Como finally return home on Saturday afternoon, as they welcome Bologna to Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, with both teams still seeking a first Serie A win of the season.

preview

Starting off with elimination from the Coppa Italia at the hands of Serie B side Sampdoria, Como have not enjoyed their road trip around Italy since the start of their 2024-25 campaign.

Having been promoted from the second tier last season, the Lombardy club had to renovate Stadio Sinigaglia during the summer, so each of their first three league games were also played away from home.

After a 1-0 defeat to Udinese just before the international break, Como have collected just one point so far, and it will come as a relief that they can now play at home for the first time in Serie A since 2003.

Last year, the Lariani recorded 12 wins and only two losses from 19 league matches on home turf, but they must step up a level in terms of opposition this season.

With his side sitting bottom of the early Serie A standings, coach Cesc Fabregas will be keen to end an unwanted streak in Como's top-flight history: they have failed to win the opening home fixture in any of their last 10 Serie A campaigns.

Bologna last met Saturday's hosts in the top flight some 21 years ago, suffering a 5-1 defeat at Stadio Sinigaglia, which can be considered a bogey ground for the Rossoblu: they have played more Serie A away games against Como without winning than against any other club.

A record of seven defeats from nine previous visits makes for grim reading, and Vincenzo Italiano's current side will be under pressure to finally end that trend, having made a slow start to the new season.

Last year's surprise package, finishing fifth under former boss Thiago Motta, Bologna have proved unable to continue in the same vein since Italiano took charge in the summer.

Between disappointing home draws against Udinese and Empoli, the Emilian club were beaten 3-0 by Napoli, so stretching back to the end of last season they have won just one of their last eight games.

Since April, no team has drawn more Serie A matches - seven out of 12 - and the momentum that carried Motta's side into Europe's top club competition seems to have been squandered.

Having previously participated in the European Cup many decades ago, Bologna will make their Champions League debut next week, when welcoming Shakhtar Donetsk to Stadio Dall'Ara. First, though, they must aim to get off the mark with a win in Serie A.

player injuries

como

90 (attacking midfielder) Simone Verdi

19 (Central Defender) Varane

8 (Central Midfielder) Baselli

93 (Central Defender) Federico Barba

bologna

19 (Attack midfielder) L. Ferguson

11 (right winger) Dan Ndoye

2 (right midfielder) Emile Holm

28 (Shadow front) N. Cambiazzi

(Central Midfielder) N. Pihija

17 (midfielder) Osama Azouzi

possible starting lineup: