With Como having an unblemished 3-0 record for goals scored inside the opening quarter-hour of home games, it was not surprising to see Cesc Fabregas’ side take the lead after just 14 minutes.
It’s often said that good teams make their own luck, and Como certainly got some in the process, after Alberto Moreno’s shot deflected to Anastasios Douvikas on the edge of the six-yard box, where the Greek coolly steered his effort into the goal.
Como continued to dominate possession as the half went on, but they struggled to find a way through the Sassuolo defence in their quest for a second goal, and with the Neroverdi determined to carry on the sort of form that had seen them take 10 away points from the previous 12 available, they restricted the Lariani to pot shots from distance and tame efforts.
They naturally caused no issue for Arijanet Muric, with the ‘best’ of them being Nico Paz’s saved shot towards the roof of the net six minutes before the interval.
The start of the second half saw Como pick up where they’d left off, and they doubled their lead just eight minutes into the half.
Moreno was involved once again, this time turning goalscorer, as the Spanish full back made a darting run to beat Muric to Paz’s cross, heading before the Kosovan and into the goal. Douvikas then went close to adding his second of the game shortly after, but his left-footed strike across goal was saved by Muric.
After surviving that onslaught, Sassuolo finally had a short spell where they attempted to threaten the Como goal, but they ultimately proved unable to find their way back into the game.
Indeed, Fabregas’ men looked the more likely to add a third as the game approached the closing stages, but though they were unable to find a way past Muric, Como had long done enough to secure the three points.
Following on from last season’s admirable 10th-place finish as a promoted side, Como once again proved that sophomore slumps can be avoided with the right approach.
But their continental charge could still become something even more historic, as on top of being in a European qualification berth, they will end the weekend within touching distance of Roma (1st) or Napoli (3rd), with the two giants of Italian football playing each other on Sunday.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Alberto Moreno (Como)