Chivu overhauls Inter with eight changes for Coppa Italia trip to Como
Cristian Chivu has named a heavily rotated Inter side for the Coppa Italia semifinal first leg at Como, making eight changes from the team that faced Genoa in Serie A. The reshuffle matters because it comes at a congested point in the calendar — between the club’s Champions League exit and an imminent domestic derby — forcing the coach to juggle squad fitness and cup progression.
Cristian Chivu's eight changes: goalkeeper, defence and midfield
Chivu’s selection swaps the goalkeeper and three defensive positions, signals a midfield reboot and adjusts the attacking options. Josep Martínez starts in goal for the first time in about a month, reclaiming the role often reserved for cup fixtures; his last appearance was in the Monza tie in the quarterfinals and he had also featured earlier in the competition against Venezia. The defensive trio on the night is Bisseck, Francesco Acerbi and Alessandro Bastoni, replacing the Serie A pairing of Akanji and De Vrij plus the previous use of Carlos Augusto.
In midfield Hakan Calhanoglu returns to the starting eleven in a playmaking role after an absence that neared two months, flanked by Sucic and Davide Frattesi. The wing positions contain Matteo Darmian and Carlos Augusto, with the coach opting to rotate Luis Henrique out of the starting berth. Up front, the formation lists Diouf behind Pio Esposito in a 3-5-1-1 arrangement that hands a clear central role to Esposito.
Como lineup, match officials and in-game status
Como set up in a 4-2-3-1 with Butez in goal, Smolčić, Ramón, D. Carlos and Valle across the back line and Perrone and S. Roberto in midfield. The attacking line includes Vojvoda, Da Cunha, Caqueret and Paz. The match kicked off at 21: 00 and, by 21: 48, the first half remained locked at 0-0, underlining the tightness of the semifinal first leg.
The referee appointed for the tie is Di Bello, with Peretti and Colarossi as assistants, Zufferli the fourth official and Mazzoleni operating as VAR alongside AVAR Maresca.
Selection rationale and short-term implications for Inter
The driving cause of the broad turnover is the congested schedule: a Champions League elimination followed closely by a domestic derby left Chivu compelled to protect core squad members while still contesting a fixture that could decide half the tie for a place in the final. That context explains the decision to field a specialist cup goalkeeper and to reintroduce Calhanoglu to the starting midfield — moves intended to balance immediate competitiveness with player management for the league run-in.
What makes this notable is the way Chivu distributed opportunities across the roster: several players who have seen fewer minutes this season were given starts, signalling a strategic use of squad depth rather than wholesale sacrifice of the Cup. The coach’s late resolution on one attacking spot — a contest between Marcus Thuram and Frattesi for the role beside Esposito noted as undecided until hours before kick-off in earlier assessments — ultimately saw Thuram retained on the bench while Frattesi started, offering Chivu an in-match alternative.
For Como, coached by Cesc Fàbregas, the defensive solidity shown in the goalless first half will be central to their task of keeping the tie alive ahead of the return leg. For Inter, the immediate measurable impact is clear: eight lineup changes, a goalkeeper restored to cup duty, and the return of a senior creative presence in Calhanoglu — all choices designed to navigate a congested calendar and preserve competitiveness across competitions.
The match remained open at half-time, with both sides holding their cards in a tie that will be decided over the two legs of this Coppa Italia semifinal.
