Baturina's Stunning Strike Rescues Como in Dramatic 1-1 Draw

COMO, ITALY — The Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium erupted in the dying moments as Martin Baturina's spectacular right-footed strike from the left side of the box found the top right corner, rescuing Como a dramatic 1-1 draw against Bologna in a pulsating Serie A encounter. The Croatian midfielder's 94th-minute thunderbolt capped off a thrilling contest that saw Bologna reduced to nine men but still threatening to claim all three points until the very last gasp.

The opening 45 minutes belonged to Como, who controlled proceedings with their patient possession-based approach. The hosts pinned Bologna back for long stretches, dominating the ball with 58.7% possession as they methodically probed for openings against a well-organized visiting defense. Nico Paz came closest to breaking the deadlock, striking the right post with a clever left-footed effort from the center of the box in the 68th minute, with Tasos Douvikas providing a deft headed assist. The crowd held their breath as the ball cannoned back into play, epitomizing Como's frustrating first-half display where they created promising chances but lacked the clinical finishing touch to convert their territorial dominance.

Bologna emerged from the interval with renewed purpose and struck first through Nicolò Cambiaghi in the 49th minute. The winger showed exceptional composure as he collected Santiago Castro's perfectly weighted pass in the center of the box before slotting a left-footed shot past the Como goalkeeper into the center of the goal. The away supporters in the packed stadium celebrated wildly as their team took the lead against the run of play, capitalizing on one of their few clear-cut opportunities with surgical precision.

The match took a dramatic turn in the 61st minute when Cambiaghi, the goalscorer, received his marching orders for violent conduct following a VAR review. The red card completely transformed the dynamics of the encounter, leaving Bologna to defend their slender advantage with nine men for the final half-hour. Despite their numerical disadvantage, the visitors displayed remarkable resilience and defensive organization, frustrating Como's increasingly desperate attacking forays.

The referee was kept busy throughout this fiery encounter, brandishing seven cards that underscored the match's intense competitive spirit. Lucas da Cunha, Nico Paz, and Ignace Van der Brempt all found their way into the book for Como, while Remo Freuler, Nadir Zortea, and Lewis Ferguson received yellow cards for Bologna before Cambiaghi's dismissal. The physical nature of the contest reflected the high stakes, with both teams sitting in European qualification positions in the Serie A table.

Como's statistical dominance told a compelling story of their territorial control but also highlighted their frustrating wastefulness in front of goal. Despite attempting 12 shots compared to Bologna's seven, the hosts managed just three efforts on target—a conversion rate that would have deeply frustrated coach Cesc Fàbregas. The visitors, meanwhile, made their limited opportunities count, with two of their seven attempts troubling the Como goalkeeper before Cambiaghi's red card forced them into a defensive shell.

The turning point came with Como's tactical adjustments in the final third of the match. Fàbregas introduced fresh legs with Stefan Posch, Nicolas Kühn, and Maxence Caqueret all entering the fray, adding dynamism and creativity to Como's attacking play. The pressure mounted relentlessly on Bologna's depleted defense, with corner after corner testing their resolve as the clock ticked toward full time.

As six minutes of added time were announced, the Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium transformed into a cauldron of noise, with the home faithful sensing their team's desperation for an equalizer. Marc Oliver Kempf came agonizingly close with a header from Caqueret's cross that sailed just wide of the target, before Tasos Douvikas missed from close range in the 83rd minute, leaving Como supporters with their heads in their hands.

Just when it seemed Bologna would hold on for a precious away victory, substitute Martin Baturina provided the moment of magic that sent the stadium into raptures. Collecting Jesús Rodríguez's assist on the left side of the penalty area, the Croatian midfielder unleashed an unstoppable right-footed drive that arrowed into the top right corner, leaving Bologna's goalkeeper with no chance and securing a point that felt like a victory for the hosts.

Looking ahead, Como will host AC Milan on January 15 in what promises to be another stern test of their European ambitions, while Bologna will welcome Hellas Verona to the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara on the same date as they look to bounce back from this late heartbreak. Both teams will reflect on a match that epitomized the unpredictable drama of Serie A, where momentum can shift in the blink of an eye and heroes can emerge in the most unexpected moments.