Como 1-0 Venezia: Da Cunha penalty keeps Fàbregas’ side flying as VAR denies visitors

Como 1-0 Venezia finished with Lucas Da Cunha’s first-half penalty settling a lopsided Serie A afternoon at the Sinigaglia, as Cesc Fàbregas’ side moved up to 23 points and the bottom club stayed stuck on three.

Main image: DSN graphic

Como had most of the ball and most of the chances on the shores of Lake Como, but needed a spot-kick two minutes before the break to make it count. Venezia, meanwhile, will feel hard done by after a penalty of their own was taken away by VAR.

Como 1-0 Venezia: a tale of two penalties

The game turned on two calls in the first half. On 28 minutes Venezia thought they had been handed a penalty when Luis Milla was penalised for handball, but referee Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi went to the monitor and reversed her decision.

Como’s breakthrough came at the other end in the 43rd minute. Juan Jesus slid in on Tasos Douvikas inside the box, picked up a booking for his trouble, and Da Cunha swept the penalty high into the top-left corner with his left foot.

Stanković keeps Venezia alive

It could have been far more comfortable for the hosts. Venezia goalkeeper Filip Stanković kept out a low Da Cunha drive and then produced a sharp reflex save to deny Marc-Oliver Kempf on the rebound. Douvikas headed wide from a Martin Baturina cross, and Baturina saw a curling effort tipped away after the restart.

Venezia’s best moments were rare. Thórir Helgason curled just past the far post before half-time, and substitute John Yeboah tried his luck twice from distance in the second half. Davide Nicola’s side never truly threatened an equaliser.

Key numbers

Score	Como 1-0 Venezia (HT 1-0)
Goal	Da Cunha 43′ (pen)
VAR	Venezia penalty overturned, 28′
Booked	Juan Jesus (conceded penalty)
Points	Como 23, Venezia 3

What it means

Como went into the weekend fifth, enjoying the best start in the club’s history, and this win keeps them firmly in the race for the European places despite missing Moise Kean, Assane Diao and Trevoh Chalobah. They now switch focus to a Champions League trip to Lens on Wednesday.

The day’s other big Serie A fixture comes tonight in Turin, and our Juventus v Napoli preview sets out what is at stake for Spalletti. For the bigger picture at the top, catch up on the build-up to the Milan v Inter derby against the unbeaten leaders.

Venezia, bottom after a 2-0 defeat to Inter in midweek, have just three points to show for their season so far. Several of Italy’s leading names featured in our France v Italy Nations League preview earlier this autumn, and Como’s rise has been built on bold recruitment, too: our sister site DGBN covered the summer deal that took Chelsea’s Sánchez to Como.