Fàbregas Doesn't Hold Back After Morata's Double Yellow Disaster

Picture this: you're Cesc Fàbregas, Como's gaffer, chasing an equaliser against Fiorentina with 10 minutes left. In strolls Álvaro Morata, the grizzled Spaniard back from injury, meant to be the hero. Instead, he turns villain quicker than a dodgy kebab turns on you after last orders.

First yellow in the 88th minute for scrapping with Rolando Mandragora, then – bam – 60 seconds later, he heads into Luca Ranieri off the ball. Red card, straight down the tunnel, and Como's 2-1 home defeat is sealed. That ended their cracking 10-game unbeaten streak across all comps, tumbling them to seventh in Serie A. As reported by Adriana Garcia at ESPN Italy, Fàbregas was proper fuming post-match.

"Provocation's part of the game," he scoffed. "If you can't handle it, do something else. He's experienced – I expect better. The line between winning and losing is razor-thin." No sympathy for the ex-Chelsea striker, who's goalless in 15 league outings on loan from parent club AC Milan. Now he's banned for Wednesday's trip to the San Siro. Ouch.

Fiorentina's Squad Shuffle for Polish Polish-Off

Meanwhile, the Viola aren't dwelling on that gritty win. Boss Paolo Vanoli is rotating big-time for tonight's UEFA Conference League knockout play-off first leg away at Jagiellonia Białystok. Kick-off's at 21:00 CET in freezing Poland, straight after Brann vs Bologna in the Europa League.

Stars like Moise Kean, David De Gea, Dodo and Manor Solomon stayed home – Pisa in Serie A awaits Monday. Albert Gudmundsson's crocked, Marco Brescianini and Daniele Rugani off the UEFA list. Roberto Piccoli leads the line, Jacopo Fazzini on the left wing, per Sky Sport. Mandragora starts too, but he's suspended for Pisa, so perfect timing.

Vanoli's even drafted seven Primavera lads for depth. Probable XI: Lezzerini; Fortini, Comuzzo, Ranieri, Gosens; Ndour, Mandragora, Fabbian; Harrison, Piccoli, Fazzini. Jagiellonia likely: Abramowicz; Wojtuszek, Vital, Pelmard, Wdowik; Flach, Mazurek, Pozo; Jóźwiak, Baždar, Imaz.

Football Italia's Lorenzo Bettoni and Susy Campanale reckon it's a smart punt with domestic drama looming. Live on TNT Sports 9 in the UK/Ireland, Paramount+ in the US.

European Nights Heat Up: Bologna's Brann Battle

Over in Norway, Bologna face SK Brann at 17:45 GMT – revenge for their 0-0 group stage draw where they played over an hour with 10 men after Charalampos Lykogiannis' red. Rossoblu XI: Skorupski; Zortea, Vitik, Lucumi, Miranda; Freuler, Moro; Bernardeschi, Ferguson, Cambiaghi; Castro. Brann missing Niklas Castro (injured, ironically) and Saevar Atli Magnusson.

Second legs next month. Nigel Reo-Coker on CBS says Fiorentina lack depth for Serie A survival and Europe – cheeky, but Vanoli's rotation screams caution. Como stunned Napoli for their first Coppa Italia semi in 40 years earlier, per the sources, but Morata's antics snapped that momentum.

What a weekend. Morata's head in the clouds, Fàbregas' blood boiling, and Fiorentina globe-trotting. Serie A never sleeps, lads – neither should you.