Anastasios Douvikas scored twice in the second half as Como beat Sassuolo 2-0 to move up to fourth in Serie A.
Como remain unbeaten at home this season, with four wins and one draw, while Sassuolo’s difficult record away from home continued. They have now gone 11 league matches on the road without a victory, drawing three and losing eight.
The hosts began confidently after their 4-1 victory over Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League and thought they had taken the lead after seven minutes.
Lucas Da Cunha ran on to a ball over the top down the right and finished at the near post, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Sassuolo goalkeeper Stefano Turati, preferred to Arijanet Muric, was then forced into action to deny close-range attempts from Douvikas and Maxence Caqueret. Caqueret remains without a goal this season.
Sassuolo also threatened during an eventful first half. Darryl Bakola appeared to put the visitors ahead with a powerful shot into the top corner, which would have been his first goal in Italian football.
The teenager’s celebrations were ended by another offside decision, leaving the teams level at half-time.
That scoreline represented a positive position for Como, who had conceded six of their seven Serie A goals before the interval this season.
Cesc Fabregas responded by making three substitutions at the break, and his changes quickly paid off. Four minutes into the second half, Douvikas turned in Caqueret’s driven cross to give Como the lead.
Como continued to press and doubled their advantage on the hour. Caqueret recovered possession after a Sassuolo mistake and supplied Douvikas, who finished from close range for his fifth goal in four matches.
Sassuolo had been the only team in the division to score and concede in every league game this season, but they could not produce a response after falling behind.
Como remained largely in control until the final whistle to secure their second clean sheet of the campaign.
The victory gives Como 17 points from their opening eight Serie A matches for the first time in the club’s history. It lifts them to fourth place, while Sassuolo drop to 14th after recording only one win in their past six league games, alongside two draws and three defeats.
Douvikas was named Flashscore Man of the Match.