top of the table after being humiliated by Verona at home in the opening weekend of the season. Conte, as ever, publicly demanded new signings to bring Napoli back towards the top four, and was handed Romelu Lukaku, David Neres, Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay. 

Since then, Napoli have won five of the next six games, with the drab 0-0 draw with Juventus the only dropped points since that opening game. Napoli’s failure to qualify for Europe last season has worked in their favour, with Conte a manager who relishes playing only once a week. It’s also allowed the new signings to integrate better into his style of football without matches interrupting the flow of training.

Leading into the Como game, Napoli had only conceded once since the Verona defeat, which came in the 2-1 win against Parma at the Maradona. Como knew if they were to leave the southern city with even a point, they’d need to be on top of their game. And for large portions of it, they were.

The 3-1 score line was a touch harsh on Cesc Fabregas’ men. Napoli took the lead through McTominay in the opening 25 seconds, but after the Scott’s first goal in Serie A, Como looked the better side. 

Nico Paz and Gabriel Strefezza, in particular, were causing Napoli problems. The former was excelling drifting in between Napoli lines. Paz, who had the option to play for either Argentina or Spain, has opted to play alongside Lionel Messi, Paulo Dybala and co. The 20-year-old received his first call-up by the reigning World Cup champions this week, which is merited due to being at the heart of everything good about Fabregas’ side so far this season.

“For me, Paz is a special player, this is why I wanted him,” said Fabregas after the game. “I have seen how he can beat players one-on-one, and my plan was to make him grow in two or three months, but he’s jumped ahead and you can see the difference he makes.”

Paz is at his best operating in those little pockets of space between the opposition defence and midfield, like a classic No.10 from years gone by. Paz’s rocket of a shot from 25 yards, that hit the inside the post but didn’t go in, would’ve no doubt made Maradona proud. Much of Como’s positive start to the season is down to him, and he’s only going to get better. Signed from Real Madrid for €6m in the summer, Los Blancos have a 50% sell-on clause and a reported buy-back option. Should he continue with this form the club will have a difficult time in keeping hold of him.

Gabriel Strefezza is another who has shone in the opening weeks of the season. The Brazilian is a veteran of the Italian game at this stage, having been in Italy since 2016. Strefezza has played for the likes of SPAL, Juve Stabia, Cremonese and Lecce, before joining Como on a permanent deal last summer after a season on loan.

Frustratingly inconsistent, when on form Strefezza is a danger. Where Paz failed from outside the area, Strefezza didn’t. Two minutes before half-time, he took aim with his right foot from roughly the same distance as Paz, and rifled the ball into the opposite corner of Elia Caprile’s goal, giving the Napoli stopper no chance. It was as crisp a strike as you’ll see in Serie A all weekend.

Strefezza’s goal bore a small resemblance to the goal he scored in the win over Atalanta. With the player possessing Italian descent, should he keep this form up it wouldn’t be a surprise if Luciano Spalletti made a call to bring him into the Azzurri later in the season.

Ultimately, however, Napoli’s quality restored the scoreline. Lukaku dispatched a penalty after Mathias Olivera was bundled over by Sergi Roberto, and five minutes from the end of Lukaku’s brilliant hold-up play, a through ball was met by Neres, who slid the past under Emil Audero for all three points.

Fabregas took the positives from the performance however, “I’m not satisfied because we have lost and I wanted to come here to win, but I’m pleased with our courage,” he said. “This is our identity and I’m proud of our first 60 minutes.”

Fabregas has a very young squad, with many of them inexperienced at this level. Yet recent performances, and the one against Napoli, have shown the kids will be alright. Como will only improve, and one suspects two of the main reasons will be Paz and Strefezza.