Plan your trip to Udinese - Como in Serie A at Bluenergy Stadium in Udine. The 23 August match brings together Kosta Runjaić and Cesc Fàbregas, with Davis, Zaniolo and Nico Paz among the key names. Ticket sales are underway, so plan your purchase and arrival in advance
Udinese - Como: the first round immediately brings a serious test
Udinese and Como open the new Serie A season with a match that can already show in the first round how ready both teams are for a higher level of ambition. The hosts enter the season after finishing tenth and collecting 50 points in the previous championship, while Como arrive as the fourth-placed team from last season, following a campaign that earned them their first qualification for the Champions League.
Kosta Runjaić has remained on the Udinese bench and continues to build the team around a recognizable structure with three centre-backs, a strong central block and a physically powerful attack. Como under Cesc Fàbregas arrive with a different idea: more possession, high pressing and a technically strong line between midfield and attack.
Tickets for this match are in demand among supporters because it is the opening of the season and a duel against a team that made a major leap in results last year.
What is at stake right from the start of the championship
Udinese finished the previous Serie A season in tenth place with 14 wins, eight draws and 16 defeats. The team scored 45 and conceded 48 goals. Keinan Davis ended the championship as Udinese's top scorer with 10 goals, so the new beginning once again puts him at the centre of the attacking story.
Como finished the season in fourth place with 71 points. The run-in was particularly convincing: Cesc Fàbregas's team took 13 points from the final five rounds, and a 4-1 victory against Cremonese confirmed their place among the top four teams.
For Udinese, a physically intense match is therefore important. If the hosts slow Como down in the early build-up and force the visitors into more long balls, the match can move into a zone where duels, set pieces and second balls are more important than pure possession.
Udinese: Davis, Zaniolo and Karlström as the team's axis
Jesper Karlström remains important in midfield, Nicolò Zaniolo is one of the players expected to provide the greatest creative contribution, while Keinan Davis brings strength and hold-up play with his back to goal. Runjaić's basic formation during preparations was 3-4-2-1, with the possibility of the team dropping into a more compact block without the ball.
Davis also received an important competitive boost immediately before the league start. Udinese beat Padova 1-0 in the domestic cup, and Davis scored the only goal. Earlier in pre-season he scored twice in a 3-3 draw against Mainz, while Zaniolo also found the net in the same match.
A positive signal also came at the FVG Cup at Bluenergy Stadium. Udinese beat Barcelona 1-0 with a goal from Vakoun Bayo, after also defeating Nottingham Forest 1-0 in the first match of the mini-tournament.
Absences that could affect Runjaić's choices
According to current information, several situations need to be monitored right up until the match:
- Giorgi Chakvetadze has a fracture of the third metatarsal bone in his right foot and faces a period of recovery.
- Saba Goglichidze suffered a knock in training, and his return is still being assessed.
- Christian Kabasele has a one-match suspension and should miss the league opener against Como.
Kabasele's absence is particularly important because of the three-man defence. Oumar Solet remains crucial because of his strength in duels and ability to defend large spaces, while Nicolò Bertola and younger options may be given greater responsibility immediately at the start of the season.
Como: Nico Paz remains the centre of Fàbregas's play
The most important news of Como's summer is that Nico Paz is staying. The Argentinian enters the new campaign as one of the league's most influential creators. In the previous season he was named Serie A's best midfielder, and the numbers show why.
Nico Paz led the league in the 2025/26 season with 121 shots and 46 shots on target. He also completed 67 successful dribbles. In his first two seasons at Como, he collected 19 goals and 16 assists in 75 appearances in the league and domestic cup. Fàbregas does not use him only as a classic number ten: Paz drops towards the ball, moves into the half-spaces, attacks from the second line and takes part in the high press.
Como averaged around 61 percent possession last season, with short passing, aggressive counter-pressing and a high defensive line. Martin Baturina scored to make it 1-1 in the pre-season match against Arsenal, before the London side won after a penalty shootout.
A new layer of quality in the visitors' squad
Trevoh Chalobah arrived from Chelsea and signed a contract until 2031. Yan Couto, Kaiki Bruno, Luis Milla and Mattia Liberali are also in the squad, while Álex Valle, Jacobo Ramón, Maxence Caqueret, Lucas Da Cunha, Martin Baturina, Assane Diao, Jesús Rodríguez and Anastasios Douvikas are already well integrated into Fàbregas's model.
Douvikas was one of Como's top scorers last season, and his off-the-ball movement works well with Paz's passing. Álvaro Morata provides a different option through experience, movement towards the flanks and linking the attack. Because of the depth of the squad, Como can change the tempo without completely changing their basic idea.
Tactical duel: Como's first press and Udinese's response
The most interesting part of the match could be Udinese's first attempt to play out from the defensive third. Como like to press quickly after losing the ball. If the home centre-backs and Karlström find a calm solution through that pressure, space opens up behind the visitors' midfield line. Zaniolo can be particularly dangerous there because he looks at his best when he receives the ball facing goal and can immediately attack a centre-back or open a pass towards Davis.
Another important detail will be the wide areas. Udinese, in a system with three centre-backs, look for depth through their wide players. Como, on the other hand, like to keep their full-backs high and stretch the pitch. One incorrect assessment can open up a major transition.
Set pieces will also be important for the hosts. Davis and Solet can pose a problem in the penalty area, especially if Udinese win a series of corners or free kicks from wide positions. Como will try to reduce the number of such situations through longer periods of possession.
Head-to-head meetings show a shift in the balance of power
The recent history of this fixture is not one-sided. Como beat Udinese 4-1 in January 2025, and won 1-0 at the beginning of 2026. The most recent league meeting at Bluenergy Stadium ended 0-0. Udinese, on the other hand, won 1-0 in September 2024.
The last four league meetings:
- Udinese 0-0 Como - April 2026.
- Como 1-0 Udinese - January 2026.
- Como 4-1 Udinese - January 2025.
- Udinese 1-0 Como - September 2024.
These results describe Como's development well. From a team that was only looking for its place in the league, it has become a club that finished the previous championship among the top four.
Seats in the stands disappear quickly when the opening of the championship is combined with a visit from a team arriving after a historic season, so it is worth securing tickets in good time.
Bluenergy Stadium and getting to Udine
Bluenergy Stadium is located at Piazzale Repubblica Argentina 3 in Udine and can accommodate around 25,000 spectators. Original construction began in 1971, it opened in 1976, and a major reconstruction was completed in 2016. Today's appearance is more compact than the old configuration, and the stands are closer to the pitch.
The stadium is not in the historic city centre. It is located northwest of the centre, in the Rizzi area, alongside major road routes and the Città Fiera complex.
How to get to the stadium
- From the centre of Udine by car, follow the signs for STADIO in the direction of Spilimbergo.
- From the Venezia-Trieste direction via the A23 motorway, use the Udine Sud exit, then Tangenziale Ovest and the exit for Stadio Friuli - Ospiti Curva Sud.
- From the Tarvisio direction, use the Udine Nord exit, then Tangenziale Ovest towards Pordenone and the Città Fiera - Stadio exit.
- City line 9 connects the stadium with the railway station and bus terminal.
- For parking and traffic changes on matchday, current local instructions should be checked because the traffic arrangements around the stadium may change depending on the event.
The exact opening time of the entrances is not the same for every match, so it is better to check the information published immediately before the fixture. It is sensible to allow extra time for arrival because of security checks and increased traffic.
What supporters can expect in the stands
For Udinese, attention will be on how the defensive line looks without Kabasele, whether Zaniolo can take on more responsibility with the ball and whether Davis continues his form from the first competitive appearance.
The visiting supporters arrive with a completely different background than two years ago. Como are no longer a project in the proving stage. Fourth place, Nico Paz staying and a further strengthened defence have raised expectations. Because of that, the atmosphere could grow as the match progresses, especially if the hosts manage to prevent Como from taking early control through possession.
Ticket sales for this match are under way. For supporters travelling from outside Udine, it is useful to organize the journey in advance, especially if they are combining rail travel, city transport and entry into the stadium.
Players particularly worth watching
For Udinese, Keinan Davis is the primary reference point. His physical play can force Como's centre-backs to defend while facing their own goal, and that opens space for a second wave of attacks. Nicolò Zaniolo can break the structure with an individual move, while Karlström must maintain balance when the hosts open up going forward.
For Como, the key is how often Nico Paz will receive the ball between the lines. Udinese will have to decide whether to follow him with one midfielder or close the zone collectively. Stepping out too aggressively can open space for Baturina, Diao or Douvikas, while passive defending gives Paz time to shoot or play the final pass.
Trevoh Chalobah could be another important detail. His ability to carry the ball out can give Como additional security when Udinese try to press high.
Three details that could decide the match
- Udinese's first pass after winning the ball - quickly finding Zaniolo or Davis can bypass Como's counter-press.
- Space around Nico Paz - allowing him to receive the ball between the defensive and midfield lines is the greatest risk for the hosts.
- Set pieces and duels - Udinese have physical profiles that can change the match even without a long period of possession.
- Depth of Como's bench - Fàbregas has enough attacking options to maintain a high technical level even after substitutions.
Udinese make sense when they are compact, solid and direct. Como are most dangerous when they control the ball, regain possession high up the pitch and create an overload through Paz in the final third. It is precisely the collision of those ideas that makes the championship opener more interesting than a simple look at last season's table.
Sources:
- Lega Serie A - results and head-to-head meetings between Udinese and Como, Nico Paz statistics and the conclusion of the 2025/26 season.
- Udinese Calcio - information about Bluenergy Stadium, capacity, address, arrival by car and city line 9, as well as FVG Cup results.
- Como 1907 - confirmation of Trevoh Chalobah's arrival and current information about the squad.
- DAZN News Italia - updated squads, coaches and basic tactical formations of Udinese and Como for the 2026/27 season.
- TuttoUdinese - current injury status and suspension in the Udinese squad before the first round.
- Arsenal - report from the Arsenal - Como pre-season match and Martin Baturina's goal.