Martin Baturina substituted at halftime in Como victory over Sassuolo

Martin Baturina played only the first half in Como's 2-0 victory against Sassuolo during the eighth round of Serie A. Following the halftime substitution of the Croatian midfielder by manager Cesc Fàbregas, Como scored two goals to secure the win.

While some Italian media outlets criticized Baturina's performance, the local portal CalcioComo defended the player, awarding him a grade of six. Journalist Alessio Lamanna noted that Baturina's first-half performance was not as poor as suggested, highlighting his low turnover rate and effective passing to Maxence Caqueret, though noting a weak shot following a corner.

Analysis of the match also focused on Fàbregas's tactical decisions. Como initially attempted to build attacks through the right flank, leaving space for Sassuolo's Kaiki on the left. After Fàbregas made three substitutions at halftime, the team became more dangerous, scoring both goals through attacks on the left side. Fàbregas admitted the team did not play to expectations in the first half, citing lost duels and underestimating the quality of Nemanja Matić.