Sampdoria (foto: Uradni facebook profil kluba)
Sampdoria, under the guidance of Andrea Pirlo, eliminated Como, coached by Cesc Fabregas, from the Coppa Italia after a dramatic penalty shootout in the first round.
The new football season in Italy kicked off with the Coppa Italia, and the first round brought plenty of drama, including a thrilling match between Sampdoria and the ambitious Como. The game was particularly notable due to the high-profile coaches on the sidelines—Andrea Pirlo for Sampdoria and Cesc Fabregas for Como, two of the best midfielders Europe has seen in recent decades.
The match ended in a 1-1 draw after regular time, with Como suffering a significant blow early on as their marquee signing, Raphaël Varane, had to leave the pitch after just 23 minutes due to a knee injury.
The match was decided by penalties, where Sampdoria triumphed 5-4, securing their place in the round of 32, where they will face their city rivals, Genoa.
For Como, this defeat marks a disappointing start to their season, especially given their ambitions to make a strong impact in Serie A. Meanwhile, Sampdoria, no longer featuring Slovenian international Petar Stojanović (who returned to Empoli after his loan spell ended), will look to build on this victory as they aim for success in both the cup and league competitions.