By Our Man in Italy
FLORENCE was supposed to be the city of art, but it was Cesc Fabregas’ Como who painted a masterpiece at the Stadio Artemio Franchi last night. In a Coppa Italia display that sent shockwaves from Tuscany back to the lakeside, the visitors didn’t just win—they sparkled.
The 1-3 scoreline barely told the full story of a night where Fiorentina’s “Purple Reign” was unceremoniously ended by a galaxy of rising talent and seasoned pros wearing Como blue.
While the Viola looked stuck in the mud, Como’s stars operated on a different frequency.
Here is how the night was won:
The Architect: Nico Paz was the undisputed conductor. The Real Madrid academy graduate played like he had the ball on a string, ghosting past Fiorentina’s midfield to set up the opener.
The Finisher: Patrick Cutrone reminded everyone why he was once the poster boy of Italian strikers. His clinical movement in the box left the Fiorentina defense chasing shadows.
The Wall: Veteran Pepe Reina proved age is just a number. At 43, the Spaniard pulled off a string of acrobatic saves that sucked the life out of the home crowd’s comeback hopes.
Fiorentina started with the arrogance of a side expecting an easy night, but they were stunned early. Como’s high press—the hallmark of the Fabregas era—forced a turnover that allowed Gabriel Strefezza to smash home a low drive.
The home side clawed one back through a scrappy effort, but the momentum was short-lived. A brilliant team move finished by Alieu Fadera restored the lead before a late breakaway goal sealed the historic 1-3 victory.
”We aren’t just here to participate; we are here to compete with the best,” a beaming Fabregas said post-match.
“Tonight, my players showed they have the stars in their eyes and the fire in their boots.”
As the Fiorentina faithful whistled their team off the pitch, the small pocket of traveling Como fans celebrated a night where the underdogs didn’t just bite—they hunted.
