Serie A

Football Italia

·15 December 2024

Serie A | Como 2-0 Roma: Fabregas gets the better of Ranieri

Como fan favourite Alessandro Gabrielloni snatched a stoppage-time goal and set up another for Nico Paz to send Claudio Ranieri’s Roma back into uncertainty.

The Giallorossi were finding their feet under Claudio Ranieri, winning 4-1 against Lecce and 3-0 over SC Braga in the Europa League on Thursday. Leandro Paredes and Bryan Cristante missed the trip, with Artem Dovbyk still not at 100 per cent, so Paulo Dybala was again a False 9. Mats Hummels also contracted flu and pulled out in the warm-up, making way for Mario Hermoso. Como were without a victory since September 29, managing just four draws in the last nine rounds, and had Maxi Perrone, Alberto Moreno and Marco Sala injured.

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Alexis Saelemaekers hit a right-foot volley inches past the far top corner after Pepe Reina punched away the Dybala corner, with Zeki Celik firing a very similar move just over the crossbar.

Nico Paz also threatened for the hosts, his free kick bending over the wall to clip the very top of the crossbar.

Manu Koné had the ball in the net on 28 minutes, but only after both Stephan El Shaarawy and Angelino had wandered offside in the build-up.

COMO, ITALY – DECEMBER 15: Alexis Saelemaekers of AS Roma reacts during the Serie A match between Como and AS Roma at Stadio G. Sinigaglia on December 15, 2024 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Pier Marco Tacca/Getty Images)

Mile Svilar got down to parry the Nico Paz angled drive, but Roma were struggling to get bodies in the box, so Dovbyk came on at half-time.

Svilar palmed a Lucas Da Cunha effort over the bar, while Andrea Belotti scuffed his finish on a Federico Barba assist from six yards. Twice Como corners came out to Alieu Fadera for scorchers, one tipped over and the other skimming the far post.

Patrick Cutrone’s glancing header also whistled just wide and Svilar flew to push the Edoardo Goldaniga screamer over the bar, then got down to parry the long-range Nico Paz free kick.

By not taking their chances, Como left it open and Dybala flashed a dangerous finish across the face of goal from Angelino’s intelligent disguised pass.

Nico Paz whipped another left-foot finish just wide and Como finally got a deserved winner deep into stoppages. Cutrone got down the left and pulled back from the by-line for Gabrielloni to toe-poke past Svilar at the near post from point-blank range. It was his debut Serie A goal, but Gabrielloni was already a fan favourite for his key role in their climb towards Serie A.

It still wasn’t over, as Roma sent everyone up for a free kick, but Gabrielloni went on the counter from inside his own half and generously rolled across for Nico Paz to tap into the empty net.

Gabrielloni 93 (C), Nico Paz 97 (C)