Fabregas urges Como to stay grounded ahead of Inter clash

Cesc Fabregas has urged his Como side to stay humble ahead of their trip to Inter on Saturday.

Como are fifth in Serie A, just three points behind Inter and four behind league leaders AC Milan after 13 games.

They are enjoying their best-ever start to a Serie A season in the three-points-per-win era.

Como have collected 24 points from their first 13 games played in the current campaign (W6 D6 L1).

Inter and Como are the top two teams in Serie A for average possession (Inter 60.3%, Como 61.0%), and have forced the most high turnovers (Como 98, Inter 96).

Fabregas believes his side, despite their youthfulness, will not fear the threat Inter pose but has encouraged them to stay grounded.

“The guys don't get nervous in these kinds of games,” said Fabregas.

“They're a great group, 20, 21, and 22-year-olds who get together and work as a team. I enjoy it.

“They have to show me what we can do with the team. They're working hard. We have to play a near-perfect game.

“We do a lot of analysis, including behavioural ones, we talk to their families and people who've worked with them.

“There's a lot of information, and we try not to bring a big head here... If you make a mistake, and it happens, we try to fix it quickly. You always need to find energy, always train at your best. That mental effort to keep going.

“I don't think the kids are better than they are, but they're young enough to possibly take them to the top.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Inter – Lautaro Martinez

This game could see Martinez bring up his 150th Serie A goal involvement for Inter (121 goals, 28 assists), becoming the first player to reach this milestone in a single top-five European league since his debut in 2018-19.

Como could become the 30th different opponent he has scored against in the competition, with the Argentine having faced them once before without finding the net.

Como – Nico Paz

Paz is set to make his 50th appearance for Como in all competitions; one more goal will see him enter the top ten all-time Serie A scorers for the club, joining Salvatore Giunta on 12.

The 21-year-old is the only player to have registered five goals and five assists in this Serie A campaign and could be involved in at least one goal in three consecutive top-flight games for the second time, after doing so in September against Genoa, Fiorentina, and Cremonese.

MATCH PREDICTION: INTER WIN

Inter have won each of their last nine Serie A matches against Como by an aggregate score of 20-2; they have never recorded 10 consecutive top-flight wins against a single opponent in their history.

They have also kept a clean sheet in each of their last five Serie A matches against Como (14-0 on aggregate) – they do not have a longer ongoing run of clean sheets against any other side in the top-flight (also five against Lecce).

However, Inter have picked up 27 points in their first 13 Serie A matches this season – since their return to the Champions League in 2017-18, the Nerazzurri have won fewer points from the first 13 games of a Serie A campaign just once (24 in 2022-23).

Como have drawn their first two Lombardy derbies in Serie A this season (1-1 against both Cremonese and Atalanta) and could draw three successive matches against sides from their own region in the top-flight for the first time in their history.

The last time they remained unbeaten in three consecutive top-flight games against Lombardy teams in a single season was in 1986-87: a win against Brescia and draws against Atalanta and Inter.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Inter – 59.8%

Draw – 21.2%

Como – 19.0%