Parma forward José Romero scored to give his side a foothold against Como on matchday four of the 2026-27 Serie A season, but the hosts prevailed 2-1 through goals from Jacobo Ramon and Kaiki, leaving Parma stranded at the foot of the table with a single point from four matches.
The result crystallises a problem that has been building since the opening weekend. Carlos Cuesta García's Parma have conceded six goals and scored only two across their four league fixtures — a ratio that places them among the most vulnerable defences in the division. Romero's goal was not a consolation in the sentimental sense; it was the only moment Parma genuinely threatened. That it was not enough speaks less to his individual contribution than to the structural fragility surrounding him.
Romero, 23, now carries one goal across three Serie A appearances this season — one goal, zero assists, and an average match rating of 6.76. Those numbers suggest a player doing his job in difficult circumstances rather than one thriving in a functional system. An AI overall of 68 out of 100, with a potential of 75, frames him as a forward with clear room to develop, but development requires a platform. A team that has won none of its first four matches and conceded at a rate of 1.5 goals per game is not an obvious one.
Como, meanwhile, arrived having navigated Champions League commitments and still found enough to win a third consecutive match. Ramon and Kaiki provided the decisive contributions, and Cuesta García's side had no answer after Romero's goal drew them level. The gap in squad depth and momentum between the two clubs was visible in the final scoreline.
Parma's next fixtures will test whether Cuesta García can find a defensive structure capable of protecting the attacking investment Romero represents. One point from four games is a position from which sides do recover in Serie A, but the margin for further error is narrowing with each passing week.