Como saw two points slip away in a 0-0 draw with Atalanta after Nico Paz had a 98th-minute penalty saved, but Cesc Fabregas moved quickly to protect the young player, stressing that missed spot-kicks are part of football, even in a Serie A contest with high pressure.
The visitors from Bergamo played almost the entire match with 10 players after Honest Ahanor received a red card, yet Como, who are sixth in Serie A and sit one place and five points ahead of Atalanta, could not break the defence despite long periods of dominance.
Como produced 28 attempts and created 11 big chances, defined as opportunities where a player is expected to score, but still failed to find the net, finishing with an expected goals figure of 5.24, the second-highest in Serie
A for a team that did not score since Opta began tracking such data in 2010-11, behind Atalanta v Empoli in 2019 with 5.59.
5.24 - Since Opta began collecting this data (2010/11), Como (5.24 xG against Atalanta) have recorded the second-highest Expected Goals during a #SerieA match among teams that haven't scored (Atalanta vs Empoli 5.59 xG in 2019). Misfortune. pic.twitter.com/UjMbQ10gSUOptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) February 1, 2026
The statistical picture underlined Como’s control of this Serie A match against Atalanta, with their volume of shots, volume of big chances and huge xG contrasting sharply with the final scoreline, which remained goalless despite repeated late pressure and Paz’s stoppage-time penalty attempt.
| Team | Shots | Big chances | Expected goals (xG) | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Como | 28 | 11 | 5.24 | 0 |
| Atalanta | - | - | - | 0 |
Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi delivered a standout performance, denying Como nine times and recording a goals prevented figure of 2.04, with Opta numbers showing that only a display against Cagliari in December 2024, when Carnesecchi posted 3.03 goals prevented, ranked higher for the Atalanta goalkeeper in Serie A.
Fabregas, speaking after the Como vs Atalanta Serie A clash, tried to shield Nico Paz from criticism and highlighted examples from elite footballers, saying to DAZN: "I want to send a message of positivity to our young players. I don't want to kill a young player over a penalty. I am not like that. I missed penalties, so did Leo Messi, so did John Terry. We are all with Nico, we are with the young players who have the courage to make adifference. A great champion must always lift his head back up when he hasn't done well. "
The Como coach also stressed both the team’s approach and Atalanta’s resilience in this Serie A meeting, adding: "The ball didn't want to go in. It happens, this is football, but I also want to congratulate Atalanta, who wouldn't give in, and played their game. Let's say we were unlucky, but when their goalkeeper makes nine saves, it'snot like meor my assistant can come off the touchline and put the ball in the net. We created nine clear-cut scoring opportunities, so let's lift our heads and keep going. "
Honest Ahanor’s early dismissal, the fastest red card shown to an Atalanta player in a Serie A match since 2015, gave Como numerical superiority, yet the missed penalty and Carnesecchi’s saves meant the score stayed 0-0, leaving Como still above Atalanta in the table but reflecting on missed chances and leaning on Fabregas’ support for younger players.
