Como vs Juventus Match Recap - Oct 19, 2025

Como Upsets Juventus to Ignite Serie A Campaign as Nico Paz Shines in 2-0 Triumph

On a gray October afternoon beneath the shadowed peaks embracing Lake Como, a resilient side from Lombardy delivered the shock of the Serie A weekend: Como, newly returned to Italy’s top flight, handed Juventus their first defeat of the season with a 2-0 victory at the storied Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia. In a performance marked by urgency and clarity, Marc-Oliver Kempf’s early header and a late clincher from Nico Paz punctuated what may be the most significant result of Como’s modern era.

The match began at a frantic pace, Como emboldened by the chance to measure themselves against Turin’s perennial heavyweights. The breakthrough arrived almost before the Bianconeri had settled — in just the fourth minute, Nico Paz, already the creative heart of the Como attack, curled a teasing corner towards the penalty spot. Kempf, rising above a static Juventus defense, powered his header past the outstretched fingertips of the visiting goalkeeper, sending the home stand into raptures and momentarily silencing Juventus’s traveling faithful.

For Juventus manager Igor Tudor, wrestling with injuries and mounting pressure amid a demanding fixture list, the early deficit was a test of tactical flexibility. But the response from the visitors was tentative; despite controlling possession for spells, Juventus failed to produce genuine menace. Kenan Yıldız, the bright young hope, toiled in vain to break down a disciplined Como backline that played with a unity honed over recent weeks of hard-fought draws and narrow victories.

In fact, if these sides had entered the match with divergent narratives, recent form had suggested an encounter that would be closer than the standings forecast. Juventus, unbeaten but dogged by four consecutive draws across all competitions — most recently a scoreless stalemate against Milan and a breathless 4-4 affair with Borussia Dortmund — appeared in need of a spark. Como, meanwhile, hovered in midtable, but with growing confidence following a win at Fiorentina and a statement-making Coppa Italia rout over Sassuolo.

Still, few expected Como, just three points adrift of Juventus at kickoff, to so thoroughly outmaneuver the visitors. The first half ended with the hosts maintaining their slender advantage, the blue shirts darting in and out of midfield challenges, pressing high and disrupting Juventus’s rhythm at its roots.

The second half saw moments of heightened tension. Juventus, aware that another draw would be scant consolation and a defeat a blow to their early-season aspirations, pressed higher up the pitch. But for all their urgency, chances remained fleeting. The Como midfield, orchestrated by Máximo Perrone and shielded by Kempf’s towering presence, intercepted passes and disrupted buildups, forcing Juventus into speculative efforts from distance.

With the match hanging in the balance and Juventus growing more desperate, the pivotal moment arrived in the 79th minute. Perrone, calm under pressure, threaded a pass out wide to Nico Paz. The Argentine, enjoying a breakout campaign, drove inside, shimmying past his marker before whipping a low shot inside the far post. The Juventus defense, stretched and weary, could only watch as Paz wheeled away in celebration — his fourth league goal of the season sealing Como’s ninth in total, of which he has contributed to an astonishing eight.

The final minutes saw Juventus attempt to salvage pride, but the hosts refused to yield. Como’s supporters, sensing the enormity of the occasion, roared each clearance, each interception, as their side saw out the match with a composure that belied their status as newcomers to Serie A’s pressure-cooker fixtures.

For Juventus, the defeat stings not merely for its rarity — their first of the campaign — but for what it signals. Their unblemished record gone, they remain on 12 points after six matches, now just three clear of Como, whose leap to 9th place with nine points offers tangible reward for weeks of steady improvement. The Bianconeri’s bid for Scudetto pace faces new scrutiny, with Champions League assignments and domestic rivals sensing vulnerability.

Como, by contrast, have quickly shed the naïveté of a newly promoted side. Their home form, especially against the league’s elite, has become a calling card. The tactical clarity, defensive resilience, and attacking flair orchestrated by Nico Paz have turned promise into points and, on this day, into headlines. As whispers of survival transform into dreams of mid-table security — or perhaps more — Como’s victory over Juventus will be remembered as a landmark.

The calendar offers little respite. Juventus must regroup ahead of crucial European commitments and a domestic schedule that leaves scant margin for error. For Como, the road ahead remains arduous, but after toppling one of Italy’s giants, belief crackles in the Alpine air. On Lake Como’s edge, a new chapter in this season’s Serie A story has been written — and for once, it is Como’s to savor.