Monday night's crucial 1-0 victory over Parma, in which Mario Balotelli made his substitute debut, left the Grifone feeling rejuvenated. While Como was without Sergi Roberto, Maxi Perrone, Luca Mazzitelli, Ignace van der Brempt, Alessandro Gabrielloni, Daniele Baselli, and Luca Mazzitelli, Vitinha, Junior Messias, Ruslan Malinovskyi, Pierluigi Gollini, David Ankeye, and Brooke Norton-Cuffy were all receiving treatment. After losing four of their previous five Serie A games, Cesc Fabregas was under pressure. 

Before robbing Andrea Pinamonti to allow Lucas Da Cunha through for the right-foot finish from the edge of the area, Nico Paz first blasted over the bar and then forced a save from Nicola Leali at the near post. Nico Paz was a source of inspiration for Como. With Nico Paz, Como threatened a second goal by sending Alieu Fadera into the box to test Leali. However, Genoa countered right after with the identical play, and Pepe Reina was decisive in a one-on-one match with Jeff Ekhator.