Como continue their impressive march, as after Manchester United, they comfortably disposed of Sassuolo 2-0 thanks to a Tasos Douvikas double despite squad rotation.
The Lariani were still buzzing after the extraordinary 4-1 thrashing of Manchester United in the Champions League, but Mattia Liberali joined Trevoh Chalobah, Assane Diao and Jesus Rodriguez on the absentee list, with Moise Kean back on the bench and Samuele Ricci getting his first start.
Sassuolo scraped one point from the previous three rounds, missing Jay Idzes, Fedde Leysen, Daniel Boloca and Ismael Koné, but Cristian Volpato was returning to fitness.
See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.
Como had the ball in the net after seven minutes, but the offside flag went up for Lucas Da Cunha in that wide right role.
Nemanja Matic nodded wide from a free kick, but the hosts had another big chance when Tasos Douvikas tried to squeeze in a shot from the tightest of angles and the deflection bounced off the near post.
Douvikas also forced a tricky save from Stefano Turati, with Maxence Caqueret’s finish too weak, while Benjamin Dominguez curled off target from a promising position.
Bruno Kaiki charged down a Dominguez pull-back with his trailing arm, but as he was falling and it was in a natural position, there was no penalty.
Sassuolo also had a goal disallowed just before half-time, as Kieron Bowie was offside before rolling across for Darryl Bakola to turn in.
Cesc Fabregas was not satisfied and made a triple change during the break, it paid off as Como broke the deadlock within three minutes of the restart.
Caqueret won a tackle at full stretch in midfield and sent Kaiki down the left, rolling across for Douvikas to sweep home. Sassuolo felt it was a foul on Nemanja Matic, but Caqueret got to the ball first.
It was nearly 2-0, as Jayden Addai twisted and turned down the right to force a difficult save from Stefano Turati at the near post, then the follow-up header from Caqueret was deflected wide off Ignace van der Brempt.
That was only a warning, as Kaiki intercepted a pass in midfield and burst down the left, pulling back from the by-line for Douvikas to come sliding in from 10 yards and complete his brace.
Luis Milla really should’ve had a third when prodding wide from 12 yards after Sassuolo panicked playing out from the back, while Jacobo Ramon had a chance charged down in added time.
Como 2-0 Sassuolo
Douvikas 49, 60 (C)
Player statistic
| Anastasios Douvikas (Assist: Maxence Caqueret) |
49' | |||
| Anastasios Douvikas (Assist: Kaiki) |
 |
60' | ||
| 63' | Domenico Berardi | |||
| Yan Couto | 65' | |||
| 87' | Ignace Van Der Brempt | |||
| Luis Milla |  |
90+1' |
