Como responded emphatically to back-to-back Serie A defeats by cruising to a convincing 3-0 victory away at Lecce, sealing a third consecutive head-to-head win over the Giallorossi since their return to the top flight.

The opening exchanges were subdued, but it was Cesc Fàbregas’ side who gradually asserted control. After a handful of harmless attempts, Como broke the deadlock in the 21st minute through their standout performer Nico Paz. The midfielder struck from range, and with the help of a slight deflection, his effort beat Wladimiro Falcone for his sixth league goal of the season.

Lecce struggled to muster a response, managing just a single shot on target before the interval as frustration grew among the home support. That sense of discontent was mirrored on the touchline, where head coach Eusebio Di Francesco was sent off following a heated exchange with the referee, further compounding Lecce’s difficulties.

The pattern of the game remained largely unchanged after the restart, though Lecce did show greater intent in their search for an equaliser. Youssef Maleh came closest when a well-delivered free-kick created space at the far post, but his finish failed to trouble the target.

Como weathered that brief spell of pressure and were rewarded for their resilience by doubling their advantage against the run of play. Jacobo Ramón scored his second goal of the campaign, reacting quickest to tap in at the back post after Lecce failed to clear a dangerous free-kick.

That second goal effectively drained the belief from the hosts, and Como added a third in the 75th minute to put the contest beyond doubt. Once again, Paz was the architect, threading a perfectly weighted through ball for Anastasios Douvikas, who finished clinically to claim his fourth goal of the season.

The comprehensive win lifts Como back into the European places, moving them provisionally into sixth and two points clear of Bologna, albeit having played a game more. Lecce, meanwhile, remain four points above the relegation zone, but a daunting run of fixtures against Juventus, Roma, Inter and AC Milan in four of their next five matches threatens to test their resolve.