Como start the new Serie A campaign after last term's stunning top-four finish, and the scale of that rise still stands out. They were in Italy's third tier just six years ago, yet they now arrive with 19 clean sheets in 2025-26 and a reputation built on control without much fuss.
Udinese are a different kind of test. Udinese vs Como looks like a glamour fixture on paper because of Como's momentum, but the hosts have already opened their competitive schedule with a 1-0 win over Padova and three wins in their last five competitive matches. That is the sort of record that tends to keep opening-day games awkward.
Como's defensive base
The clean-sheet total is the obvious starting point. Como's 19 was the league's best last season, and it fits the broader story of a side that collected 44 points in 2026, a total only bettered by Inter. The rise has not come from chaos or all-out risk. It has been built on structure and enough control to keep opponents out for long spells.
Cesc Fabregas has also got reliable numbers at the sharp end. Tasos Douvikas scored 14 Serie A goals last season, while Nico Paz produced 18 top-flight goal involvements. Those two give Como a proper ceiling, but the opener is more likely to hinge on whether they can find enough space against an organised home side than on reputation.
Udinese's opening-day resistance
The most relevant counterweight is Udinese's shape under Kosta Runjaic. Their Cup win over Padova, sealed by Keinan Davis, showed they can still handle a game without chasing it. Davis was credited with a 7.3 rating in that match, which fits the sense that Udinese are already in workable rhythm rather than scrambling to find one.
Sports Mole's preview leans toward a draw, saying: "Udinese can be stubborn opponents and have an established pattern of play under Runjaic, so they can claim a point against ambitious Como on Serie A's opening matchday." That view is hard to dismiss after Udinese's recent results and the way Como tend to make games on their terms rather than turning them into open contests.
The more likely read is a tense start rather than a clean statement from the visitors. Como have the better ceiling and the better recent headline numbers, but Udinese have enough structure and recent home control to keep the result in the balance until the end.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
