Late Paz penalty miss costs Como a Serie A top four spot

Nico Paz wasted the chance to fire Como into Serie A's Champions League places after missing a penalty in stoppage time of Sunday's goalless draw with 10-men Atalanta.

Como would have moved above fourth-placed Roma on goal difference had rising star Paz netted from the spot in the eighth minute of added time after Giorgio Scalvini's handball.

But Marco Carnesecchi pulled off a brilliant save to deny Paz and earn Atalanta, who had Honest Ahanor sent off in the eighth minute, a hard-earned point.

Sharing points at Full-Time ⏹️ pic.twitter.com/zEh5i5Oyaj — Como1907 (@Como_1907) February 1, 2026

Everyone wants to hug Marco Carnesecchi 🫂 pic.twitter.com/37fHSg2y9O — Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) February 1, 2026

Como stay sixth on 41 points, two behind Roma who are at Udinese on Monday and five ahead of seventh-placed Atalanta.

The 21-year-old Paz has scored eight times and set up six more this Serie A season as Como, owned by tobacco giant Djarum and coached by Cesc Fabregas, have exceeded expectations in just their second top flight season in a quarter of a century.

Paz was bought in August last year from Real Madrid in a complicated deal which gives the Spanish giants the right of repurchase before 2027.

Later Inter Milan can extend their lead at the top of Serie A to eight points with a win at promoted Cremonese.