How Como Are Shaking Up Italian Football Under Fabregas

Como is a small city on the shore of Lake Como, and its football club has spent the last few seasons trying to convince Italy that it belongs among the country's biggest names. A BBC Sport visit to the city looks at how the club, led by former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas, is setting out to disrupt the Serie A order that has long been dominated by a handful of wealthy clubs from the north and the capital.

The approach is hard to separate from the club's off-field profile. Como's ownership has invested heavily, and its high-profile backers and glamorous setting have drawn attention well beyond Italy. The question is whether that outside interest can be turned into results on the pitch, where the club has to compete with teams whose budgets and trophy records are far larger.

Fabregas, who brings a player's understanding of possession football and a reputation for demanding preparation, has been central to that effort. The coach's task is to build a side that can challenge the established clubs week in, week out, and to show that a club of Como's size can make a serious run at European qualification.

Gatecrashing the Champions League would be the clearest sign of progress. For now, Como are an ambitious outsider rather than an established force, and the feature asks whether their rise is a lasting shift in Italian football or a short-lived novelty. Whatever the answer, the club is making Serie A pay attention.