Como welcomes a crisis-stricken Cagliari to the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia on Saturday. After a solid start to the season, Cagliari has conceded nine goals in its last five games and is struggling with important absences in defense. The hosts, on the other hand, are in impressive form: unbeaten in five games, seventh in the table and with impressive home statistics, which give them an implied probability of victory of around 68% according to the bookmakers. While Como are showing tactical maturity under Cesc Fàbregas and have effective pressing and attacking options in players such as Nico Paz, Fabio Pisacane’s Cagliari face the challenge of stabilizing their shaky defense without Yerry Mina and possibly also without Sebastiano Luperto.
- Venue: Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, Como
- Date and time: November 8, 2025, 3:00 p.m.
- Competition: Serie A (Matchday 11)
Como are in strong form under Fàbregas, with their 2-0 win against Juventus and a fantastic 0-0 draw against league leaders Napoli particularly impressive. The Lariani’s defensive stability is striking: no goals conceded in the second half in their last five games, three clean sheets in that period and a controlled, disciplined style of play, especially at home on Lake Como. New signings such as Kühn and Diao are settling in seamlessly. Cagliari, on the other hand, are in dire form, with major problems caused by the absence of Belotti, Mina, and Luperto. Their defensive vulnerability is clear to see: they have conceded nine goals in their last five away games, with all five games seeing them concede. The betting market reflects this situation: Como is the clear favorite at around 1.5, while Cagliari is at around 6.5. The main tip is a Como win, which offers good value at these odds. An interesting alternative would be under 2.5 goals, as around 80% of Como’s recent games have stayed below this mark. For risk-taking bettors, Como to win to nil could be attractive, although caution is advised here despite their strong second halves.
Como Form & Record Check
Como are unbeaten in five league games, with two wins and three draws. Their defensive solidity is particularly evident in the second half, where they have not conceded any goals in these games, and four of their last five matches have had fewer than 2.5 goals. The 0-0 draw with league leaders Napoli was no fluke, as Como dominated possession at times, slowed the game down effectively, and caused Napoli problems. Despite Morata’s missed penalty, the overall performance over 90 minutes was convincing and showed tactical maturity. Como remain dangerous in attack, as the results against Verona (3-1) and Juventus (2-0) prove. It is noticeable that goals are more likely to be scored in the first half, while the second half is characterized by compactness and defense. Fàbregas’s influence is evident: tight passing, aggressive pressing, and mobile attackers who disrupt the opponent’s build-up play. New signings such as Paz and other reinforcements have quickly settled in. With 17 points and 7th place, Como is exceeding the expectations of a promoted team and is only one point behind Juventus.
Como are likely to line up in the 4-2-3-1 formation favored by Cesc Fàbregas this season. Butez will be in goal, with Van der Brempt, new signing Smolcic, Diego Carlos, and Valle forming the back four. Caqueret and Perrone will provide cover in defensive midfield. Rodríguez, Paz, and Diao could form the attacking trio, with Morata as the lone striker. Goldaniga will be out for the long term: he will undergo surgery on his left heel bone on November 17 and will therefore be unavailable. This reduces Fàbregas’ options in central defense, even though Goldaniga has only been used sporadically so far. Otherwise, all key players are fit and available. On the bench, Baturina, Kühn, and Douvikas are high-quality substitutes who can make an impact during the game.
Cagliari Form & Record Check
Cagliari is going through a difficult phase: with only nine points, the team is in 14th place, level on points with Lecce, and has not won any of its last five league games, with only two draws and three defeats. The defensive weakness is alarming, with at least two goals conceded in all five games, with frequent collapses in the second half. Four of the five games saw at least two goals conceded after the break, a total of 14 goals conceded after a strong start to the season with only three goals conceded in the first four matchdays. The main reasons are injury problems and personnel issues in central defense. The loss of Yerry Mina has hit the defense hard, while Sebastiano Luperto’s lack of playing time has caused uncertainty in squad planning. Coach Fabio Pisacane is hoping for the return of both key players to gain stability. Offensively, the team has lacked punch since Andrea Belotti’s cruciate ligament rupture, which is why Pisacane has recently been experimenting with different formations. The three consecutive home defeats against Lazio (0-2), Sassuolo (1-2), and Bologna (0-2) underscore the urgency of defensive stabilization. One possible personnel change is the return of Mina and Luperto, while Mattia Felici could get a starting spot in attack to provide new impetus. Realistic short-term goals are points against direct rivals and, above all, fewer goals conceded in the second half.
Cagliari are likely to line up in their tried-and-tested 4-3-2-1 formation in Como. A lone striker will probably lead the line, supported by two attacking midfielders, flanked by a three-man midfield and a back four. Mina and Luperto return to the starting lineup in central defense, both of whom are back to full fitness. Obert is back in the squad on the left side of defense after serving his suspension. Felici is likely to start in attacking midfield, where he could play behind the striker alongside Gaetano. Prati and Adopo are expected to form the central midfield. Deiola, Rog, and Pintus remain sidelined due to injury and suspension. Belotti, who has been out for a long time, is not expected to return until next spring. Pavoletti is available as an option for late offensive substitutions and to reinforce the final offensive, after his minutes have recently been increased.
Como – Cagliari Head-to-head & statistics
The record for the last five games between the two teams is even: two wins each for Como and Cagliari and one draw. Interestingly, Cagliari led at halftime in all five games, meaning Como trailed at least once before the break in every encounter. After the break, Como often stepped up a gear and scored in four of the five games in the second half, while Cagliari was only successful in two of the five games after the break. The most recent encounter in May 2025 ended 3-1 for Como, while the August 2024 game was a 1-1 draw, with Como trailing at halftime. All five games had at least two goals in total, with no game remaining goalless at halftime. It is also noteworthy that in four of the five games, a maximum of one goal was scored after the break, suggesting a more defensive second half.
