Cesc Fabregas said Como’s 2–1 win over Parma offered an important indication of what his team could become, as the Serie A side responded positively to the physical and emotional demands of their landmark Champions League victory over RB Leipzig. Como followed Thursday’s 4–1 European debut win with a hard-fought league victory at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, secured by goals from Jacobo Ramon and Kaiki Bruno.
The match was Como’s first Serie A game at the refurbished Sinigaglia this season, and it came only four days after the club’s historic first Champions League appearance. Fabregas made several changes to his lineup after the Leipzig victory, handing debuts to Moise Kean and goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, while seeking to manage the fatigue that comes with a packed domestic and European schedule.
Como took control early through Ramon, who headed home Nico Paz’s delivery in the 22nd minute. The hosts created sustained pressure and finished with 31 attempts at goal, but the volume of chances did not translate into a comfortable scoreline. Kaiki doubled the advantage in the 83rd minute when he converted a rebound after a save, before Parma’s David Romero scored in stoppage time to ensure a tense finish.
Fabregas said the performance mattered because it demonstrated that his squad could cope with rotation and different match circumstances. “This was an important response for the team, because it means I can rely on everyone,” he said. “I am very happy with the performance. This is an important victory for me as a coach, because I am starting to realise what team we could become.”
The coach also acknowledged the risk of failing to finish games decisively. “When you have 31 shots on goal and score only once, you know that the opponents will change something to shore up their defence, and that you risk conceding, which we eventually did,” Fabregas said. The late Parma goal illustrated that concern, but Como held on for a result that maintained their momentum after the Leipzig win.
Kaiki’s goal particularly pleased Fabregas. The Brazilian left-back, who has previously represented Brazil, scored his first Serie A goal for Como and showed the attacking threat Fabregas wants from his defenders. “He has already played for the Brazil team, so he has a lot of quality and will help us a great deal,” Fabregas said. “He really enjoys defending, and it showed today. He will slowly settle in to give what we are looking for in him.”
Fabregas pointed to Arsenal’s recent success as an example of why contributions from defenders can be decisive. “In modern football, it is very important to have defenders who score goals,” he said. “Arsenal won the Premier League largely with goals from defenders and on set plays. If we add this to our capabilities, then it’s an advantage.”
The former Arsenal midfielder had urged his players not to become distracted by the scale of their Champions League success. After Como’s 4–1 win over Leipzig, he said the celebrations would last only briefly because Serie A remained the club’s central priority. The victory over Parma suggested that message had been absorbed.
Como’s recent run has transformed the atmosphere around the club. The win over Leipzig marked a dream beginning in the Champions League, with Martin Baturina, Tasos Douvikas, Assane Diao and Maximo Perrone all scoring. The subsequent defeat of Parma was less spectacular but may be just as meaningful for Fabregas, who now wants his team to show that it can deliver in different contexts and every three days.
For Como, the challenge is no longer merely to produce isolated statement results. Fabregas wants a team capable of sustaining intensity, controlling matches and finding goals from throughout the squad. The win over Parma, despite its late tension, offered evidence that the club’s rapidly rising ambitions may be matched by its developing depth.
