Frosinone defeat Como 2-0 to hand Fabregas his first loss in five months

Frosinone strike twice before the interval

Frosinone ended Como's unbeaten start to the Serie A season with a 2-0 home victory at Stadio Benito Stirpe on matchday five. Massimiliano Alvini's side weathered an intense early push from the visitors before striking twice in the first half. Como had three immediate opportunities to take the lead in the seventh minute, but Frosinone goalkeeper Lorenzo Palmisani saved twice from Anastasios Douvikas and captain Ilario Monterisi cleared Martin Baturina's rebound off the goal line.

The hosts capitalized on their first clear opportunity in the 14th minute. Fares Ghedjemis initiated an attack down the right flank and found Schmid, who pulled the ball back for Giacomo Calo to strike under the crossbar for his first career Serie A goal. Como pressed forward for an equalizer and struck the woodwork in the 43rd minute when Palmisani tipped a diving header from Nico Paz onto the post. Frosinone immediately doubled their advantage on the counter-attack in the 48th minute, with Schmid breaking down the left wing and feeding Giorgi Kvernadze, who beat goalkeeper Jean Butez with a right-footed finish for his third goal in five matches.

Defensive resilience and missed chances

Cesc Fabregas reacted at halftime with a triple substitution, introducing Moise Kean, Samuele Ricci, and Jesus Rodriguez in place of Douvikas, Lucas Da Cunha, and Baturina. The tactical shift increased Como's offensive presence, but Palmisani continued to deny the visitors, stopping close-range attempts from both Kean and Rodriguez. Frosinone also threatened on transitions, with Antonio Raimondo shooting narrowly wide from distance in the 65th minute and Schmid sending a dangerous cross-shot across goal four minutes later.

Referee Daniele Chiffi disallowed a late effort from Raimondo for an attacking foul on Como defender Ramon, keeping the scoreline at 2-0. Alvini's lineup, which retained nine players from the previous campaign including seven Italian starters, held firm through second-half pressure to secure three points. The victory moved Frosinone level with Como on 10 points in fifth place in the Serie A standings, three points behind joint leaders Roma, Inter, and Lazio.

Fabregas reflects on progress and performance

The result marked Como's first defeat across all competitions in five months, ending an unbeaten stretch dating back to 21 April 2026, when they lost to Inter in the Coppa Italia semi-finals. Speaking after the match, Fabregas dismissed suggestions that the opportunity to move level with the league leaders had placed excess pressure on his squad.

No, no, that was not the case, certainly not on my part. It would be wrong to do that, because we continue to be Como, we go step by step, we are here much sooner than where we wanted to be two years ago. But it is the first defeat in 5 months, just to remember, since that Coppa Italia semi-final where we were winning 2-0 away to Inter.

The Como manager defended the overall performance of his team while praising the opposing goalkeeper and acknowledging defensive vulnerabilities on the counter-attack.

I think there are also positive things. Today was not a dead team that did not attack, that was tired, no, it was a determined team. Then the ball did not go in, great credit to them, great credit to their goalkeeper. Our fault for that, we should have made other choices, not conceded so many counter-attacks, but I did not see a team that lacked desire or was confused.

Como enter the upcoming fixtures looking to refine their finishing after registering their first league setback of the campaign.