Cesc Fabregas aimed to reassure Nico Paz after the youngster's penalty miss proved costly in Como's 0-0 draw with Atalanta.

Paz saw a 98th-minute spot-kick saved by Marco Carnesecchi, as Atalanta – who played nearly the whole match with 10 men – clung on for a point on Sunday.

Honest Ahanor's red card was the fastest received by an Atalanta player in a Serie A match since 2015, yet despite registering 28 shots, Como could not make their numerical advantage count.

They had 11 big chances – defined as an opportunity from which a player would reasonably be expected to score – and finished with a whopping 5.24 expected goals.

Since Opta began collecting such data (2010-11), it is the second-highest xG accumulated during a Serie A match by a team that has not scored (Atalanta v Empoli, 5.59 xG, in 2019).

Fabregas, though, reassured the emotional Paz, saying that even the best players, such as the great Lionel Messi, miss spot-kicks.

He told DAZN: "I want to send a message of positivity to our young players.

"I don't want to kill a young player over a penalty. I am not like that. I missed penalties, so did Leo Messi, so did John Terry.

"We are all with Nico, we are with the young players who have the courage to make a difference. A great champion must always lift his head back up when he hasn't done well."

Carnesecchi made nine saves and registered a goals prevented figure of 2.04. Only against Cagliari (3.03) in December 2024 has he registered a higher goals prevented value in a Serie A game.

Fabregas added: "The ball didn't want to go in. It happens, this is football, but I also want to congratulate Atalanta, who wouldn't give in, and played their game.

"Let's say we were unlucky, but when their goalkeeper makes nine saves, it's not like me or my assistant can come off the touchline and put the ball in the net. We created nine clear-cut scoring opportunities, so let's lift our heads and keep going."

Como are sixth in Serie A, a place and five points above Atalanta.