Como Prepare For Historic Manchester United Champions League Tie

Como are preparing for the biggest match in their history as Manchester United visit for a Champions League tie, with head coach Cesc Fabregas saying the club must balance pride in its rapid rise with focus on the game.

United travel to Italy after six matches without a win, their worst run since 2018-19, but the club’s global stature remains immense. A Como staff member described the fixture as the biggest night in the club’s history, while Fabregas called it a historic occasion for the club, the city and the supporters.

The contrast between the two clubs is stark. When United won the last of their three Champions League titles in 2008, Como were a Serie D club playing in one of Italy’s semi-professional regional leagues, with crowds often measured in the hundreds. Como returned to Serie D in 2017 after failing to convince authorities of their financial wellbeing.

Chief executive Mirwan Surwaso said the club’s amateur status initially attracted Sent Entertainment, a London-based media company owned by Indonesian billionaires Robert Budi Hartono and Michael Bambang Hartono. When the takeover was completed in 2019, the owners planned a television project involving young Indonesian players. A visit from Manchester United was not part of the plan.

Promotion forced the club to turn professional and scrap that original project. The alternative plan has also been revised. Como initially expected this season to be a selling year for developing talent, but Fabregas guided the squad to fourth place in 2025-26, capitalising on AC Milan’s shock defeat at Cagliari. In five seasons from Fabregas’ arrival as a player, Como went from Serie B to the Champions League.

The club’s growing profile was underlined when Lionel Messi’s son, Ciro, was pictured with his father wearing a replica Como kit. Former France internationals Raphael Varane and Thierry Henry are also investors in the club.

Fabregas, the former Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea midfielder, said the contrast with his playing days at Como was stark and described the Manchester United match as historic for the club, city and fanbase. He said Como remain a family club, with supporters celebrating even after defeats, and stressed the need for humility and focus. He said his players should not spend too much time reflecting on past achievements and must look at what is in front of them.

The match will be played at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, which has a capacity of 12,300 and is three-quarters uncovered. Heavy rain is forecast for kick-off. The stadium sits beside Lake Como, with a yacht club and an Aero Club for seaplanes nearby. The club also offers lake tours and lakeside hospitality, and has opened a new club shop selling branded merchandise.

Como’s rise has raised questions about compliance with UEFA’s financial rules, which European football’s governing body does not intend to amend despite the club’s progress from Serie B. Surwaso said the club always keeps its books in order and is not too worried about the scrutiny.

Fans who followed Como in the lower leagues remain central to the club’s story. Marco Melillo, an out-of-town supporter, said his uncle introduced him to Como through a sticker collection and that he was drawn to the blue shirt, the stadium and the lake. He said Italian football fans often support bigger clubs, but he was not interested in following a winning team for that reason. He said Como are in the best situation in their history, but supporters who were there in Serie D will remain even if the story ends abruptly.

Federico Borghi, a local fan, brought a large Como 1907-2007 history book to the stadium despite the weather. He said he began attending games in 2008 and never dreamed Como would play Manchester United. He said the prospect gives him chills and that facing one of the world’s biggest clubs is a major honour, with the Premier League serving as his inspiration.