Serie A

Fabregas vs. Sarri: expect entertainment

Como host Lazio at the Sinigaglia in a match that promises excitement

Como and Lazio meet on the shores of the lake on matchday 1 in Serie A Enilive 2025/26. The Lariani, who impressed last season, aim to better the seventh-place finish they achieved in 1949/50, still the best result in the club’s top-flight history. Lazio, meanwhile, want to improve on last year’s seventh-place finish, which saw them miss out on European competition for the first time since 2015/16.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

In the 14 previous meetings in Lombardy, the record shows 4 Como victories (most recent 2-1 in Serie A 1988/89), 7 draws (most recent 0-0 in Serie B 1982/83) and 4 Lazio victories (most recent 5-1 in last year's Serie A).

DID YOU KNOW?

Como begins the fifteenth season of their Serie A history: the best result arrived in the 1949/50 tournament, a seventh place finish in what was the absolute debut championship for the team in top-level football. Como without victories on the first matchday of Serie A since September 28th, 1952, 3-1 home win over Palermo; in the following 10 Como debuts, 2 draws and 8 defeats. The last Como goal on opening day dates back to September 8th, 1985, 1-2 in Naples, an owngoal from Marino.

COACHES

At just 38 years old, Cesc Fabregas is preparing to play his second consecutive season in Italian Serie A, after finishing tenth last year. Fabregas is one of 7 coaches starting Serie A 2025/26 of foreign origin, like Chivu (Inter), Cuesta (Parma), Juric (Atalanta), Runjaic (Udinese), Tudor (Juventus) and Vieira (Genoa). Among these, Fabregas is the coach who has been sitting on the same bench for the longest time. Maurizio Sarri returns to action after a year off. The last team coached by the Tuscan manager was Lazio itself, in 2023/24. Maurizio Sarri is one of 4 coaches starting Serie A Enilive 2025/26 who has won at least one scudetto, with Juventus in 2019/20. Joining him are Antonio Conte (5 tricolor titles, of which 3 with Juventus and 1 each with Inter and Napoli), Massimiliano Allegri (6 scudetti, 1 with Milan and 5 with Juventus) and Stefano Pioli (1 with Milan).

DISCIPLINE

Suspended: Romagnoli (2) (Lazio) Cautioned: none

REFEREE

MANGANIELLO (MELI – ALASSIO) IV: TURRINI, VAR: AURELIANO, AVAR: CHIFFI

UPCOMING MATCHES IN SERIE A

Bologna-Como (Saturday 30 August, 18.30 CEST) Lazio-Hellas Verona (Sunday 31 August, 20.45 CEST) (Photo Getty Images)