The hosts had the first chance of the half after just three minutes when Tomas Suslov stung the palms of Jean Butez after good work from Kieron Bowie to set him up.
Como were struggling to get going as an attacking force despite a top-heavy line-up selected by Cesc Fabregas, and it took until the 25th minute for their first real chance to arrive, as Jesus Rodriguez’s long-range effort was held by Lorenzo Montipo.
Just after the half-hour mark, Bowie headed over from close range after latching onto Antoine Bernede’s deflected effort, shortly before the best chance of the opening half for the visitors came with almost the last kick.
Rodriguez got to the byline for the first time all game, and his cutback was stabbed just wide by the previously uninvolved Anastasios Douvikas, keeping the contest goalless at the interval and in desperate need of a spark.
A clearly disgruntled Fabregas made three changes at the break, and it was one of those substitutes, Hrvoje Smolcic, who teed up Assane Diao with a cross from the right that the Senegalese forward headed just wide two minutes after the restart.
Martin Baturina was another of the new arrivals at half-time, and he carved out a good chance for captain Lucas da Cunha, but he could only poke his close-range effort straight at Montipo.
As the clock ticked into the last 20 minutes, the deadlock was finally broken by Douvikas, who latched on to Marc-Oliver Kempf’s long clearance before outmuscling Andrias Edmundsson and finishing clinically into the far corner for a much-needed goal.
Como hearts were in mouths just four minutes later, though, when Bowie had the ball in the net at the other end, only for a long VAR review to confirm an offside in the build-up.
Como went in search of a second goal to open up a bit of breathing room, with Baturina forcing a flying save from Montipo before Nico Paz fizzed his shot just wide.
Ultimately, though, a second goal wasn’t required as the Lariani held on for a crucial three points that move them up to fifth for now, two points behind AC Milan in the final UCL spot, having played a game more than the Rossoneri.
As for Verona, defeat could see them slip to the foot of the table by the end of the weekend.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Victor Nelsson (Verona)
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