Serie A | Como 1-0 Venezia: Da Cunha penalty keeps Fabregas’ side flying

Serie A | Como 1-0 Venezia: Da Cunha penalty keeps Fabregas’ side flying Lucas Da Cunha’s first-half penalty gave Como a narrow 1-0 win over bottom side Venezia, despite an inspired display from Filip Stanković and a VAR reprieve at the other end. Como went into the game fifth on 20 points after Tuesday’s 3-1 win at Torino, the best start in the club’s history, and with a Champions League trip to Lens to come on Wednesday. Cesc Fàbregas was without Moise Kean, who faces around five weeks out, as well as Assane Diao, Jesús Rodríguez, Trevoh Chalobah and Addai. Mattia Liberali returned to the bench after injury, and Jean Butez started in goal. Venezia were bottom with three points after losing 2-0 to Inter in midweek. Davide Nicola was still without Bartol Franjić and Andrea Adorante, and he handed starts to Lion Lauberbach and Gianluca Busio. See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog. Como dominated the ball from the start, with 76% possession in the opening 18 minutes, but found Venezia’s five-man defence hard to break down. Kaiki headed over from a Luis Milla corner, Tasos Douvikas had a shot blocked after a Nico Paz through ball, and Martin Baturina blazed over from the edge of the box. Stanković was soon busy. The Venezia goalkeeper got down well to keep out Da Cunha’s low drive towards the bottom corner, then needed treatment after the save. COMO, ITALY – NOVEMBER 01: Nico Paz of Como 1907 runs with the ball under pressure from Kike Perez of Venezia FC during the Serie A match between Como 1907 and Venezia FC at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on November 01, 2026 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images) Tale of two penalties as Venezia denied by VAR Venezia thought they had a penalty on 28 minutes, when Milla was penalised for handball. After an on-field review, Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi overturned her decision. Como kept pushing. Stanković produced a superb reflex save to deny Marc-Oliver Kempf’s effort from a rebound, Milla fired just over from the edge of the area, and Douvikas headed narrowly wide from Baturina’s cross. The breakthrough came moments later. Juan Jesus slid in on Douvikas inside the box and was booked for conceding the penalty, and Da Cunha sent a left-footed spot kick into the top-left corner on 43 minutes. Venezia almost levelled before the break, but Thórir Helgason’s shot from the right side of the area flew just past the far post. Stanković kept Venezia in the game after the restart, tipping away Baturina’s curling effort after the Croatian had danced past several challenges. Nicola made changes before the hour, bringing on Kike Pérez and John Yeboah, then Toma Bašić and Richie Sagrado. The substitutes livened Venezia up. Yeboah went close twice from distance, and Kike Pérez fired high and wide. Yan Couto had the best chance to settle it at the other end, dragging a shot from the edge of the area just wide. Como 1-0 Venezia Da Cunha 43 pen (C)