Where The Story Turns
MILAN — Como are going to the Champions League. It took them four years to go from a fourth-tier bar changing room to Europe's elite competition, and on Sunday they made it official.
Cesc Fàbregas' side clinched fourth place in Serie A on the final day, overhauling AC Milan and Juventus in a remarkable final-round twist. Como won 4-1 at Cremonese, Roma beat Hellas Verona 2-0, and Milan lost at home to Cagliari. That was enough. The Rossoneri finished one point behind.
"When I arrived four years ago we changed in a bar, today we're in the Champions League," Fabregas said. "We had massages in the back room of a field. Less than four years later, we're going to play in Europe's elite club competition. It's a huge achievement — the 15 players who played the most are nearly all under 23."
The Stakes In Plain Sight
His post-match press conference was interrupted by overjoyed players, who wheeled a giant speaker into the room and played the Champions League anthem while throwing water over their coach.
Como, based on the shores of the lake in northern Italy, has never appeared in any continental competition in its 119-year history. Indonesian tobacco billionaire brothers Robert Budi Hartono and Michael Bambang Hartono purchased the club in 2019 when it was in Serie D.
Roma finished third, two points clear of Como. Milan finished fifth, a point behind, with Juventus a further point back after drawing 2-2 at Torino in a match that kicked off an hour late because of fan trouble.
The Question Left Open
Antonio Conte's last match in charge of Napoli was a 1-0 win over Udinese that confirmed second place. Lecce beat Genoa to secure Serie A safety, moving four points above 18th-place Cremonese, which will join Verona and Pisa in the second division next season.