Serie A: Can Como Really Challenge for the Scudetto?

After finishing fourth last season, Como have recorded three wins in their first four league matches

Europe Today at 19:21

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Serie A: Can Como Really Challenge for the Scudetto?

Como have started the season on the same foundations that helped them finish fourth in the previous campaign. With 10 points from four matches, the club coached by Cesc Fàbregas sit third in the table and are already beginning to compete with the teams expected to challenge for the top places.

Last season, Como finished fourth with 71 points, ahead of AC Milan and Juventus. That achievement earned them a historic place in the Champions League, but it also showed that they were capable of playing attractive football and competing with the teams at the top of the table.

The result has also changed expectations around the club. Como are no longer simply a team capable of producing a surprise over a few matches. They now have to prove they can maintain that level over an entire season.

A start to the season that confirms their progress

The record is straightforward: three wins and one draw in four matches. Only Inter and Roma, who have won all of their games, have made a better start. Monday’s 2-1 victory over Parma moved Como into third place. The standings are still largely provisional, but the results are not the only thing worth considering.

The trip to Naples provides an especially interesting early indication. Against the 2024-25 Italian champions, Como finished the match with 58% possession and 21 shots, six of them on target. Fàbregas’ side were therefore not simply trying to withstand pressure. They wanted to play their own game.

That desire to have the ball and control the tempo has been evident from the beginning of the championship. Como are trying to impose their style, including against opponents capable of causing them greater problems.

Possession as a marker of Fàbregas’ project

With an average of 59.6% possession after four matches, Como are among the teams that have dominated the ball most often in Serie A. The figure reflects the project Fàbregas is trying to implement. Since taking charge, the Spaniard has sought to build a team capable of playing out from the back, progressing through passing and spending as much time as possible in the opposition half.

Their shot volume reinforces that impression. Como are averaging around 20 attempts per match and rank among the most active teams in the attacking third. These statistics are obviously not enough to turn the Lombardy club into title contenders. They do, however, provide an indication of their ability to control matches. That is precisely what could make their start to the season more significant than a simple position in the table.

The gap to the favourites remains

That said, the established hierarchy of the championship has not disappeared after four matchdays. Inter still have an advantage in terms of experience, squad depth and their track record in high-pressure matches. Roma have also started the season with four wins. Juventus and Napoli, despite less convincing starts, still have squads built to challenge for the top positions.

Como’s real challenge will therefore be maintaining their level as the season enters a different phase. Competing with the favourites for four or five matches is one thing. Doing it over 38 games is another.

Squad depth will be decisive

This is probably where the main uncertainty lies. Fàbregas has several experienced players, such as Sergi Roberto, Marc-Oliver Kempf and Edoardo Goldaniga. He can also rely on younger players such as Nico Paz and Martin Baturina, who can provide greater creativity. In attack, Anastasios Douvikas, Nicolas Kühn and Assane Diao also give him several options.

On paper, the squad offers a certain amount of variety. But a season this long will inevitably test the depth of any group. Injuries, suspensions and fatigue will reveal Como’s true resources. That is when the comparison with the established top-flight sides will become much more meaningful.

The Champions League also changes the equation

There is another challenge: the Champions League. Como are entering a competition that will add to their schedule and force Fàbregas to manage more rotation. European matches will not only take a physical toll on the players. They will also affect preparation for Serie A fixtures and squad management over several weeks.

Inter, Juventus and Napoli have far more experience of dealing with this type of schedule. Como will have to learn quickly. Their ambitions in the league will therefore also depend on their ability to remain competitive when they have to play a series of high-level matches without having the same depth of options as Serie A’s best-equipped clubs.

The Scudetto remains a possibility

After four matches, it would be too early to make Como favourites for the Scudetto. The club still have to show that they can maintain this pace into the spring, when the schedule will gradually become more demanding. But their start to the season deserves to be viewed through more than just their position in the table.

Last season’s fourth-place finish, the 10 points collected from four matches, their control of possession and the victory in Naples all point to a team that has taken another step forward. Como now have enough evidence to suggest they can compete with the best sides in the league.

First three points at home in Serie A! ⏹️ pic.twitter.com/Uan8dOk2Uy
— Como1907 (@Como_1907) September 14, 2026

The title remains a distant prospect. For now, the fairest assessment is to consider Como credible contenders for the top positions, with the potential to disrupt the established hierarchy further if their squad can withstand the demands of both Serie A and the Champions League.