For years, Serie A has carried a reputation that no longer reflects reality. It was labelled slow, defensive, and overly pragmatic. A league defined more by caution than creativity. That narrative has been quietly collapsing over the past few seasons. In 2026, it is no longer just outdated, it is wrong.
Serie A is now one of the most tactically diverse leagues in Europe, and no team better represents that shift than Como. The Cesc Fabregas inspired Como are not just a feel-good story, they are a tactical case study in how Italian football is evolving.
A League No Longer Defined by One Identity
At one end, you still have structured, control-based teams like Inter Milan, who build through carefully constructed positional systems. But that structure does not come at the expense of attacking output. Inter have been one of the most prolific sides in Serie A this season, showing that control and aggression are not mutually exclusive. At the other, there are sides embracing fluidity, verticality, and risk.
Cesc Fabregas’ Como sit firmly in the latter category. Their rise is not built on financial dominance or individual brilliance. It is built on a clear tactical identity that reflects a broader shift across the league. This is the key point. Serie A is no longer about a single philosophy, and in the process it has perhaps become the most tactically plural major league in Europe.
Como’s Tactical Identity: Fluid, Aggressive, Unpredictable
Under Cesc Fàbregas, Como have developed one of the most intriguing systems in Europe right now. On paper, their shape can resemble a conventional 4-2-3-1, utilizing a double-pivot at the base of midfield. In practice, it is far more fluid.
Instead, Como prioritise:
- Positional freedom over strict structure
- Rotational movement in midfield and attack
- Quick vertical progression once space opens up
Players are encouraged to interpret space rather than simply occupy it. Midfielders drift wide. Full-backs invert. Forwards drop deep to create overloads. Wingers pull out wide enough to get chalk on their boots. The result is a system that is difficult to predict and even harder to defend. As a result, Como are competing with the more established names in Serie A in just their second season after promotion, and boast two of the league’s leading goalscorers in Nico Paz and Anastasios Douvikas.
In the critical battle against Roma in March, the fluidity of Como’s system was decisive. Rather than allowing Roma to settle into a defensive structure, Como constantly disrupted their shape through movement and tempo. This is not the traditional Italian football, borne of tactical rigidity and Catenaccio, but rather a fluid system which rewards aggression and attacking instinct.
Defensively, Como settle into a 4-4-2 system with a narrow setup to restrict space for the opposition. Counter attacks are often launched by looking out wide to speedy wingers, primarily Spanish sensation Jesus Rodriguez. Como are very well-drilled defensively, and hold well-structured lines that opponents find it challenging to break through. As a result, Como boast one of the leading defensive records in the division.
The Influence of Atalanta and What Comes Next
To understand Como, you have to acknowledge the influence of Atalanta. Under Gian Piero Gasperini, Atalanta spent years redefining what Serie A could look like. Their aggressive man-marking system, high pressing, and attacking intent challenged long-standing tactical norms.
But Como represent the next phase of that evolution. Where Atalanta’s system is intense and often rigid in its man-oriented principles, Como’s approach is more fluid and adaptive. It blends elements of positional play with relational football. It is a hybrid model that reflects broader European trends.
In simple terms:
- Atalanta disrupted the system
- Como are redefining it
Why This Tactical Shift Is Happening Now
This is not a coincidence. Serie A’s tactical renaissance is being driven by deeper structural factors.
Coaching Evolution
A new generation of coaches is reshaping the league. Figures like Fàbregas bring influences from Spain and the Premier League. They blend positional play with a more flexible, player-led approach. These coaches are less dogmatic and more willing to experiment. The result is a league where tactical variety is expected.
Financial Constraints Driving Innovation
Serie A clubs cannot compete financially with the Premier League. That reality forces a different kind of thinking.
Instead of relying on star power, teams invest in:
- Tactical systems
- Player development
- Strategic recruitment
This creates an environment where coaching and structure become decisive advantages. In modern Serie A, ideas often matter more than the quality of individuals. Como are a clear example. Their success is not built on the league’s biggest budget, but on clarity of approach.
Changing Player Profiles
The modern Serie A player is different. Defenders are more comfortable in possession, midfielders are more dynamic and positionally flexible, and forwards are expected to contribute to build-up play as well as finishing.
These profiles enable systems like Como’s to function effectively. Without technically adaptable players, this level of tactical fluidity would not be possible.
A More Competitive and Unpredictable League
One of the most visible outcomes of this tactical diversity is competitiveness.
When teams approach the game in fundamentally different ways, matchups become harder to predict. There is no single dominant style and no easy blueprint for success.
For opponents, preparation becomes more complex:
- A structured positional team one week
- A fluid, rotational system the next
- A transition-focused side after that
This variability is a major reason why Serie A has become more open in recent seasons. It is also why teams like Como can disrupt established hierarchies.
What Como’s Rise Tells Us About Serie A’s Future
Como are not an anomaly, they are a signal. Their emergence suggests that Serie A’s future will be defined by:
- Tactical diversity
- Coaching innovation
- System-driven success
This is not a return to the past. It is a redefinition of identity. For years, Italian football was associated with defensive mastery, still hanging on to the Catenaccio principles that once defined it. Today, it is increasingly associated with tactical intelligence in a broader sense. The ability to adapt, evolve, and innovate.
Conclusion: A League Reinventing Itself
Serie A’s renaissance is not built on nostalgia. It is built on change. Teams like Inter still demonstrate the value of structure and control. Clubs like Como are pushing the league in new directions by embracing fluidity, unpredictability, and modern tactical thinking.
The result is a competition that is more varied, more competitive, and more relevant than it has been in years. If Como’s rise is any indication, this evolution is only just beginning.
