Como have qualified for the Champions League for the first time in their 117-year history, completing a journey from Serie C to Europe's elite competition in just seven seasons. The Lombardy club, owned by the Jakarta-based SENT Football Group and managed by Cesc Fabregas, finished in Serie A's top four on the final day of the 2025-26 season, a result that The Guardian described as "a bright note amid Italian chaos." It is, without exaggeration, one of the most remarkable stories in modern European football.
To put this in perspective: when the Jakobsen family acquired Como in 2019, the club was playing in Italy's third division, averaging 2,500 fans at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, and had been bankrupt multiple times. Seven years later, they will host Real Madrid, Barcelona, or Bayern Munich on the shores of Lake Como. The contrast is almost impossible to process. Follow every Serie A match live on iScore.ai.
The final day that changed everything
Como went into the final day of the Serie A season knowing that a win would guarantee a top-four finish, but the margin was razor-thin. Three points separated fourth from seventh place, and any slip would open the door for their rivals. The pressure was enormous, and the weight of history added an extra layer of tension.
Como started nervously, conceding an early goal that briefly dropped them out of the top four. The response was immediate and characteristically composed. Fabregas's team did not panic. They continued to play their possession-based game, patiently probing for openings, and equalised before half-time through a well-worked team goal. Two second-half goals sealed the victory and, with it, a place among Europe's elite.
The scenes at the final whistle were extraordinary. Fabregas, normally reserved on the touchline, sprinted onto the pitch and was mobbed by his players. The 13,000 fans inside the Sinigaglia stadium, a ground that sits literally on the banks of Lake Como with the Alps rising behind it, produced a noise that belied its modest size. Fireworks erupted across the town. For one evening, this small Lombardy city of 84,000 people was the centre of the football world.
From Serie C to Champions League: the timeline
2019: The takeover
The SENT Football Group, led by the Jakobsen family, acquired Como when the club was in Serie C, Italy's third tier. The purchase price was reportedly under 10 million euros. The new owners committed to a long-term project: sustainable growth, infrastructure investment, and a clear playing philosophy. They did not promise quick results.
2021: Promotion to Serie B
Como earned promotion to Serie B after a strong season in Serie C. The squad was a mix of experienced professionals and young players developed through the academy. The playing style was already taking shape: possession-dominant, patient, and technically accomplished. The Sinigaglia stadium, freshly renovated, began to attract larger crowds.
2024: Promotion to Serie A
Three seasons in Serie B culminated in promotion to the top flight, achieved under the guidance of Fabregas, who had joined as a player in 2022 and transitioned to a player-coach role before taking full control. The promotion season was notable for its consistency: Como lost only four matches and finished second, earning automatic promotion.
2024-25: Survival and consolidation
Como's first season in Serie A was about survival, and they achieved it comfortably, finishing 12th with 44 points. The campaign was marked by impressive home form and a clear identity: Como were the best passing team in the bottom half, a statistic that attracted attention from across Europe.
2025-26: The impossible dream realised
Nobody predicted a top-four finish. Pre-season forecasts had Como between 10th and 14th. But the squad had been cleverly reinforced, the system had been refined, and Fabregas had grown into one of the most respected young managers in Italian football. A strong start, a consistent mid-season run, and a resilient finish delivered the miracle.
Cesc Fabregas: player to coach to history-maker
Fabregas's journey at Como mirrors the club's own transformation. He arrived as a player in 2022, nearing the end of a career that had taken him from Barcelona's La Masia to Arsenal, Chelsea, and Monaco. His legs were going, but his football brain was as sharp as ever. When the managerial position became available, the owners made the bold decision to give it to him.
The appointment was met with scepticism. A former elite player with no prior managerial experience taking charge of a club pushing for promotion? The risk was obvious. But Fabregas had qualities that coaching courses cannot teach: an extraordinary understanding of space, timing, and possession, forged under Pep Guardiola, Arsene Wenger, and Jose Mourinho. He understood football from the inside, and he translated that understanding into a coherent tactical system.
His management style is calm and cerebral. He rarely shouts from the touchline, preferring to communicate through gestures and tactical adjustments. His players describe him as a coach who explains why he wants something done, not just what he wants done. This approach has created a culture of tactical intelligence throughout the squad.
At 39, Fabregas is one of the youngest managers in Serie A and now one of the most sought-after. Champions League qualification will inevitably attract interest from bigger clubs, but the Como project is intimately tied to his identity. For now, the expectation is that he will stay for at least one more season, leading the club in their Champions League debut.
Key players who drove the miracle
Patrick Cutrone, 28, striker
The former AC Milan and Wolves forward has found a home at Como. Twelve goals in Serie A this season, many of them crucial, including the equaliser on the final day. Cutrone's movement in the box and ability to finish under pressure made him the reliable goalscorer that every overachieving team needs.
Lucas Da Cunha, 25, attacking midfielder
The Brazilian playmaker has been the creative engine of the team. Eight goals and ten assists from the number 10 position, with a passing accuracy that regularly exceeded 88%. Da Cunha's ability to find pockets of space between the lines and play the final pass has been central to Como's attacking play.
Nico Paz, 21, midfielder
The Argentine, signed from Real Madrid's Castilla, has been the breakout star. His energy, pressing intensity, and technical quality make him the perfect Fabregas prototype: a midfielder who can both create and destroy. Five goals and six assists in his first full Serie A season have attracted attention from Argentina's national team setup ahead of the World Cup.
Alberto Moreno, 33, left-back
The experienced Spaniard, a Champions League winner with Liverpool, has brought leadership and composure to the defence. His overlapping runs and crosses remain a potent weapon, and his experience in big matches will be invaluable in the Champions League.
The tactical system: how Como play
Fabregas employs a 4-2-3-1 system that prioritises possession and positional play. The double pivot of Paz and a defensive midfielder controls the centre of the pitch, while Da Cunha operates as a free-roaming number 10 behind Cutrone. The full-backs push high, creating width, while the wingers cut inside to create overloads in the half-spaces.
The key statistical signature is possession. Como averaged 58% possession in Serie A this season, the fourth-highest in the division despite having one of the smallest budgets. This is not aimless possession: Como create chances through structured build-up play, with an average of 14.3 shots per match.
The defensive side is less celebrated but equally important. Como press intelligently rather than aggressively, conserving energy for the attacking phase. They concede few transitions because the shape behind the ball is always disciplined. This balance between attack and defence is what allowed them to maintain consistency across a 38-match season.
Champions League: what awaits Como
The Champions League league phase will be a completely different challenge. Como will face eight opponents from Pot 1 and Pot 2, meaning matches against Europe's established powers. The step up in quality, intensity, and tactical sophistication will test every aspect of Fabregas's system.
The Sinigaglia will be the story of the group stage. A 13,000-capacity stadium on the banks of Lake Como hosting the likes of Manchester City, Real Madrid, or Bayern Munich is a visual that will dominate coverage. UEFA may require some stadium modifications for Champions League standards, but the intimate atmosphere will be unlike anything else in the competition.
Squad depth is the obvious weakness. Como's starting eleven is competitive, but the bench lacks the quality to sustain a challenge on two fronts. Fabregas will need significant investment in the summer transfer window, and Champions League revenue (estimated at 25-35 million euros from the league phase alone) will provide the funds to strengthen.
Realistically, Como's target should be to finish in the top 24 and reach the knockout play-off round. Anything beyond that would be a bonus. But this is a club that has exceeded every realistic expectation for seven consecutive years. Writing them off would be foolish.
Financial transformation and ownership
The financial transformation is as remarkable as the sporting one. When the Jakobsen family bought Como, the club's annual revenue was under 5 million euros. With Champions League qualification, projected revenue for 2026-27 could exceed 100 million euros. That is a twenty-fold increase in seven years.
The investment has been patient and strategic. The owners have focused on infrastructure: the Sinigaglia stadium has been renovated, the training ground has been upgraded, and the academy has been expanded. Player recruitment has been data-driven and focused on value, avoiding the reckless spending that has trapped other ambitious clubs.
Champions League qualification also opens up commercial opportunities that were previously inaccessible. Sponsorship deals, merchandising, and international broadcast exposure will all increase dramatically. The "Como" brand, associated with luxury, beauty, and now football, has enormous commercial potential.
What this means for Italian football
Como's achievement is a rare positive story in a season that has been difficult for Italian football. The Guardian described it as "a bright note amid Italian chaos," referring to the broader problems facing Serie A: declining attendances at some clubs, financial difficulties at several established teams, and the departure of Antonio Conte from Napoli amid reports of "too much poison" around the club. Read about the Serie A title winners Inter Milan on iScore.ai.
Como's model offers a template for other ambitious smaller clubs. Patient ownership, a clear playing philosophy, investment in infrastructure, and a willingness to take calculated risks on young managers and players. It is the antithesis of the boom-and-bust cycle that has characterised so many Italian clubs.
The Champions League qualification also strengthens Serie A's coefficient, which has been under pressure from the Bundesliga and La Liga. Having a fifth Italian team in the competition benefits the entire league, even if Como are unlikely to progress deep into the tournament.
For Fabregas personally, the achievement adds another remarkable chapter to a career that has been defined by intelligence and adaptability. From La Masia prodigy to Arsenal captain to Chelsea champion to Como manager leading a team into the Champions League. Not many football careers trace that arc.
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FAQ
When did Como qualify for the Champions League?
Como qualified for the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League on the final day of the 2025-26 Serie A season, finishing in the top four. It is the first time in the club's history that they have qualified for Europe's premier club competition.
Who owns Como?
Como are owned by the SENT Football Group, led by the Jakarta-based Jakobsen family, who acquired the club in 2019 when Como were in Serie C. Their investment has been patient and strategic, focusing on infrastructure and player development rather than reckless spending.
Who is Como's manager?
Cesc Fabregas has been Como's head coach since 2024, initially as a player-coach before transitioning fully to management. The former Barcelona, Arsenal, and Chelsea midfielder has implemented an attractive possession-based style that has won widespread admiration.
How far did Como climb to reach the Champions League?
Como were playing in Serie C (Italy's third division) as recently as 2019. They earned promotion to Serie B in 2021, reached Serie A in 2024, and qualified for the Champions League in 2026. The ascent from the third tier to Europe's elite competition took just seven seasons.
What are Como's chances in the Champions League?
Como will enter the Champions League league phase as a low-seeded team, meaning they will face some of Europe's biggest clubs. Their possession-based style could cause problems for teams unfamiliar with their approach, but squad depth will be a significant concern against elite opposition playing twice a week.
Sources
- The Guardian: "Como's ascent to Champions League offers bright note amid Italian chaos" (theguardian.com, May 2026)
- The Guardian: "Conte calls time on Napoli amid 'too much poison'" (theguardian.com, May 2026)
- Serie A official data: Final standings and statistics (legaseriea.it)
- API-Football: Como 1907 season statistics (api-football.com)