Como Stun Napoli 2-1: Baturina Shines With Goal and Assist in Serie A Upset
Martin Baturina scored one and set up another as Como claimed a first Serie A win of the season with a 2-1 victory over Napoli.
Rasmus Højlund had cancelled out Baturina’s opener, but the Croatian playmaker then teed up Tasos Douvikas for what proved to be the winning goal before half-time.
Napoli passed up a few early chances without testing Jean Butez, and they were made to pay for that wastefulness after 17 minutes when Baturina controlled Assane Diao’s cross before turning and slotting a low shot into the net.
Noa Lang almost found a quick response for the hosts, but he could only plant a free header at the far post just over the crossbar.
Napoli did draw level on the half-hour mark, as Højlund danced away from challenges on the edge of the box before sending a pinpoint strike beyond Butez.
But Como restored their advantage just four minutes later. Napoli were caught trying to play out from the back, with Baturina’s press forcing Amir Rrahmani into a loose pass that looped into the path of Douvikas, who had a simple finish.
Baturina almost added a third before the break, but his header was tipped over by Alex Meret. Both sides then found it hard to create clear openings after the restart.
Napoli grew into the game following Kevin de Bruyne’s introduction at half-time, and Alisson Santos curled an effort narrowly over the bar. The hosts thought they had snatched a leveller deep into stoppage time, only for the offside flag to intervene. Lorenzo Lucca held the ball up superbly and worked it through to Stanislav Lobotka, who finished into the bottom corner, but replays showed Lucca had strayed offside in the build-up.
Napoli had won 12 of their previous 13 meetings with Como in Serie A, with the other fixture in that sequence finishing goalless last season. But Como ended that miserable run at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona and further enhanced an impressive record on the road, having now lost just once in their last 13 away league games.
Baturina was at the heart of Como’s success, setting things in motion with the opener. He had two of his side’s four shots on target, with only Nico Paz managing more attempts among the visitors. He also created two chances from just 45 touches, his pressing proving decisive in the build-up to the second goal.
For Massimiliano Allegri, the defeat brought an end to his side’s perfect start and halted a run of 10 consecutive wins in Napoli’s opening home fixture of a Serie A season.
