Como - AS Roma: Serie A leaders arrive on the lakeshore for one of the most intriguing matches of the round
Como 1907 and AS Roma will meet on Sunday, October 11, 2026, at 12:30 at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium in Como, in the sixth round of Italy's Serie A. The home side want to continue their successful start to the season and return to winning ways after their first league defeat, while Roma arrive as league leaders, unbeaten and boasting the best goal difference in the competition.
Only three points separate the opponents. Roma have collected 13 points from five matches, with four wins and one draw, while Como occupy eighth place with 10 points. Cesc Fàbregas's team have already beaten Napoli and Genoa, while Gian Piero Gasperini's side opened the league campaign with 14 goals scored and only three conceded. Such a start to the season gives this encounter considerably greater competitive significance than might be expected from an early autumn league fixture.
Their most recent meeting at the same stadium adds further intrigue. Como defeated Roma 2-1 in March 2026, overturning a first-half deficit. The home supporters therefore have a very concrete reason to believe that the league leaders are not unbeatable on the lakeshore.
Tickets for Como - AS Roma are worth securing in advance, particularly because of the stadium's limited capacity and the special rules applying to certain sections.
What is at stake: Roma defend first place, Como seek a return towards the top
Roma enter the sixth round in first place in Serie A with 13 points, the same total as Inter and Lazio. Gasperini's team lead the standings thanks to a goal difference of +11, having scored 14 goals and conceded three in five matches. Inter are also unbeaten, while Lazio have collected the same number of points from their opening five rounds, meaning every change in results could affect the order at the top.
Como have 10 points, level with Frosinone and Juventus, who are immediately ahead of them. The home side were unbeaten throughout the opening four rounds before losing away to Frosinone. A victory against Roma would take Como to 13 points and further strengthen their position among the teams aiming to remain in contention for the higher places.
The match is also important because of the upcoming schedule. After their trip to Como, Roma host Real Madrid in European competition on October 14 before continuing their league commitments against Genoa and Napoli. Gasperini must therefore balance the need to collect points with the physical demands placed on his players.
For Como, this is an opportunity to demonstrate that the defeat in Frosinone was not the beginning of a decline in form. The team that celebrated away victories against Napoli and Genoa at the start of the campaign want to confirm their quality in front of their own supporters against opponents who have so far shown the greatest consistency of results in the league.
Como's form: convincing victories, nine goals and the first serious setback
Como opened their league campaign with a 1-1 draw away to Udinese before recording three consecutive victories. They first defeated Napoli 2-1, followed by Genoa 4-1, while their first home league appearance ended in a 2-1 victory over Parma. They therefore collected ten points from their opening four rounds, scoring nine goals and conceding four.
The victory in Genoa particularly stood out. Martin Baturina scored from outside the penalty area, Assane Diao netted twice, and Nicolás Paz also got on the scoresheet. Como demonstrated that they can create chances through combination play while also punishing opponents with quick attacks after regaining possession.
The victory away to Napoli was even more important for their confidence. Baturina scored the opening goal, Napoli equalised through Rasmus Højlund, and Anastasios Douvikas secured the victory for Como. Such results confirm that Fàbregas's team do not have to wait for weaker opponents to impose their style of play.
Nevertheless, their latest league away fixture also exposed their weaknesses. Frosinone defeated Como 2-0 on September 20, with goals from Giacomo Calò and Giorgi Kvernadze. Home goalkeeper Lorenzo Palmisani made several important saves, including interventions following attempts by Douvikas and Paz. Como created opportunities but failed to turn their territorial dominance into a goal.
Fàbregas attempted to change the course of the match at half-time by introducing Moise Kean, Jesús Rodríguez and Samuele Ricci, but the score remained unchanged. This is an important lesson ahead of Roma: against an organised opponent, controlling the ball is not enough; a team must capitalise on the periods when the opposing defence is out of balance.
Como have scored nine goals and conceded six in their five league matches. Their attack features several different goalscorers, but defensive stability against teams that break quickly on the counterattack remains one of their key challenges.
AS Roma: Gasperini's attack sets the pace in the league
Roma began the season with four consecutive victories. They defeated Fiorentina 4-0 in their opener, followed by Lecce by the same scoreline, Atalanta 2-1 and Torino 2-0. Their only dropped points came in the fifth round, when they drew 2-2 against Inter at the Stadio Olimpico.
The encounter with Inter revealed two sides of Gasperini's team. Roma took a 2-0 lead in the first half thanks to two goals from Manu Koné. High pressing, aggressive recovery of second balls and midfielders making quick runs into the penalty area completely disrupted the opposition's organisation. Inter nevertheless fought back through goals from Lautaro Martínez and secured a draw.
Roma's leading attacking player in the first five rounds was Donyell Malen. The Dutch forward scored six league goals, including three against Fiorentina and two against Lecce. His acceleration behind the defensive line and ability to finish moves from different positions represent the main threat to Como's defence.
Matías Soulé, Paulo Dybala and Koné also play important roles. Soulé can cut inside from the right, Dybala provides the final pass and quality in tight spaces, while Koné is increasingly arriving in goalscoring positions from midfield. Gianluca Mancini and Mario Hermoso provide experience in the back line, with Mile Svilar offering additional security behind them.
Roma have conceded only three goals in their first five rounds. The opening goal will therefore be particularly important for Como. If Roma take an early lead, Gasperini's system could become even more dangerous because space opens up for Malen's runs and attacks behind the opposition defenders.
Key players who could decide the match
Nicolás Paz - Como's creative centre
The Argentine attacking midfielder is one of the most important players in Fàbregas's team. In the first five rounds, he scored one goal and provided one assist, but his influence extends far beyond the final statistics. Paz receives the ball between the lines, looks for combinations with Baturina and Diao, and forces opposing midfielders to abandon their positions. During the international break, he also impressed with his performances for Argentina.
Anastasios Douvikas - a striker who exploits space in the penalty area
The Greek centre-forward scored two league goals in the first five rounds. He secured the victory against Napoli, while against Frosinone he had several opportunities that did not result in goals. Against Roma, his ability to find space between the three central defenders could be particularly important. Fàbregas also has Moise Kean as another attacking option.
Assane Diao and Martin Baturina - two different sources of danger
Diao brings pace, penetration and attacks from wide positions, while Baturina offers shooting ability and passing quality from central areas. Both had scored two league goals after five rounds. Against Genoa, they demonstrated how dangerous they can be when Como quickly string together several passes and create space around the edge of the penalty area.
Donyell Malen - the league's leading goalscorer
Six goals in five rounds speak volumes about Malen's start to the season. Roma do not need to keep possession for long to create a clear opportunity for him. A single vertical pass behind the defence can often be enough. Jacobo Ramón and Trevoh Chalobah will have to pay particular attention to the spaces between the central defenders and the full-backs.
Manu Koné and Mile Svilar - Roma's pillars
Koné's two goals against Inter demonstrated that Roma also possess a serious threat from deep. Svilar, meanwhile, is part of a defence that has conceded only three league goals. His saves and composure when building attacks are important against teams such as Como, who try to win possession high up the pitch.
Tactical battle: Fàbregas's possession against Gasperini's pressing
According to the latest predicted line-ups, Como could play in a 4-2-3-1 formation, while Roma could adopt a 3-4-2-1 system. This creates an interesting clash between two approaches that share a desire to play proactive football but differ in the ways they create advantages.
With Jean Butez in goal, Como try to build attacks through short passes. Luis Milla and Lucas Da Cunha are important in moving the ball towards the attacking trio. Paz looks for space between the lines, Baturina can change positions between the left and central attacking areas, while Diao provides depth and pace.
Roma could respond by pressing high during the opening phase of the home side's attacks. Gasperini's teams often try to regain possession before their opponents can organise an attack. Koné and Marten de Roon can close down the centre, while wide players such as Wesley and Nahuel Molina allow more aggressive forward positioning.
The battle on the flanks will also be important. Como's Yan Couto and Álex Valle are tasked with contributing to the build-up, but against Roma they must be careful not to leave too much space behind them. If the hosts lose possession while both full-backs are high up the pitch, Malen and the other visiting forwards could find space for quick transitions.
On the other hand, Roma must be wary of Paz's movement between the midfield and defensive lines. If Gasperini's midfielders follow him too aggressively, Baturina or Diao could exploit the vacated space. One of the most important tactical details could therefore be how Roma close down the middle without allowing Como to switch play easily.
The predicted line-ups are not final. The coaches' final decisions will depend on the players' recovery following international appearances and the last training sessions.
Injuries, suspensions and possible returnees
According to the predicted line-up overview updated by La Gazzetta dello Sport on October 7, Roma are preparing for their trip to Como without any suspended players, but Bryan Cristante is among those injured. The midfielder has a knee problem, and the following league round is mentioned as a possible return date.
His absence creates an opportunity for Marten de Roon in central midfield. The condition of Lorenzo Pellegrini is also important, as he has recovered and is competing for a place in the attacking line. Pellegrini, Soulé and Rodrigo Mora are all in contention for positions behind Malen.
Como have no confirmed absences reported for this match and no suspended players. Particular attention has been focused on Moise Kean, who left the national team camp early because of muscular discomfort. Subsequent examinations revealed no serious problem, so he is expected to be available to Fàbregas.
Como had a large number of players involved with their national teams during the international break, including Paz, Baturina, Diao, Douvikas and Da Cunha. The final training sessions before the match will therefore be important for assessing their freshness and determining the starting eleven.
Head-to-head meetings: Como have won the last two home matches
The history of their recent encounters shows how important home advantage can be. In the last two league seasons, Roma have beaten Como at the Stadio Olimpico, while Como have been more successful at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium.
- March 15, 2026 - Como 2-1 Roma. Malen put the visitors ahead from the penalty spot, before Douvikas and Diego Carlos turned the result around.
- December 15, 2025 - Roma 1-0 Como. Wesley's goal secured victory for the home side.
- March 2, 2025 - Roma 2-1 Como. The Romans celebrated victory after a second-half comeback.
- December 15, 2024 - Como 2-0 Roma. Alessandro Gabrielloni and Nico Paz scored in the closing stages of the match.
The most recent encounter in Como is particularly interesting because of how it unfolded. Roma took an early lead, and Fàbregas strengthened his attack in the second half by introducing Diao and Douvikas. After the equaliser, Wesley received a second yellow card, and Como exploited their numerical advantage to score the winning goal through Diego Carlos.
Both coaches are familiar with each other's ideas. Fàbregas defeated Gasperini even when the latter was managing Atalanta, and encounters between their teams often produce an intense battle for control of midfield.
Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia: football right beside Lake Como
The Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia is located at Viale Giuseppe Sinigaglia 2, immediately beside the western edge of the central part of Lake Como. It opened in 1927 and, according to Serie A figures, has a capacity of 12,370 spectators. The away supporters' section has a capacity of 700 seats.
The stadium's location is one of its most distinctive features. It stands between the city's waterfront, the Tempio Voltiano area and the buildings along Viale Sinigaglia. Parts of the stands and surrounding spaces offer views of the lake and the hills surrounding Como. Spectators visiting Sinigaglia for the first time will quickly notice how closely the stadium is physically connected to the city.
Unlike large stadiums with high, distant stands, Sinigaglia has a more compact seating arrangement. Because of this setting, supporters' reactions to the match easily reach the pitch, particularly during intense periods of play and chances in front of the home goal.
The atmosphere gains additional significance from the fact that Como are also competing in European competitions this season, and the stadium has undergone modifications to accommodate international matches. The club's growing sporting ambitions are also reflected in the interest surrounding visits by well-known opponents.
A lively atmosphere is expected against league leaders Roma, with home supporters hoping to repeat their latest victory over the Romans and an organised group of visiting fans occupying a separate section.
Given the relatively small capacity and the appeal of the opponents, it is worth booking seats in the stands as early as possible, after checking the entry conditions for the chosen section.
Tickets for Como - AS Roma and important restrictions for supporters
Ticket sales for the home sections have opened in several phases. Following earlier periods reserved for special packages, season-ticket holders and previous purchasers, general sales began on September 25, 2026, subject to availability.
An important territorial restriction applies to this match: residents of the Italian region of Lazio are not permitted to purchase tickets for Como's home sections. This measure concerns the visitor's place of residence, not their nationality.
Roma supporters wishing to enter the away section must meet an additional requirement. They must possess a valid AS Roma Card, the club's supporter identification card. Away ticket sales began on October 2 and are scheduled to continue until October 10 at 19:00, unless tickets sell out earlier.
Tickets will not be available for purchase at the stadium on matchday. Roma specifically warn their supporters not to travel to Como without a valid ticket, as entry will not be permitted to people without confirmed access rights.
Before arriving, visitors should check their exact section, the entrance indicated on their ticket and the required identification documents. Separate home and away sections have different access routes, while matchday traffic arrangements may further restrict pedestrian movement around the stadium.
How to reach the Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium
The stadium is close enough to the city's railway stations to make travelling by train a very practical option for visitors arriving from other parts of Italy or Switzerland. The most important stations are Como San Giovanni and Como Lago.
According to public transport information, the walk from Como Lago station to the stadium takes approximately eight minutes, while the walk from Como San Giovanni takes approximately eleven minutes. These times may be longer when police or stewards direct supporters along designated approaches.
- Stadium address: Viale Giuseppe Sinigaglia 2, Como, Italy. When planning arrival, it is necessary to distinguish between the stadium's location and the permitted approach to each individual section.
- Train: Como San Giovanni is connected to the railway network towards Milan and Switzerland, while Como Lago can be reached by services via Saronno.
- Bus: The nearby stops include Como - Recchi and Como - Lungolario Trento, although individual stops and routes may be changed on matchday.
- Car and parking: Visitors should not expect to find unrestricted parking immediately beside the stadium. Parking and traffic restrictions apply in surrounding streets during matches, including Viale Sinigaglia and part of Viale Puecher.
- Arrival at the entrance: According to the club's general instructions for away supporters, the gates normally open two hours before kick-off, which would mean approximately 10:30. Specific confirmation of this time for Como - Roma has not been found, so any changes should be checked before arrival.
For visiting supporters, the city's traffic plans also provide for a separate parking area at Lazzago, near Grandate-Breccia railway station. However, access to this area is subject to special rules, and it should not be regarded as a general public car park for all visitors. The approach to the away section must be coordinated with the current traffic instructions.
Visitors arriving by car from more distant locations will find it more practical to choose an authorised parking area outside the immediate stadium perimeter in advance and then continue on foot or by public transport. This avoids closed streets and waiting caused by traffic controls.
Special traffic situation: the Il Lombardia cycling race and football weekend
Supporters planning to arrive in Como as early as Saturday, October 10, should pay attention to an additional circumstance. The city is hosting the final activities of the 120th edition of the Il Lombardia cycling race, resulting in special traffic and parking restrictions in the city centre from October 8 to 10.
The city administration has announced temporary restrictions in locations including Piazza Cavour, Lungo Lario Trento and Trieste, Viale Puecher and parts of Viale Vittorio Veneto. Certain areas near the stadium are being used for television and organisational logistics, including preparations for the football match the following day.
This means visitors travelling to Como for the entire weekend should not plan their arrival or parking according to normal arrangements without checking current notices. Additional obstacles may exist on Saturday even on city roads that are not immediately beside the stadium.
On Sunday, traffic management will once again focus on the football match. The area around the stadium may be closed to ordinary traffic for several hours before kick-off, with traffic gradually returning to normal after the match.
For spectators wishing to avoid these complications, travelling by train and approaching on foot remain the simplest options. It is particularly important to check return transport schedules, as the end of the match and the simultaneous departure of spectators may increase the time needed to reach the stations.
The city of Como before the match: lakeside, historic centre and football supporters
Como lies at the southern end of the lake of the same name in the Italian region of Lombardy. The city is known for its historic centre, lakeside promenades and direct rail connections with Milan and cities on the Swiss side of the border.
For supporters arriving early, a walk along the lake is one of the most pleasant ways to explore the area around the stadium. The Tempio Voltiano, a museum dedicated to Alessandro Volta, is located not far from Sinigaglia, while Como's historic centre contains numerous old buildings, squares, restaurants and cafés.
With kick-off scheduled for 12:30, the most practical approach is to organise sightseeing early in the morning or after the match. Visitors holding tickets should allow enough time for security checks, finding their entrance and passing through any checkpoints.
October brings changeable weather conditions to the lake, so it is advisable to check the weather forecast before travelling and choose clothing suitable for spending time in open-air stands. Rain and wind from the lake are particularly important considerations for spectators in uncovered sections of the stadium.
What to expect during the match
The match could be shaped by the tempo Roma establish at the start. Against Inter, Gasperini's team demonstrated how dangerous they can be when they regain possession quickly and attack with several players. If the visitors succeed in imposing that rhythm, Como could struggle to play their way out of their own half.
However, the hosts have enough technically gifted players to respond to the pressure. Paz, Baturina and Diao can change the direction of an attack with just a few passes, while Douvikas knows how to exploit space behind opposing defenders. Another important factor will be how extensively Fàbregas uses his substitution options in the second half, especially if the match remains closely contested.
Three situations deserve particular attention: whether Roma can limit Paz's influence between the lines, how Como's defence responds to Malen's runs, and which team controls the space more effectively after losing possession. These battles could determine which chances are converted into goals.
For Como supporters, this is a match in which the home team want to confirm they can compete on equal terms with the leading clubs. For Roma supporters, the trip offers an opportunity to see whether Gasperini's side can extend their unbeaten run on a pitch where they lost their most recent head-to-head meeting.
Michael Fabbri will referee the match, while the most important considerations for visitors remain arranging their arrival in good time and securing the appropriate ticket. Because of traffic restrictions, the stadium's limited capacity and the rules applying to visiting supporters, travelling without previously arranged access to the stands is not recommended.
Sources:
- Lega Serie A - sixth-round schedule, league standings after five rounds, Roma and Como statistics, Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium capacity, and reports on the Roma - Inter and Frosinone - Como matches.
- Como 1907 - reports on matches against Napoli, Genoa and Frosinone, the previous victory over Roma, and information about ticket sales for the new encounter.
- AS Roma - match schedule, announcement concerning ticket sales for the away section, and stadium access rules.
- La Gazzetta dello Sport - predicted starting line-ups, injured players and the availability of Kean, Cristante and Pellegrini, according to the October 7, 2026 update.
- Sky Sport - appointment of referee Michael Fabbri and overview of players' international appearances during the autumn break.
- WorldFootball.net and Lega Serie A - results of previous head-to-head matches between Como and Roma.
- Comune di Como - traffic restrictions around the stadium and temporary traffic arrangements during the Il Lombardia cycling race.
- Moovit - locations of railway and bus stops and approximate walking times to the stadium.
- Como 1907, instructions for visiting supporters - general access rules and usual stadium gate opening times.