Como FC qualifies Champions League

Como 1907 reached Serie A’s final day with a Champions League place still in play after a season that had already delivered the club’s first qualification for European competition. The club, coached by Cesc Fàbregas, started May 24 in fifth place on 68 points, level with Juventus and two points behind AC Milan and Roma before the last round of matches. Serie A awards four Champions League places for 2026-27, with no extra Italian berth this season, according to CBS Sports and the league table. Como’s rise had already become one of the season’s most unusual stories. The club was playing in Serie D seven years ago and only returned to Serie A last season after promotion from Serie B, according to Associated Press and the club’s official history. On May 10, a 1-0 win at Hellas Verona guaranteed at least a top-six finish and secured Como’s first European place in its 119-year history. (cbssports.com) ### How close was Como to the Champions League on the final day? The Serie A table on the final day showed Como in fifth with 68 points from 37 matches, behind AC Milan and Roma on 70 and ahead of Atalanta and Bologna. Juventus also had 68 points, leaving four clubs contesting the last two Champions League spots. Lega Serie A’s team page for Como described the club’s position as “survival hopes vs. UCL dreams” before the last match. (wral.com) CBS Sports reported on May 21 that Italy would send only its top four league finishers to the 2026-27 Champions League. That meant Como needed results on the final day against Cremonese, while also watching AC Milan, Roma and Juventus. ### Why was Como already being talked about as a breakthrough team? (worldfootball.net) Associated Press reported on May 10 that Como had guaranteed a first-ever European berth by beating Verona and could still reach the Champions League. That report traced the club’s position back to its time in the fourth tier seven years earlier. (cbssports.com) Como’s own history page says the club had to restart in Serie D in the 2017-18 season after not being included in the professional leagues, before being acquired on April 4, 2019 by SENT Entertainment Ltd. The club says that ownership brought financial stability and investment in infrastructure, the academy and the first team. ### What role did Cesc Fàbregas play in the run? (wral.com) Como announced that Fàbregas would officially become head coach on a four-year contract after helping lead the team back to Serie A. The club said the appointment followed a promotion campaign in which he served as interim and assistant coach. Lega Serie A lists Francesc Fàbregas Soler as Como’s coach on its official team page. (comofootball.com) During the spring run-in, league coverage repeatedly framed Como as chasing fourth place, including matches against Roma, Juventus, Napoli and Parma. ### Which result kept the race alive until the end? Como beat Parma 1-0 on May 17 at Stadio Sinigaglia to take the Champions League race into the final round. (comofootball.com) The club’s official report said Alberto Moreno scored in the 58th minute from a Jesús Rodríguez assist. FBref listed the attendance at 11,365. That win left Como on 68 points entering the last day, according to the standings compiled by worldfootball.net and FootballDatabase. (en.legaseriea.it) On the same weekend, Roma beat Lazio and AC Milan won at Genoa, leaving the top-four race unresolved. ### What exactly was next for Como? Como’s final league match was scheduled for May 24 away to Cremonese at Stadio Giovanni Zini, with kickoff listed at 20:45 local time. (comofootball.com) Worldfootball.net showed AC Milan hosting Cagliari, Roma hosting Hellas Verona and Juventus visiting Torino in the other decisive matches for the last Champions League places. (worldfootball.net)