On the shores of Lake Como, Cesc Fàbregas’ side carried their European momentum back into Serie A with a controlled 2-0 home win over Sassuolo, extending a remarkable week that had already included a 4-1 Champions League victory against Manchester United.
Key takeaways
- Como strengthened their position in Serie A’s European qualification places.
- Anastasios Douvikas scored both goals after the interval, adding to his strike against Manchester United.
- Maxence Caqueret created the opener for the Greece international five minutes into the second half.
- Lucas Da Cunha had an early Como goal ruled out in the seventh minute.
- Fàbregas made several changes before turning to Jacobo Ramón, Luis Milla and Jayden Addai at half-time.
Douvikas delivers after half-time changes
Como began with the confidence of a team enjoying an exceptional spell. Da Cunha thought he had given the hosts an immediate advantage, only for his seventh-minute effort to be disallowed. It was an early indication of the pressure Sassuolo would face during the afternoon.
Fàbregas had altered his starting line-up following the midweek Champions League triumph, but the match called for familiar solutions. At the break, Jacobo Ramón, Luis Milla and Jayden Addai were introduced, and Como found greater purpose after the restart.
The breakthrough arrived in the 50th minute. Caqueret supplied Douvikas, who finished to put Como ahead. The Greek forward had also found the net in the emphatic win over Manchester United and continued his productive week with another decisive contribution.
Ten minutes later, Douvikas struck again. A flowing team move opened Sassuolo up and the striker completed his brace, giving the home side the margin they needed.
A week to remember in Como
With a two-goal cushion established, Como managed the closing stages without allowing Sassuolo back into the contest. The result completed a standout seven days for the Lombardy club: four goals against Manchester United on the European stage, followed by three valuable league points at home.
Their 2-0 success keeps Fàbregas’ team firmly among the Serie A sides competing for continental places, while Douvikas’ two-goal display provided the finishing touch to a week in which Como’s rise continued to gather force.
