Serie A: Como Beat Verona 1-0, Move Into Top Five

Douvikas Strike lifts Como past Verona in crucial win  

Como secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Verona thanks to Douvikas, keeping their Champions League qualification hopes alive with three games left.

Douvikas’ second-half goal gave Como a 1-0 win at Verona, ending their goalless run and moving them to fifth, two points off the final UCL spot...

Como kept their Champions League hopes alive with a narrow 1-0 win away at Verona, whose relegation was already confirmed. The victory ended a run of three straight 0-0 draws for Como in the early Serie A match on Sunday.

Verona created the first chance of the game after just three minutes. Kieron Bowie set up Tomas Suslov, whose shot forced Jean Butez into a save.

Despite Cesc Fabregas fielding an attack-minded lineup, Como struggled to create chances. It wasn’t until the 25th minute that they had their first real opportunity, when Jesús Rodriguez’s shot from distance was saved by Lorenzo Montipò.

Just past the half-hour mark, Kieron Bowie headed over from close range after getting on the end of Antoine Bernede’s deflected effort. The visitors’ best chance of the half came right at the end of it. Rodríguez reached the byline for the first time and pulled the ball back for Anastasios Douvikas, who was quiet up to that point but poked his shot just wide. The match stayed goalless at the break and needed a spark.

Cesc Fabregas made three changes at half-time in an apparent response to his side’s first-half display. One of those substitutes, Hrvoje Smolcic, set up Assane Diao two minutes after the restart with a cross from the right, but the Senegalese forward headed just wide.

Martin Baturina, another half-time introduction, created a chance for captain Lucas da Cunha, who could only poke his close-range shot straight at Lorenzo Montipò.

With 20 minutes left, Como finally broke the deadlock. Anastasios Douvikas ran onto Marc-Oliver Kempf’s long clearance, held off Andrias Edmundsson, and finished calmly into the far corner for a crucial goal.

Como’s nerves were tested just four minutes later when Kieron Bowie appeared to equalize for Verona, but a lengthy VAR check ruled the goal out for offside in the buildup.

Pushing for a second to give themselves breathing room, Como saw Martin Baturina force a flying save from Lorenzo Montipò before Nico Paz dragged his shot narrowly wide.

Como's late winner guarantees them a spot in Europe next season! 🏆🤩#VeronaComo pic.twitter.com/m5StCOPT3h

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) May 10, 2026

In the end, a second goal wasn’t needed. Como held on for a vital 1-0 win that lifts them to fifth, two points behind AC Milan in the final Champions League spot. The Lariani have played one game more than the Rossoneri.

For Verona, the defeat leaves them at risk of dropping to the bottom of the table by the end of the weekend.

Anastasios Douvikas is the Panini Player of the Match for #VeronaComo 🏅 pic.twitter.com/0hDLJ1pYti

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) May 10, 2026