Inter's Early Burst Seals Win Over Como as Title Race Tightens

Inter beat Como 2-0 at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on 8 November 2026, and the match was decided inside the opening 20 minutes. Francesco Pio Esposito scored in the 12th minute from a Spence assist, and Marcus Thuram added a second on 19 minutes.

Como had 57 per cent of the ball to Inter's 43. But they managed one shot on target and generated 0.20 expected goals. Inter, with less of the ball, produced 14 shots, four on target, four big chances and 1.86 expected goals. The gap in quality of chance creation was vast. Como's possession was sterile; Inter's was surgical.

Inter did not need to dominate the ball because they had already taken the game away from Como before the visitors could settle. Esposito's opener came from a transition, and Thuram's second arrived seven minutes later, effectively sealing the result with more than 70 minutes still to play.

Cesc Fabregas, Como's manager, was honest afterwards. He admitted Inter deserved the victory and described them as "the strongest team in Europe in transition." They did not outpass Como. They out-thought them in the moments that mattered, then closed the door.

That is not a criticism. Inter moved to 28 points after 11 matches, one point behind Serie A leaders Lazio, who drew 1-1 at Napoli. Two points separate Lazio from third-placed Roma. The title race is tight, and Inter's ability to win without a late flourish matters. They do not need to be at their best for 90 minutes to take three points. They need 20 minutes of quality and 70 minutes of discipline.

Como's six-match winning run in all competitions ended here. That run had included a 9-1 away win over Lens in the Champions League, the biggest away win in Champions League history. At San Siro, they were outclassed in defeat, allowing AC Milan to leapfrog them into fourth on 24 points after a 2-1 win over Genoa.

Inter's next match is away at Atalanta on 22 November, after the international break. But for now, Inter have shown they can win in more than one way. The early burst against Como was enough. The question is whether that formula holds when the opposition does not allow them those first 20 minutes.