AS Roma have climbed back into the coveted fourth position in Italy's Serie A following a convincing 2-0 away victory against Lecce on Tuesday, January 7, 2026. However, their grip on the final Champions League qualification spot remains tenuous with a resurgent Como side lurking just behind.
Ferguson and Dovbyk Fire Roma to Crucial Away Win
The Giallorossi secured their first three points on the road since November 23, breaking down a stubborn Lecce side. The breakthrough came after just 14 minutes through on-loan Irish striker Evan Ferguson, who netted his third league goal of the campaign. The points were sealed in the 71st minute when Ukrainian forward Artem Dovbyk found the net, ensuring a comfortable finish against the 16th-placed hosts.
This vital win pushes Roma's tally to 36 points, placing them just one point behind third-placed Napoli. However, the Roman club has played two more games than the top three teams: Inter Milan (39 points), AC Milan (38), and champions Napoli (37).
Como's European Dream Alive After Pisa Rout
Roma's return to fourth was only temporary earlier in the day, as Cesc Fabregas's Como swept aside bottom club Pisa with three second-half goals. Maximo Perrone opened the scoring in the 68th minute, with Anastasios Douvikas adding a quickfire double at 76 minutes and from a 96th-minute penalty.
A key moment came when Como's French goalkeeper, Jean Butez—hailed as one of the season's revelations—saved a penalty late in the match to preserve the clean sheet. Despite the impressive result, manager Fabregas remained coy on the standings, stating, "I never look at the standings... I'm not interested in them."
The Lombardy club, owned by Indonesian billionaires the Hartono brothers, now sits on 33 points, level with Juventus. Crucially, Como has a game in hand—a postponed fixture against AC Milan scheduled for March 15—which could see them leapfrog their rivals.
Tight Scudetto and Top-Four Race Heats Up
While the Scudetto might be a distant dream for Roma, the battle for a top-four finish and Champions League football is intensifying. Juventus, also on 33 points, remain a constant threat in sixth place.
For newly-promoted Pisa, the situation is dire. With only one win in 19 matches, they remain rooted to the bottom of the table with 12 points, alongside Fiorentina and Verona. The fight for survival and European qualification promises to define the second half of the Serie A season.
