FABREGAS’S COMO DRAWS LEVEL WITH ROMA, PUTTING MASSIVE PRESSURE ON TOP-FOUR RIVALS
Como beat Genoa 2-0 to climb into fifth place. Cesc Fabregas’s side is now tied on points with Roma in the Champions League battle.
Tasos Douvikas and Assane Diao both found the net as Como picked up a 2-0 win over Genoa on Sunday afternoon in Serie A. The result pulls Cesc Fabregas’s side level on points with Roma and puts them just two back from Juventus in the Champions League race, with only four games left in the season.
Genoa arrived after winning back-to-back league games, each by a 2-1 scoreline, but Como’s form had taken a nosedive in April. They hadn’t tasted victory in over a month, and frustration was starting to show. For this one, Daniele De Rossi shuffled Genoa’s starting eleven with four changes. Fabregas, coming off Como’s Coppa Italia semi-final loss to Inter, made two changes of his own.
Como didn’t waste time. Inside ten minutes, Lucas Da Cunha sent in a lovely cross from the left half-space. Douvikas met it with a classic striker’s header, burying his 12th Serie A goal of the year and his 15th in all competitions.
Later, with about 22 minutes gone, Nico Paz danced past his man and curled one just wide from the edge of the box. On the other end, Como goalkeeper Jean Butez nearly gifted Genoa a goal when he cleared the ball straight into Vitinha. The Genoa striker slipped with the goal wide open, though, and Butez gratefully collected the ball.
The match turned a bit nasty before halftime with a clash of heads between Paz and Alessandro Marcandalli after a Como corner. Both players stayed on at first, but Paz didn’t return for the second half after complaining he couldn’t see properly. Genoa’s keeper, Justin Bijlow, also got hurt and had to be swapped out for Nicola Leali at the break.
Genoa came out strong in the second half, but Como struck again about two-thirds through. Maxence Caqueret stuck out a foot at a cross from Martin Baturina, accidentally setting up Diao for a header at the back post. Two shots on target, two goals. Como were ruthless.
Alvaro Morata, coming off the bench for Como, had a golden chance to score his first Serie A goal of the season after a Caqueret cut-back. Instead, he shot straight at Leali, who kept it out.
So, at full time, Como sits even with Roma on points but holds fifth place ahead of them. And now, they’re just two behind Juventus with a huge showdown against Milan looming for the Old Lady. The Champions League spots suddenly look very much within Como’s reach.
PULISIC HITS BACK: MILAN STAR SHUTS DOWN 2026 GOAL DROUGHT CONCERNS
"I haven't stopped dreaming." Christian Pulisic addresses his goal drought and the frustration of missing out on the Gold Cup squad.
Christian Pulisic isn’t holding back. When critics started questioning his recent form and worried about his 2026 goal drought, he shut them down, calling those concerns “bad questions". The AC Milan forward, fresh off his Time magazine cover, still trusts his ability to step up for the USMNT as they gear up to co-host the World Cup.
All eyes are on him.
The U.S. is set to share the stage for the 2026 World Cup, and Pulisic is set to become the go-to guy for the national team. Landing on the cover of Time isn’t something soccer stars from America get every day, and it just shows how big a deal he’s become, especially after proving himself in Europe. But right as people are finally giving him mainstream recognition, he’s under the microscope for not putting up his usual numbers in front of the goal.
He’s not fazed by the dip.
When Time asked about his goal drought and how he’s handling not scoring for club or country this year, Pulisic didn’t mince words; he’s not sweating it. “I plan on scoring goals. Such bad questions. I’m not concerned about it, man.” You can hear the confidence in his voice.
Dealing with the noise
Pulisic admits this stretch feels extra tough. Missing out on last June’s Gold Cup squad hurt him, mostly because he’s used to shutting people up with his play. “Normally, I just go out there and score, and that quiets everybody. Right now, I’m in my offseason, so everyone’s talking, and I can’t do anything about it. That’s what’s frustrating.”
For Pulisic, attacking is everything. “Going at the goal, creating attacks, that’s what I live for. Sure, you have to do all the other stuff: defend, run, whatever. That’s fine. But what really gives me joy is finding ways to score and actually scoring.”
Chasing the dream
The U.S. opens their World Cup run against Paraguay at the SoFi Stadium on June 12, and Pulisic will lead the team right here at home. He doesn’t like making big public predictions, but at 27, he keeps that childhood dream alive. “That’s just not how I work. But I’ll lie in bed and imagine myself holding the World Cup trophy. I did that when I was a kid, and I haven’t stopped. You need to believe. Why not?”
WHY DID LAUTARO MARTINEZ REJECT A CAREER-DEFINING MOVE TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE?
"I love Milan." Read why 28-year-old Lautaro Martinez rejected Manchester United and Arsenal to stay at the San Siro in 2026.
Inter captain Lautaro Martinez has clearly put an end to any speculation about leaving San Siro, making it known that he has no plans to entertain offers from Europe’s top clubs. Even with regular links to teams like Barcelona, Manchester United, and Arsenal, the Argentine forward is fully committed to what’s happening in Milan.
Martinez has been quite vocal about his dedication to Inter amid constant rumours about his future. Despite frequent connections to some of the biggest clubs on the continent, he insists there’s no reason for him to move on from the current Serie A champions.
Media reports have often tied him to Barcelona, PSG, Arsenal, and Manchester United. But through various transfer windows, Martinez has consistently pushed back on the idea of leaving Inter. At 28, he remains a key figure in the team’s current setup and has stepped up as the club’s captain and on-field leader.
In an interview with Cronache di Spogliatoio, Martinez expressed his loyalty to Inter’s project. He made it clear that he isn’t interested in changing clubs despite the speculation.
He said, “No, because I am faithful to the Inter project, I feel at home here. My family is happy, we have a restaurant in the city, and we love Milan. From the first day, everyone treated me in a way I didn’t think possible. I achieved so many personal and team goals here.”
Success on the pitch seems to deepen his connection to the club. Inter recently secured another league title and continues to chase trophies, including the Coppa Italia. On an individual level, Martinez is eyeing the Capocannoniere prize as Serie A’s top scorer. His steady performances underline why he’s considered one of the most reliable forwards in European football.
Since his move from Racing Club in 2018, Martinez has become the defining presence in Inter’s modern lineup. With 173 goals over 372 competitive games, it’s clear how vital he is to the team.
Looking ahead, the club sees Martinez as a central piece in their long-term plans. His leadership and scoring ability make him hard to replace. Settled both on and off the field in Milan, he seems set on continuing his story at the Giuseppe Meazza, despite ongoing interest from Europe’s elite clubs.
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