Hellas Verona - Como: a match with completely different pressures
Hellas Verona and Como enter the 36th round of Serie A from two entirely different football worlds. The home side at Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi has had a season that has already gone in the wrong direction: after 35 matches, Verona is 19th with 20 points, and after a 1-1 draw at Juventus, sources describe it as an already relegated team. Como, on the other hand, arrives in Verona as the fifth-placed team in the league with 62 points, only a few steps away from European football and still close enough to the Champions League zone for every ball to carry weight.
For a fan coming to Bentegodi, that means one thing: Verona plays for pride, a reaction and a home impression, while Como plays for the table, reputation and one of the most important run-ins in the club's modern history. The 12:30 kick-off brings the typical early-Sunday rhythm of Serie A: less waiting for the match, but also the need to arrive in the stadium district earlier, especially because of security checks and the entrance schedule. Ticket sales for this match are underway.
What is at stake: Verona seeks dignity, Como chases Europe
On paper, the difference is huge. ESPN's table before the 36th round shows Como in 5th place with a record of 17 wins, 11 draws and 7 defeats, with a goal difference of 59:28. That is the profile of a team that does not live only from a moment of inspiration, but collects points week after week. Verona is in 19th place with 3 wins, 11 draws and 21 defeats, with 24 goals scored and 57 conceded. In such a ratio, it is not hard to see why Bentegodi has often watched a fight for survival this season, rather than a calm mid-table campaign.
- Como: 5th place, 62 points, 59 goals scored and 28 goals conceded after 35 rounds.
- Hellas Verona: 19th place, 20 points, 24 goals scored and 57 goals conceded after 35 rounds.
- Como is in a zone that leads toward European competitions, while Verona plays the run-in without a realistic fight for survival.
- Inter has already secured the title, so the greatest tension moves to the fight for European positions.
- In the previous round, Verona drew 1-1 with Juventus, and Kieron Bowie scored the goal for Verona.
For Verona, the most important thing is therefore to avoid the image of a team that has given up. The draw at Juventus, with a large number of saves by Lorenzo Montipò, gave the home side at least an argument that they can still be awkward. For Como, that is exactly the danger: a match against a team from the lower part of the table must never look like a formality, especially at a stadium where the home fans know how to reward every bit of sacrifice.
Como under Cesc Fàbregas: a brave team with many solutions
Como is one of the most interesting stories in Italian football this season. Cesc Fàbregas's team does not play like a classic outsider waiting for the opponent's mistake. After the victory against Roma, The Guardian wrote about a tactically mature performance, aggressive and fluid solutions, and timely substitutions that changed the rhythm of the match. That is an important detail for the trip to Verona: Como does not have to rush from the first minute, but has enough quality to slowly stretch the home block through possession and positional changes.
The most dangerous names are clearly visible in the statistics. According to ESPN, Nico Paz has collected 12 goals and 6 assists in 34 appearances, while Anastasios Douvikas has 12 goals in 35 appearances. Martin Baturina, the Croatian midfielder in Como's team, has contributed 6 goals and 3 assists, while Jesús Rodriguez has 7 assists. This is not an attack that depends on one centre-forward; the danger comes from the half-spaces, from the wings and from the second wave.
Key Como names
- Nico Paz - 12 goals and 6 assists; a player between the lines who can speed up an attack with one touch.
- Anastasios Douvikas - 12 goals; a striker who attacks the penalty area and uses crosses.
- Martin Baturina - 6 goals and 3 assists; a midfielder who can carry the ball and switch the side of the attack.
- Jean Butez - 35 appearances, 83 saves and 28 goals conceded; an important part of one of the better defences in the league.
- Maxence Caqueret and Máximo Perrone - midfielders who provide rhythm, pressing and security in possession.
What makes Como tricky is balance. The team has enough technical players to control the ball, but also enough depth to punish a high defensive line. If Verona opens too much space behind the wide players, the visitors can look for a quick ball toward Douvikas or Nico Paz's runs. If the home side drops back, Como has patience and a shot from distance.
Verona: a season to forget, but Bentegodi still wants a reaction
Paolo Sammarco took over Verona during the season, and his task now is more psychological than table-related. A team that has conceded 57 goals and scored only 24 must show basic structure in the run-in: density in the middle, fewer lost balls in front of its own penalty area and better protection after set pieces. The draw at Juventus was a good reminder that Verona can survive a match in which the opponent has more of the ball, but such a scenario requires almost perfect concentration.
According to ESPN, Gift Orban is Verona's first attacking reference with 7 goals and 2 assists. Kieron Bowie, the scorer against Juventus, has brought different energy in attack and physical presence. Lorenzo Montipò remains one of the most important names, not only because of saves but also because of calming the rhythm when Verona is under pressure. In midfield, Roberto Gagliardini, Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro and Moatasem Al-Musrati have the task of closing the space in front of the centre-backs, and there it will be seen how much Verona can slow Como down.
After the match against Genoa, Hellas Verona highlighted on its own website Paolo Sammarco's words about the attacking work of Orban and Bowie: the coach stressed that they are remembered for attacking actions, but also that in some situations they were the team's first defenders. That is a good picture of what Verona must repeat against Como. If the first press is late, Como will quickly find a free player between the lines.
Absences and fitness situation
For Verona, squad information is especially important because the team has had problems with injuries and suspensions during the season. FotMob listed Suat Serdar in the squad list as a player with a cruciate ligament injury and the status "out for season", Sandi Lovrić as doubtful because of a muscle injury, and Armel Bella-Kotchap with a muscle injury. Such absences affect rotation depth, especially in midfield and the back line.
For Como, BeSoccer listed Ignace van der Brempt with a muscle injury in the injury section. That is an important detail for the wide positions, but Fàbregas has a broader squad and more tactical combinations than Verona. Still, until match day, one should assume that statuses with muscle problems can change, so it is fairest to speak about known reported problems, not about a definitive lineup.
- Hellas Verona: Suat Serdar - cruciate ligament injury, marked as out until the end of the season.
- Hellas Verona: Sandi Lovrić - muscle injury, status marked as doubtful.
- Hellas Verona: Armel Bella-Kotchap - muscle injury in the squad list.
- Como: Ignace van der Brempt - muscle injury according to BeSoccer's injury list.
Head-to-head meetings: Como has the fresh advantage
The history of this pair is not as long as that of the biggest Italian rivalries, but the latest results give the visitors confidence. World Soccer Data states that Como beat Verona 3-1 on 29 October 2025 in the first league match of this season. In the 2024/2025 season, the result in Verona was 1-1, while Como won 3-2 at home on 29 September 2024. FootyStats, on a sample of six previous meetings, gives the record as: 3 Como wins, 2 draws and 1 Hellas Verona win.
- 29.10.2025. Como - Hellas Verona 3-1.
- 18.05.2025. Hellas Verona - Como 1-1.
- 29.09.2024. Como - Hellas Verona 3-2.
- Total in the last six listed H2H matches: Como 3 wins, Verona 1 win, 2 draws.
For Verona, that is a warning that Como knows how to find a way to goal against its defence. For Como, it is confirmation that the style of Fàbregas's team can work against this opponent, but a trip to Bentegodi has a different emotional frame. A home side without survival pressure can sometimes play more freely, and the crowd will latch onto every second ball won.
Tactical picture of the match
The expectation is that Como wants the ball and control, and Verona compactness and quick exits. The visitors like a match in which Caqueret, Perrone and Baturina can receive the ball facing the play. Then space opens up for Nico Paz between Verona's midfield and back line, while Douvikas can wait for crosses or cut-backs. If Como scores early, the match can open up in a way that does not suit the home side at all.
Verona will probably look for a simpler route. Montipò and the centre-backs must avoid risky passes under pressing, and up front Orban and Bowie are important. Bowie can hold up a duel and attack space, while Orban has the finishing with which the home side can punish the visitors if they leave too many metres behind the defence. Set pieces are also part of the story: a team that struggles in open play often has to look for a goal from a corner, a free kick or a rebound.
The key to the match could be the first part of the second half. Como has shown this season that Fàbregas knows how to react with substitutions and a change of structure. Verona, with less depth and more problems in the squad, must be careful not to spend too much energy in the first 45 minutes. If the home side enters the final half hour with an active result, Bentegodi can become uncomfortable even for the higher-quality visitor.
Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi: a grand backdrop west of the centre
Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi is located at Piazzale Olimpia, 2. Hellas Verona lists a total capacity of 39,211 seats and pitch dimensions of 105 x 68 metres, while the Serie A website lists a capacity of 31,713 and an away sector of 1,637 seats for competition use. The stadium was built in 1963 and remains one of the recognisable football structures in Verona: a large concrete bowl, wide approaches and stands that can look imposing even when they are not completely full.
Bentegodi is not a stadium hidden in the old core. It is located west of the centre, in a part of the city that changes on match day earlier than the warm-up begins. Around the stadium, home fans, families, away fans and travellers who have combined football with a visit to Verona mix together. Seats in the stands disappear quickly when the end of the season approaches and when the opponent brings its own story, as Como brings the fight for Europe.
- Address: Piazzale Olimpia, 2, Verona.
- Total capacity listed by Hellas Verona: 39,211 seats.
- Capacity listed by Serie A for league data: 31,713 seats.
- Pitch: 105 x 68 metres according to Hellas Verona data.
- Year of construction: 1963 according to Serie A data.
Getting to the stadium and practical notes
For fans arriving by train, the most practical option is to plan the route from Verona Porta Nuova railway station toward the stadium. Bentegodi is close enough to the urban fabric that arrival can be organised by public transport or on foot, depending on the weather and crowds, but match day always changes the rhythm of traffic. For those arriving by car, the area around the stadium has parking zones, but the recommendation is to arrive earlier and follow local traffic regulations.
In its entry instructions, Hellas Verona emphasises that at sporting events one should have a valid ticket and an identification document if requested by stewards, and advises arriving in advance because of procedures at the entrances. This is especially important for a 12:30 match: congestion can form in a shorter time because fans do not arrive throughout the entire afternoon, but in the same morning block.
- Plan to arrive earlier than kick-off because of checks at the entrances.
- Prepare your ticket and personal document before reaching the control point.
- For arrival by train, the landmark is Verona Porta Nuova, the main station in the city.
- If you arrive by car, expect traffic changes around the stadium and parking congestion.
- Away fans should follow the sector and entrance schedule valid for match day.
Verona as a city gives the match an additional frame. A fan arriving earlier can combine football with a short walk through the historic centre, but should leave enough time to return toward the stadium. The Sunday 12:30 slot often means the day is split into two parts: the morning for arrival and the stadium, the afternoon for the city. It is worth securing tickets in time.
Atmosphere: home pride against visiting ambition
The atmosphere at Bentegodi will probably not be only a question of the table. Verona has gone through a difficult season, but exactly such matches often show who stays with the club even when there is no glamour. The home fans will demand fight, commitment in duels, running until the end and at least one moment they can take away from the season's final stretch. If Verona shows energy early, the stadium can react quickly.
Como will have a different kind of pressure. The fifth-placed team does not come to Verona for a nice impression, but for points. Every lost duel, every missed chance and every minute without the lead can raise nerves because the European race is tight. That is exactly why the maturity of Fàbregas's team will be seen: it must play as the favourite, but without underestimating an opponent that has nothing to lose.
For the neutral viewer, this is an interesting combination. On one side is a club closing a poor season and seeking the respect of its own stands. On the other side is Como, a team that in the same season has reached 62 points, with young creators, a strong goalkeeper and a coach who has already attracted attention with his tactical solutions. Tickets for this meeting are in demand among fans.
What to watch especially on the pitch
The first duel to watch is Nico Paz against Verona's midfield. If he gets time to turn and look forward, Como will create an overload. The second is Douvikas against Verona's centre-backs, especially on crosses from wide positions. The third is Montipò against the visitors' finishing: after an excellent performance at Juventus, the home goalkeeper has the chance to again be the central figure of the match.
Verona must find a balance between aggression and caution. If it drops too deep, Como will circulate for a long time around the penalty area. If it steps out too high without coordination, space will open for runs. That is why the off-ball work of Orban and Bowie will be just as important as their finishing. Sammarco has already stressed that forwards must be the first defenders; against Como, that sentence becomes the match plan.
Three football questions before kick-off
- Can Verona maintain concentration after Como's first wave of pressure?
- Will Fàbregas use Baturina and Nico Paz together to control the half-spaces?
- Can Bowie, after his goal against Juventus, again give Verona depth and a physical threat?
- Will Como remain patient if the home side closes the middle and lowers the block?
The match therefore has more layers than the difference in the table suggests. Como is better, more stable and more dangerous in the season's run-in. Verona is wounded, but at home and after a draw against Juventus, it has a reason to try once more to show character. For a fan at the stadium, that is enough material: a fight for Europe, home pride, several players in excellent form and Bentegodi, which will once again test the nerves of the favourite.
Sources:
- ESPN - Serie A 2025/2026 standings, team records, goal differences and player statistics for Hellas Verona and Como.
- The Guardian - context of Inter's title win, Juventus - Hellas Verona draw and Como's position in the fight for European places.
- Black & White & Read All Over - Juventus - Hellas Verona 1-1 report, Kieron Bowie goal, Lorenzo Montipò saves and context of Verona's relegation.
- BeSoccer - team form, Serie A table and reported injuries for Como.
- FotMob - Hellas Verona squad, coach Paolo Sammarco and list of Verona player injuries.
- Hellas Verona FC - data on Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi, capacity, address, pitch dimensions and entry instructions.
- Lega Serie A - stadium data for Hellas Verona, capacity for league data, away sector and year of construction.
- World Soccer Data and FootyStats - Hellas Verona - Como head-to-head results and H2H record.