Despite having only been in action on Thursday night, there was no sign of any European hangover from a Roma side who hit the front inside 10 minutes.
Stephan El Shaarawy was tripped by Diego Carlos after he pounced on Sergi Roberto’s dreadful square pass across his own box, leaving referee Davide Massa with no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
Donyell Malen confidently dispatched from 12 yards, taking his Serie A goal tally to seven, more than any other Roma player, despite the Dutchman only arriving in January.
Como responded well to falling behind and controlled the vast majority of the first half, albeit without often testing away goalkeeper Mile Svilar.
The Roma custodian’s best work came when getting down well to his right to deny Nico Paz from a promising position, while Alex Valle was also denied by Svilar before Jacobo Ramon’s improvised effort glanced off the post.
The hosts’ best sighting of an equaliser arrived in stoppage time when Maxence Caqueret rounded Svilar and cut back for Paz, but the Lariani’s talisman blazed over the bar.
With penetration lacking in the first period, Cesc Fabregas responded with a double change at the break, introducing joint-top scorer Anastasios Douvikas.
The Greek international needed less than 15 minutes to establish himself as Como’s leading marksman in the league this term, timing his run perfectly to seize on a Valle through ball before drilling a powerful effort through Svilar’s legs.
The Giallorossi’s afternoon soon got even worse when Wesley Franca was sent off, receiving a second yellow card in the space of 20 minutes for a trip on another half-time substitute in Assane Diao.
Incessant pressure on the Roma goal followed, but the visitors’ rearguard stood up well to Douvikas’ tremendous movement, limiting Como to efforts from range.
Lucas Da Cunha and Martin Baturina both failed to keep their strikes down before Diao’s powerful shot forced Svilar into an acrobatic save.
There was nothing the Giallorossi goalkeeper could do to keep out Carlos, however, who atoned for his earlier error by sweeping home on the rebound after Svilar had denied Ivan Smolcic.
Fabregas’ subs had changed the game, and helped Como to win four straight league games for the first time this season, and the margin could’ve been wider had Da Cunha not been denied by the bar late on.
Visitors Roma have now won just two of their last 10 matches in all competitions, with this far from an ideal tune-up ahead of the second leg of their UEFA Europa League last 16 tie against Bologna on Thursday.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Anastasios Douvikas (Como)
