Diego Carlos knocks out Roma: Como wins Champions challenge

The Champions League dream becomes more and more concrete for Cesc Fabregas’ Como. The Larians overcome Roma 2-1 at home centering their fourth consecutive victory in the league: the Azzurri thanks to this success are fourth with a length advantage over Juventus and three over the same Giallorossi of Gasperini, who run into their second consecutive defeat. The Capitolini, in 10 from 65′ after Wesley’s expulsion, lost Celik to injury during the second half.

Electrical first half, Roma started strongly and after just 5 minutes took the lead on Como’s first carelessness: Sergi Roberto’s risky back pass was guessed by El Shaarawy, and Diego Carlos was forced to foully stop the Pharaoh in the box. From the penalty spot Malen scored his seventh goal as a Giallorossi player. The Larians did not break down and tried several times to equalize with Caqueret and Nico Paz, especially the Argentine on 15′ had a huge chance but found Svilar’s prompt response. Before halftime Fabregas’team has two more chances with Ramon and Caqueret, but it is not precise.

At the beginning of the second half, the Spanish coach inserted Douvikas and Diao for Kempf and Roberto for a more offensive formation: at 59′ came the hosts’ equalizer. Valle finds with a filtering pass Douvikas, who surprises Hermoso and concludes by piercing Svilar for the’1-1.

Luca Franzosi

The match turns on, Diao has an immediate chance to equalize but Svilar defuses it, a minute later it’s the Capitolinians who have a crystal clear chance with Malen, closed down by Smolcic. Two shingles then arrived for Gasperini: Wesley was sent off for a double yellow card at 65′ while shortly afterwards Celik was forced off with an injury.

The home team seeing the numerical superiority advances the center of gravity in search of victory: at 76′ Douvikas comes within a step of a double, grazing the crossbar. Como presses on and at 79′ comes the goal that makes the Larian fans explode: Svilar parries Smolcic’s first conclusion, but on the rebound Diego Carlos arrives before anyone else and scores the 2-1 goal. Como overturns Roma and sees closer the Champions’goal.