Mattia Liberali opened the scoring in the 32nd minute with a curling finish from outside the area, before Nico Paz doubled Como’s lead four minutes later with a header. Marin Pongračić pulled one back for Fiorentina shortly before half-time, but Anastasios Douvikas restored the visitors’ two-goal cushion in the 56th minute after Paz helped create the opportunity.
Fiorentina thought they had equalised before the break when Pongračić scored again, but the goal was ruled out for offside. The hosts continued to threaten after the interval, with Benjamin Njie missing a chance to level before Como struck their decisive third.
Cesc Fàbregas was pleased with the overall performance, particularly the way Como dealt with Fiorentina’s attempts to exploit space behind their defence.
“We suffered less from balls played in behind than we did against Frosinone. We played a complete game,” the Como coach said.
“When you play the way we do, there are risks. There are no perfect tactics. Spain, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern all suffer against opponents and concede chances.”
Fàbregas also defended Milla, who had been questioned over his performance, insisting he had been impressed by the midfielder’s contribution.
“Perhaps I saw it differently. For me, he played an incredible game, but I will watch it back,” he said, adding that coaches needed to maintain a clear identity in their teams.
The Como coach acknowledged that managing a demanding schedule was another challenge for a club adjusting to life in Serie A after promotion. He said the squad had limited time to prepare for Fiorentina and that rotation was necessary, with players becoming fatigued.
“Our journey must not be forgotten: we have come from Serie B and now we play every three days. Everyone is adapting, including me,” Fàbregas explained.
Vanoli, meanwhile, refused to allow the disputed decisions around Liberali’s goal to become an excuse for Fiorentina’s defeat. He believed his side had shown their quality but lacked the composure needed to turn promising moments into a result.
“We had good chances against Como and we played football. Of course, we need to be more clear-headed, but the match changed with the incident involving the foul on Gonçalves before Liberali’s goal,” he said.
Vanoli said his players could not afford to lose concentration whenever a decision went against them. He also criticised the team’s defending, arguing that responsibility for goals conceded belonged to the whole side rather than individual players.
“When you concede a goal with the team organised, it is everyone’s responsibility,” he said.
Como’s clinical finishing proved decisive, while Fiorentina were left to reflect on missed opportunities and defensive mistakes. For Fàbregas, the result offered further evidence of a team learning to handle the demands of the top flight.