Nico Paz's standout performance on December 30, 2024, propelled Como to a convincing 2-0 victory against Lecce during matchday 18 of the Serie A at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium. This win was particularly significant for both teams as they sought to escape the lower end of the standings.
Paz, the talented Argentine midfielder, showed his mettle as he was named among the starters by Como's manager Cesc Fàbregas. The match began at a frenetic pace, with both teams eagerly striving for points. Five minutes in, Como's Patrick Cutrone nearly opened the scoring with his effort crashing against the crossbar.
Despite struggling initially, Paz faced a pivotal moment when he was awarded a penalty at the half-hour mark after Cutrone was barged off the ball just before he could score. Unfortunately for the young star, his penalty shot was saved by Lecce's goalkeeper Wladimiro Falcone, who managed to kick the ball away, preventing what could have been the game's opener.
Nevertheless, Paz didn't let this setback deter his ambition. After making several attempts to establish his presence on the pitch, he finally struck gold shortly after halftime. Just four minutes after the break, Paz found the back of the net with finesse. Cutrone, from the left wing, delivered the ball to Paz at the edge of the penalty area. Without breaking stride, Paz skillfully opened his left foot to send the ball curling past Falcone and hitting the inside of the far post before it rippled the net. The goal surely was worth the wait, sending Como supporters at the stadium to jubilation.
This goal marked Paz's third for the season, contributing to his tally of three goals and four assists across 17 appearances. Both Fàbregas and the fans were relieved since Como had previously suffered through just one win out of their last twelve matches. Following this pivotal goal, Como maintained control of the match, with Paz growing ever more confident.
The team's determination really shone through, as they racked up several chances with Cutrone thrilling the crowd with his unimpeachable efforts around the Lecce goal. At one point, Cutrone saw his second goal disallowed due to offside, but Como continued to apply pressure. Despite the missed opportunities, they eventually extended their lead with Cutrone scoring the second goal after capitalizing on a rebound from Falcone, which sealed the victory, ensuring Como finished the year on a high note.
Following the match, Carlo Ancelotti expressed great confidence about Paz's potential: "The future of Real Madrid is Nico Paz," he stated during his appearance on 'Radio anch'io sport'. Ancelotti's endorsement emphasizes the high expectations surrounding Paz as he transitions from being on the books at Real Madrid to proving his worth through consistent performance with Como.
With this victory, Como is now comfortably sitting above the relegation line, four points clear of the three lowest-ranked teams, providing them with valuable breathing space as they move forward. There’s significant hope for this team, with both Paz and Cutrone showing promising synergy on the pitch. The manager's tactics clearly worked as Como showcased their superiority against Lecce, which lacked any real potency throughout the match.
Conclusively, Nico Paz's performance was nothing short of spectacular as he combined skill and determination to dominate the midfield and bring home the win. His ability to shake off earlier misfortunes by converting the decisive goal perfectly encapsulates the character and fighting spirit of this Como side as they aim to cement their place in Serie A for another season.