Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia was a place of high emotion on Sunday. Before the whistle even blew, a poignant minute of silence for the late co-owner Michael Hartono set a somber tone. But once the action started, Cesc Fabregas’ men turned that emotion into a ruthless, clinical destruction. In a match they had to win to keep their European dreams alive, Como didn’t just beat Pisa—they dismantled them 5-0.
The Diao & Douvikas Power Hour
Any nerves about a potential “banana skin” fixture were vaporized within seven minutes. Assane Diao, making his first start since December after a long injury layoff, looked like he hadn’t missed a day. After a sloppy square pass from Pisa’s Stefano Moreo, Diao pounced, charged at the heart of the defense, and buried a low strike into the bottom corner.
The Lariani weren’t done. In the 29th minute, the same man turned provider. Diao scorched down the right wing on a lightning counter-attack before cutting inside to find Anastasios Douvikas. The Greek striker made no mistake, tucking it away at the near post for his 11th goal of the campaign—joining an elite club of Como legends who have hit that mark in the top flight.
No Mercy After the Break
If Pisa hoped for a second-half lifeline, Martin Baturina snatched it away just three minutes after the restart. The substitute picked up the ball, shrugged off a challenge from Simone Canestrelli, and drilled a pinpoint shot into the corner. At 3-0, the contest was over; the rest was just a victory lap.
Pisa did actually put the ball in the net twice through Filip Stojilkovic and Henrik Meister, but both were chalked off for offside. Those VAR calls seemed to break what was left of the visitors’ spirit. In the 75th minute, Nico Paz swept home an Alberto Moreno cutback to make it four, and Maximo Perrone added the final insult in the 81st, tapping into an empty net after brilliant work from Nicolas Kuhn.
The Road to Europe
This victory—Como’s fifth in a row—is a massive statement of intent. They now sit three points clear of Juventus in fourth place as we head into the international break. For Fabregas, it’s proof that his tactical “revolution” is working perfectly.
For Pisa, the reality is much grimmer. They remain nine points adrift of safety, staring down the barrel of an immediate return to Serie B. On this evidence, they simply couldn’t live with the pace and precision of a side that looks destined for the Champions League.
