The significance of that result extends beyond the scoreline. Daniele De Rossi, whose Genoa side were on the receiving end, acknowledged that Como had impressed him more than any opponent he had faced since taking charge — a verdict that carries weight when you consider the quality of clubs in this division. Fàbregas, for his part, pointed to maturity and mental strength as the defining qualities of the performance, attributes that describe a collective but also speak directly to what Baturina has been doing all season.

Three matches in, the 23-year-old Croatian has two goals and an assist, an average rating of 7.34, and an AI overall of 74 out of 100, with a potential of 82. That gap between current and ceiling is the most interesting number in his profile. It suggests a player still in the process of becoming, which is precisely what makes this start to the campaign worth tracking rather than simply celebrating.

Fàbregas has been clear that Serie A is the priority for Como rather than the Champions League, a statement of intent that tells you something about how the club is managing expectations and workload. For a young midfielder building his game in a demanding environment, that clarity of focus from the bench matters. Baturina is not being asked to carry a European campaign simultaneously; he is being asked to perform consistently in the league, and so far the numbers say he is doing exactly that.

The Genoa result also illustrates something about Como's character under pressure. Coming from behind to win 4-1 away from home is not a routine outcome, and the fact that Baturina scored in it — rather than fading when the game turned difficult — adds texture to what the early-season data already suggested. Goals and assists are outcomes; performing in a comeback is process.

Three matches is a small sample, but the direction is unambiguous. Como sit third, unbeaten, with the joint-best defensive record their goal difference implies, and Baturina is averaging the kind of numbers that midfielders twice his age would consider a strong season. The question now is whether the level holds when the schedule tightens and opponents have more footage to study.