The Nerazzurri made the short journey north looking to take a huge step in regaining the Scudetto after Napoli’s draw with Parma earlier on Sunday. Como, though, had their own lofty ambitions of sealing UEFA Champions League qualification for the first time and were doing most of the early probing, with Denzel Dumfries and Francesco Acerbi making superb last-ditch blocks to stop efforts from Anastasios Douvikas and Alex Valle.
It was a sign of things to come, as the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia erupted into raptures when Valle broke the deadlock in the 36th minute. The full-back scored his first senior goal by clinically dispatching a loose ball after Yann Sommer parried Nico Paz’s initial shot into the Spaniard’s path.
Paz added his name to the scoresheet just before half-time, as the Argentine took a long ball forward from Jean Butez into his stride, opened up his body and fired home a superb left-footed strike which clipped in off the post.
However, Inter had the last word in an absorbing end to the half when Marcus Thuram halved the deficit with a fine improvised first-time finish from Nicolo Barella's cross.
Como were the architects of their own downfall when Thuram struck again just four minutes into the second half to wipe out their two-goal lead. Barella was the provider on this occasion too, playing a precise ball into the path of the Frenchman, who clinically lobbed Butez as he was stranded outside of the penalty area.
A remarkable comeback was complete just two minutes shy of the hour mark when Dumfries headed home from Hakan Calhanoglu’s free-kick at the far post, as the visitors showed the characteristics of champions-elect.
The hosts were in no mood to accept their fate though, with Sommer doing well to push away a very awkward set-piece from Paz.
But, crucially, Cristian Chivu’s side struck again to kick the stuffing out of Cesc Fabregas’ outfit. Manuel Akanji brought down Calhanoglu’s searching delivery and allowed Dumfries to rifle home his second and Inter’s fourth, effectively rubber-stamping all three points.
The Biancoblu would have the last word, though, when Lucas Da Cunha dispatched a penalty, with Ange-Yoan Bonny penalised for a challenge on Paz.
This felt like an ominous victory for Chivu’s men, who appear to be back on track in pursuit of a 21st top-flight title after securing a 10th win in their previous 12 away league games.
Meanwhile, this result ended an eight-match unbeaten run across all competitions for Como (W5, D3), who missed the chance to move into the top four after succumbing to a sixth league defeat of the season.