Cesc Fabregas has secured a place in Como folklore by steering the Italian club to their first-ever Champions League qualification. On a thrilling final day of Serie A, the lakeside outfit leapfrogged AC Milan to claim fourth spot and a berth among Europe's elite, capping a remarkable rise just two years after their promotion to Italy's top division.
Como's historic achievement was confirmed when Milan suffered an unexpected 2-1 defeat at home to Cagliari. The emotional scenes at Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia captured the magnitude of the moment—players and staff realizing that competing against Europe's best was no longer a dream but imminent reality. This marks only the second European competition appearance in club history, the first having been the Mitropa Cup in 1981.
Douvikas and Rodriguez Lead Como's Clinical Display
Against a Cremonese side fighting relegation, Como maintained their composed attacking philosophy throughout. Jesus Rodriguez opened the scoring in the 36th minute when his shot deflected off Alberto Grassi past goalkeeper Emil Audero. The midfielder then turned creator after the interval, setting up top scorer Anastasios Douvikas for a 2-0 lead that effectively settled the contest.
Cremonese's faint hopes of a survival miracle briefly flickered when veteran English forward Jamie Vardy won a penalty early in the second half. Federico Bonazzoli converted from the spot, but Como's defensive resolve ultimately proved too much. Lucas Da Cunha added two further goals—one from a penalty, another in open play—as Cremonese's discipline crumbled, resulting in three red cards in the closing minutes.
Vardy Faces Second Relegation in Consecutive Seasons
The final whistle brought contrasting fortunes. Vardy's move from Leicester City to Cremonese last summer ended in bitter disappointment: not only did the Italian club finish bottom with just eight wins in 38 matches, but the 38-year-old suffered relegation to Serie B. It marked his second consecutive drop down a division, having also departed Leicester following their Championship-bound 2024-25 campaign.
Fabregas' tactical modernization of Como, meanwhile, has delivered unprecedented success. The club finishes fourth ahead of traditional powerhouses AC Milan and Juventus, behind only Inter, Napoli, and Roma. As Como prepares for continental competition next season, Vardy and Cremonese face the challenge of rebuilding in the second tier.
