Como Claim Convincing 3-1 Win at Fiorentina as Nico Paz Shines
Como earned an impressive 3-1 away victory over Fiorentina at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, extending the gap between the sides to 10 points after seven rounds of Serie A. Cesc Fabregas’s team moved to 14 points, while Fiorentina remained second from bottom with just four. For the visitors, the result offered a welcome league boost during a demanding European schedule. For Paolo Vanoli’s Fiorentina, it was another difficult afternoon in a season that has yet to gain momentum.
The decisive spell came late in the first half, when Como scored twice in four minutes through Mattia Liberali and Nico Paz. Fiorentina responded before the break with a goal from Marin Pongracic, but Douvikas restored Como’s two-goal advantage early in the second half. His finish, set up by the outstanding Paz, effectively settled the contest.
Fabregas Rotates as Como Navigate a Busy Schedule
Como arrived in Florence between two high-profile Champions League fixtures. They had lost to Feyenoord earlier in the week and were preparing to host Manchester United the following week. Fabregas therefore made measured changes to his starting line-up, with Liberali and Maxence Caqueret among those given opportunities from the start.
The rotation did not prevent Como from playing with confidence and purpose. The visitors remained composed when Fiorentina pressed, looked for openings in transition and made the most of their strongest attacking moments. Their performance suggested a side capable of balancing domestic ambitions with the physical and tactical demands of European competition.
Fiorentina, meanwhile, were without former player Moise Kean, who missed the match through injury. His absence reduced the hosts’ options in attack, although they still created opportunities and showed urgency after falling behind. The challenge was turning that effort into sustained pressure and clearer chances.
Two Quick Goals Change the Match
The opening half featured chances at both ends, with neither side able to establish complete control. The game shifted in the 32nd minute when Liberali scored his first Serie A goal. The move sparked protests from Fiorentina, who believed a challenge by Milla on Goncalves earlier in the sequence should have been penalised. The goal stood, giving Como the breakthrough and adding an important milestone to Liberali’s young career.
Como struck again just four minutes later. Nico Paz arrived in the right area to head home and double the visitors’ lead, turning a competitive match into a major test for Fiorentina. Paz was influential throughout, linking play, finding space between the lines and contributing directly to the decisive goals. His performance was a reminder of how valuable a creative player can be when a team needs composure and invention in the final third.
Fiorentina responded with greater urgency and pulled one back in the 42nd minute. Pongracic found the net, giving the home crowd reason to believe the match could still swing in their favour. The defender appeared to score again shortly afterwards, but his second effort was ruled out for offside. That decision denied Fiorentina a potential equaliser before half-time and preserved Como’s narrow lead.
Douvikas Provides the Final Blow
Any hopes of a Fiorentina comeback were dealt a significant blow in the 56th minute. Paz supplied the decisive pass, and Douvikas finished to make it 3-1. The goal restored Como’s two-goal cushion and underlined the visitors’ ability to punish defensive gaps, even after Fiorentina had started the second half looking to build pressure.
The remainder of the match produced fewer clear opportunities than the first half. Como managed the advantage with discipline, while Fiorentina struggled to create the kind of sustained attacking threat needed to reopen the contest. The visitors’ control after Douvikas’s goal was important: rather than allowing the home side to dictate the tempo, they remained organised and limited the space available around their penalty area.
What the Result Means for Both Teams
For Como, the victory is more than three points. Winning away from home while navigating a demanding European calendar strengthens the team’s position in Serie A and offers evidence that Fabregas’s squad can cope with rotation. Liberali’s first league goal and Paz’s influential display were two of the day’s most encouraging individual stories, while Douvikas showed the value of converting a key chance at the right moment.
Fiorentina face a different set of questions. Four points from seven matches leaves them second from bottom, and the gap to Como now stands at 10 points. The team showed some attacking response, particularly after going two goals behind, but the disallowed Pongracic effort and the quick succession of Como’s first-half goals highlighted how narrow the margins can be. With Kean unavailable, Fiorentina will also need other players to provide reliable attacking output.
The result does not determine the course of either club’s season, but it creates a clear contrast in momentum. Como can take confidence from a composed, efficient performance, while Fiorentina must find greater consistency and turn promising passages into points.
Fiorentina vs Como: Match Prediction and Key Takeaway
Before kick-off, the fixture carried an intriguing prediction challenge: Como were juggling European commitments, while Fiorentina had home advantage and a need to respond in the league. The final score showed that Como’s organisation and attacking efficiency outweighed those factors. Paz proved central to the outcome, Liberali delivered a breakthrough moment, and Douvikas made sure Fiorentina’s brief revival did not last.
Final score: Fiorentina 1-3 Como
Scorers: 32′ Liberali (Como), 36′ Nico Paz (Como), 42′ Pongracic (Fiorentina), 56′ Douvikas (Como).
