Roma moved back into fourth position in Serie A on Tuesday night after Evan Ferguson and Artem Dovbyk secured a decisive 2-0 victory over Lecce at the Stadio Via del Mare, reigniting their hopes of Champions League qualification as the race for European places tightens considerably.
The Giallorossi’s first away triumph since November 23 came courtesy of Ferguson’s 14th-minute opener and Dovbyk’s second-half strike, lifting them to 36 points and narrowing the gap to third-placed Napoli to just one point, though Roma have played two matches more than the top three.
Inter Milan currently lead the standings with 39 points, followed by AC Milan on 38 and defending champions Napoli on 37, leaving Roma within touching distance of the title race, though their immediate ambitions appear firmly fixed on securing the fourth and final Champions League qualification berth.
Ferguson, on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion, registered his third Serie A goal of the campaign when he broke the deadlock early in the contest. The 20-year-old Irish international has gradually found his rhythm in Italian football, and his contribution proved vital as Roma dominated proceedings against Marco Giampaolo’s side, who remain perilously positioned in 16th place.
Ukrainian striker Dovbyk, who joined Roma from Girona last summer as the reigning Pichichi Trophy winner, doubled the advantage with 71 minutes on the clock, effectively killing off any hopes of a Lecce comeback and ensuring all three points returned to the capital.
The victory was particularly significant given Roma’s inconsistent away form this season. Their struggles on the road had threatened to derail their European ambitions, but Tuesday’s controlled performance in the heel of Italy suggested renewed confidence and tactical cohesion under manager Claudio Ranieri, who returned to the club for a third spell in November.
However, Roma’s pursuit of Champions League qualification has become increasingly competitive, with Como emerging as genuine contenders for elite European football following their emphatic 3-0 victory over bottom-placed Pisa in Tuscany on Tuesday.
Spanish manager Cesc Fabregas, in his first full season at Como, oversaw his team’s third consecutive league triumph, with Maximo Perrone opening the scoring in the 68th minute before Anastasios Douvikas struck twice—first on 76 minutes and then from the penalty spot deep into stoppage time.
Como’s French goalkeeper Jean Butez, widely regarded as one of Serie A’s revelations this season, further underlined his credentials by saving a penalty six minutes from full-time, maintaining his side’s clean sheet and preserving their upward momentum.
“I never look at the standings, even though a member of my staff told me to look at them today after our victory. I’m not interested in them,” Fabregas said following the win, playing down the significance of Como’s position despite their remarkable achievement of matching Juventus on 33 points.
The Lombardy club, owned by Indonesian billionaire brothers Robert and Michael Hartono, have enjoyed a fairytale return to Serie A following a 21-year absence. Promoted in 2024, Como have established themselves as genuine European contenders, sitting fifth with a game in hand—a rescheduled fixture against AC Milan set for March 15 that could prove pivotal in determining the final Champions League places.
Juventus, currently sixth with 33 points, were scheduled to face Sassuolo later on Tuesday in a match that would further clarify the battle for Europe. The Bianconeri, despite their historical dominance of Italian football, find themselves in an unexpected fight to secure Champions League qualification, adding further intrigue to what has become one of the most competitive Serie A campaigns in recent memory.
