Como secured a historic first European qualification with a 1-0 victory over relegated Hellas Verona, and Cesc Fabregas immediately challenged the squad to aim even higher in the closing weeks of the Serie A season. Tasos Douvikas scored the only goal, and the result guaranteed a top-six finish and at least a place in next season’s Conference League.
The achievement arrived exactly two years after Como confirmed promotion to Serie A, underlining the speed of their rise. Fabregas, who stepped in as head coach in 2024, has guided a team once battling lower-league football into the European places, while keeping expectations measured for the remaining two league fixtures.
From a statistical view, Como’s run stands out within recent Italian football. The last club to book European football no later than the second season after promotion to Serie A had been Torino, who went up in 2011-12 and reached the Europa League qualifiers at the end of the 2013-14 campaign. Como now mirror that rapid progress with their own continental ticket.
The win against Hellas Verona, settled by Douvikas’ second-half strike, confirmed Como cannot finish lower than sixth. That position secures entry to the Conference League, but the situation remains fluid. With two matches still to play, Fabregas’ side can mathematically climb into the Champions League or Europa League qualifying spots if results fall in their favour.
Fabregas described a strong emotional response after the final whistle, reflecting on the journey since promotion. “I’m very happy and proud today, he told DAZN. Two years ago today, we were promoted to Serie A, and today, we’re qualifying for Europe. The team, the club, the fans have all grown. It’s inexplicable. We will remember this day 20 years from now.”
The coach also highlighted memories shared by long-time followers of the club. “Many fans today have sent me messages talking about when we were in Serie D. We’re not AC Milan, Inter, Juventus or Napoli, we’re a humble team, and we want to enjoy this moment.” The comments underlined how far Como have travelled through the divisions.
Fabregas stressed that, despite the pressure around modern football, the squad should appreciate the achievement while staying focused. “These days, with social media, everything goes so fast, there’s so much pressure. You have to enjoy it. I don’t remember how many trophies I won, but there is much more to come. Now, we have two games left to go, and we will see if we can fly even higher.”
Como’s rise from Serie D stories shared by supporters to European qualification in Serie A has created a notable chapter for the club and Italian football. With a Conference League place already assured and the possibility of reaching Europa League or Champions League qualifying rounds, the final two fixtures will decide exactly how high this unexpected campaign finishes.
Story first published: Sunday, May 10, 2026, 23:32 [IST]
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