Como came into their first game of the new year on the back of a positive end to 2025, having lost just twice in the last four months (W7, D6), which included six clean sheets from their last 10 league games.
And the home side got off to the perfect start here next to a sunny Lake Como, taking the lead just past the quarter-hour mark after Alberto Moreno was brought down in the box by Jakub Piotrowski. Como had missed their last six penalty kicks in Serie A before today – a record that dated back over two decades – but captain Lucas Da Cunha stepped up and ended that record, burying his spot-kick down the middle.
Udinese struggled at the tail end of the year following a positive start to the league campaign, which saw them in contention for a place in Europe, but with just one win in five, having lost five of their last seven away league games, the odds were stacked against Kosta Runjaic’s side.
The Bianconeri struggled to assert themselves in the contest and almost went into the break 2-0 down, but Daniele Padelli made a brilliant save to deny Maximo Perrone’s superb flick at the near post.
The Bianconeri came out with much better impetus following the restart, and they thought they had equalised 10 minutes into the second half when Nicolo Zaniolo collected the ball inside the box, rounded Jean Butez, and slotted home, only for the goal to be ruled out for a narrow offside.
Como took heed of the warning from the visitors and went in search of the second goal to ease the pressure, being denied only by the woodwork on the hour mark when Anastasios Douvikas pounced on a loose ball in the box before smashing his effort off the crossbar.
The home side were unable to translate their pressure into a second goal, but Cesc Fabregas would have been pleased with his side’s defensive resolve as they kept Udinese at bay to earn another clean sheet.
The win cements Como’s position in the European places ahead of the rest of the weekend’s action, while the Bianconeri now sit eight points behind the top six.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Lucas Da Cunha (Como)
Click here for more on the match
