Juventus lost 2-0 at Como in Serie A on Sunday, suffering another disappointing result after five successive draws in all competitions for Igor Tudor’s side.
Como took the lead in the fourth minute when the defender Marc-Oliver Kempf volleyed in from close range at the far post following Nico Paz’s curling cross. Juventus thought they had equalised in the 36th minute when Jonathan David slotted home from close range, but the Canadian’s effort was ruled out for offside in the buildup.
Early in the second half, Kempf required treatment for a cut to his forehead after an accidental clash with his teammate Jacobo Ramón but was able to continue with heavy strapping. Juventus continued to struggle and Paz doubled Como’s lead in the 79th minute with a brilliant solo effort on the break.
The 21-year-old Argentinian cut inside from the right, gliding past Andrea Cambiaso before curling a left-footed strike beyond the visiting goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio. Victory moves Cesc Fàbregas’s side up to sixth in the table, above Juventus on goal difference.
Paz has contributed to eight of Como’s nine league goals this season with four goals and four assists in seven matches, the most in Serie A. After the game, Fàbregas revealed he spoke to his former Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, before the game.
“I thank [Arsène] because at 16 he believed in me, just as I believe in Nico Paz, who is a champion,” Fàbregas told Dazn. “I’m very confident about his future because I can recognise when a player has the mindset to become a top player. If he continues like this, he can go wherever he wants.”
Juventus, meanwhile, face a tough task to end their winless run in midweek – they go to the Bernabéu in the Champions League on Wednesday. They began the league season brightly but the goals have dried up since their 4-3 win over Inter last month.
Tudor brought on the striker Dusan Vlahovic for the midfielder Manuel Locatelli in the 77th minute, two minutes before Paz’s goal. “I don’t know who else plays with two strikers and two wingers, probably only us,” Tudor said.
“We believed this setup was the best for the team and I think it was the right choice regardless of the result … but against a side like Como you have to run a lot. We got caught on that counterattack and at 2-0 the game was over, there was nothing left to do.”
Bologna also overtook Juve and went fifth with a 2-0 win at Cagliari. Emil Holm’s close-range finish and Riccardo Orsolini’s strike from the edge of the area earned a first away win in seven league games for Vincenzo Italiano’s side.
Atalanta remain unbeaten but drew for the fifth time in seven league games as they were held to a goalless draw by mid-table Lazio. Genoa climbed off the bottom after a stalemate at home to Parma, who had Abdoulaye Ndiaye sent off late in the first half.
Later on Sunday in Italy, Milan climbed to the top of the table with a 2-1 win at home against struggling Fiorentina. The visitors took the lead through Robin Gosens 10 minutes into the second half but Milan hit back to win with two goals from Rafael Leão, including an 86th-minute penalty.
In Spain, the night’s big match ended in a 1-0 win for Real Madrid at Getafe. The home side had Allan Nyom and Álex Sancris sent off either side of Kylian Mbappé’s 80th-minute winner. Celta Vigo remain without a victory after Carlos Soler grabbed a late goal for fellow strugglers Real Sociedad against their 10-man hosts.
In Ligue 1, Lens moved up to fourth with a 2-1 home win over Paris FC. The hosts’ captain, Adrien Thomasson, set up both goals with Odsonne Édouard and Samson Baidoo heading home in either half. Toulouse routed winless Metz 4-0, while Sambou Soumano’s late leveller earned Lorient a point in their 3-3 derby draw with Brest.
In Germany, Freiburg rescued a point at home to Eintracht Frankfurt thanks to Vincenzo Grifo’s 87th-minute equaliser, after Jonathan Burkardt struck twice for the visitors. Hoffenheim extended their unbeaten away run to seven games as they cruised to a 3-0 victory at St Pauli.
