Como Thrash Pisa 5-0 to Boost Champions League Ambitions

Pisa secured their first league victory since November just last week, and they had to endure an intense early onslaught if they hoped to revive their slim chances of avoiding relegation.

Yet, within the first 10 minutes, a poor sideways pass by Stefano Moreo was intercepted by Assane Diao, who seized his first start since mid-December to surge past the exposed Pisa backline and fire into the bottom corner.

Diao’s extended injury absence had evidently not dulled his sharpness, as he set up Como’s second goal shortly before the 30-minute mark.

The Lariani exploited a swift counter-attack, with Diao charging down the right flank, then shifting inside to tee up Anastasios Douvikas, who slotted it home at the near post for his third goal against them this season.

Although Cesc Fabregas’s side held a solid two-goal advantage at half-time, an injury to Jesus Rodriguez that sidelined him ensured the home team did not emerge from the first half entirely intact.

The substitute Martin Baturina netted just three minutes into the second half, as Como decisively overwhelmed their struggling opponents. The Croatian collected the ball on the right inside channel, shrugged off Simone Canestrelli’s tackle, advanced to the penalty area’s edge, and rifled a shot into the bottom corner.

More distress followed for Pisa, who believed they had hit back when replacements Filip Stojilkovic and Henrik Meister converted neat team plays, but both efforts were ruled out due to offside in the buildup.

Though a recovery seemed improbable, those rulings sapped Pisa’s momentum. They leaked another goal in the 75th minute, with Nico Paz finishing from Alberto Moreno’s pullback for his first home league strike since October.

Como capped off an impeccable performance with a fifth goal late in the match, as Nicolas Kuhn’s pass across the box was deflected into an unguarded net by Maximo Perrone, making the head-to-head tally this season a staggering 8-0.

Consequently, Como extended their lead over fourth-placed Juventus by three points, while Pisa linger nine points below the safety line in the drop zone, still seeking their first away success since rejoining the elite division last year.