Como are preparing for the biggest night in their club’s history as they get ready to host Manchester United in the Champions League. While Manchester United travel to Italy enduring a difficult run of six games without a win, their global stature remains immense compared to their Italian opponents.
From Serie D to the Champions League
When Manchester United won their third Champions League title in 2008, Como were playing in Serie D, one of nine semi-professional regional leagues with attendances numbering in the hundreds. According to chief executive Mirwan Surwaso, speaking on Piers Morgan’s Football Uncensored Podcast and reported by BBC Sport, the club’s amateur status originally attracted Sent Entertainment, a London-based media company owned by Indonesian billionaires Robert Budi Hartono and Michael Bambang Hartono.
The 2019 acquisition was initially intended for a television project centered on young Indonesian players. However, after the team unexpectedly won promotion and turned professional, that plan was scrapped. Instead of selling developing talents as planned, manager Cesc Fabregas guided the squad to a fourth-place finish in the 2025-26 season following AC Milan’s defeat at Cagliari, completing a meteoric rise from Serie B to the Champions League within five seasons of Fabregas’ arrival.
Como now feature a plush new club shop in a town of just over 83,000 residents and offer fans one-hour lake tours followed by pre-match hospitality alongside their scenic stadium surroundings. Fabregas described the transformation as another world compared to his playing days, calling the fixture a historic day for the club, city, and fanbase. Despite facing scrutiny over UEFA financial rules, Surwaso stated that the club’s books are always in order.
A Journey That Resonates With Longtime Fans
For Como manager Fabregas, the key is balancing celebration of the club’s spectacular journey with keeping his players focused on the task ahead. Three-quarters of the 12,300-capacity Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia is uncovered, posing a potential issue if forecast heavy rain arrives at kick-off.
While thousands now attend matches, supporters who followed the club during its lower-league days remain fiercely loyal. Out-of-town fan Marco Melillo noted that supporting a smaller team in Italy is rare compared to England, but he fell in love with the club’s blue colors and the stadium by the lake. Local fan Federico Borghi, who attended games during the Serie D era, told BBC Sport that playing Manchester United exceeds their best dreams and brings him chills.
Como will look to continue their fairytale European journey when they take the field against the English giants.
Source: BBC Sport
