MILAN — In a storybook finish to Italy's league season, Como earned a place in next year's Champions League on the final day — completing a rise from the fourth tier to Europe's elite competition in just seven years.
The club, based on the shores of Lake Como in northern Italy, finished fourth in Serie A after beating already-relegated Cremonese 4-1 away on Sunday. Roma also secured qualification by winning 2-0 at Hellas Verona, while AC Milan — booed off its own pitch after a 2-1 home loss to Cagliari — fell short.
Fàbregas savors rapid ascent
"When I arrived four years ago as a player we changed in a bar, today we're in the Champions League," said Cesc Fàbregas, now managing the club. "We had massages in the back room of a bar, in a field… And today, less than four years later, we're going to play in the Champions League."
The post-match news conference turned chaotic as players doused the ir coach with water while singing the Champions League anthem through a portable speaker wheeled into the room.
Como's squad is notably young — Fàbregas noted 15 of his most-used players are under 23. "That's marvelous and a masterpiece from the whole squad," he said.
Final standings shake out
Roma finished third, two points ahead of Como. Milan ended one point behind in fifth; Juventus, which conceded a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at Torino, finished another point back. The Juventus-Torino match kicked off an hour late due to crowd trouble.
The club's transformation began in 2019 when Indonesian tobacco billionaires Robert Budi Hartono and Michael Bambang Hartono purchased the team while it languished in Serie D. Since the n, it's surged through three promotions.
The Champions League qualification may complicate retention of Fàbregas, with larger European clubs reportedly interested in the 39-year-old manager after his rapid success in senior management.
Around Serie A
Napoli dispatched Udinese 1-0 in Antonio Conte's final match in charge, securing second place and a Champions League spot alongside league champions Inter Milan. Lecce escaped relegation with a 1-0 win over Genoa, moving four points clear of 18th-place Cremonese.
Verona and Pisa join Cremonese in Serie B next season.