A Lakeside Symphony Conducted by Nico Paz
The Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia sits so close to the water you can almost feel the cold spray from the passing ferry boats. But on Sunday afternoon, the real breeze blowing through Como was a 20-year-old midfielder who made a complicated game look incredibly simple. Nico Paz didn’t just play against Venezia. He orchestrated them.
In a crucial Serie A Matchday 11 battle between two sides desperate to pull away from the relegation mud, Como emerged with a vital 2-1 victory over their Venetian rivals. It was a match defined by tactical tension, late-autumn sunshine, and one young Argentine playmaker who looked several classes above anyone else on the pitch.
The Battle of the Freshly Promoted
Como and Venezia share more than just stunning geography and recent promotion from Serie B. Both clubs arrived at Matchday 11 trying to establish an identity in the top flight. Cesc Fàbregas has spent the young season trying to instill a possession-based, progressive style at Como. Across the dugout, Eusebio Di Francesco’s Venezia brought their trademark defensive grit and counter-attacking sharpness.
The opening twenty minutes felt like a chess match played at high speed. Venezia set up in a stubborn low block, daring Como to break them down. Michael Svoboda and Ridgeciano Haps kept things tight at the back for the visitors, while Joel Pohjanpalo lurked upfront, waiting for a mistake. Como dominated the ball but struggled to find a way through the crowded penalty area.
Then, Nico Paz took charge.
Breaking the Venetian Lock
Operating in the pockets of space just behind Patrick Cutrone, Paz began to drift. He went left. He went right. He dropped deep to pick up the ball directly from Sergi Roberto. Venezia’s midfield simply could not track him. The youngster nearly opened the scoring himself in the 30th minute, rattling the crossbar with a sensational 25-yard free-kick that left the goalkeeper stranded.
The breakthrough arrived shortly after, and it was entirely of Paz’s making. Picking up the ball near the halfway line, the former Real Madrid starlet feigned a pass to the wing, cutting inside instead. With three Venezia defenders converging, he slipped a delicate, no-look pass through the eye of a needle. Patrick Cutrone timed his run perfectly, latching onto the ball and slotting it past Jesse Joronen. The Sinigaglia erupted. It was a goal born of pure vision. Fàbregas, who knows a thing or two about midfield artistry, could only smile from the technical area.
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Venezia Strikes Back
But Serie A matches are rarely straightforward. Venezia did not travel all the way from the lagoon just to watch Como celebrate. Early in the second half, Di Francesco’s men found their footing and began pressing much higher up the pitch.
In the 54th minute, a quick break down the right flank caught Como’s defense sleeping. Gianluca Busio played a sharp one-two with Gaetano Oristanio before whipping a low cross into the box. Pohjanpalo, always hungry in the six-yard box, poked it home at the near post. Just like that, it was 1-1. Suddenly, the mood in the stadium shifted. The home crowd grew anxious, and passages of play became sloppy. Como needed someone to calm the waters.
The Moments of Magic
Once again, Paz answered the call. Instead of letting the team drop deep, he demanded the ball. His press-resistance was dazzling; every time a Venezia midfielder tried to tackle him, Paz escaped with a drop of the shoulder or a quick turn. He kept the tempo high, driving Como forward.
The decisive moment came fifteen minutes from time. Como won a corner. Alieu Fadera whipped a teasing ball into the box, which was only partially cleared by the Venezia defense. The ball bounced toward the edge of the box. Paz didn’t hesitate. He controlled it with his chest, let it bounce once, and unleashed a ferocious volley. The ball flew through a crowd of players and nested into the bottom corner of the net. Joronen did not even move. It was a strike of sheer quality, putting Como up 2-1.
Holding Firm for Three Points
Venezia threw everything forward in the final minutes. Christian Gytkjaer came off the bench to add physical presence up front, and the long balls began to rain down on the Como penalty box. However, Alberto Dossena and Marc-Oliver Kempf stood tall in the heart of the Como defense, winning vital headers. Emil Audero made a crucial fingertip save in stoppage time to deny a stinging effort from Busio. When the final whistle blew, the relief inside the Sinigaglia was palpable.
With these three points, Como moves up to a much healthier position in the Serie A standings, giving them breathing room as the tough winter grind begins. For Venezia, it is a tough pill to swallow after a spirited second-half display. But the story of the day belongs to Nico Paz. Under the tutelage of Cesc Fàbregas, he is rapidly turning into one of the most exciting talents in European football.
