Picture this: A former Arsenal and Barcelona icon, fresh off turning down the Inter hot seat, now stares down the Nerazzurri from the opposite dugout—armed with a Serie A-best defense and a squad that’s lost just once all season. On December 6, 2025, Cesc Fabregas’ Como host champions Inter Milan at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, a clash that’s less about three points and more about proving the Spaniard’s coaching chops can crack Italy’s elite. With Como sitting third—just three points off the top—this “litmus test” could catapult Fabregas from promising novice to Nerazzurri nightmare, or expose the gaps between Como’s grit and Inter’s glamour.
The Como vs Inter Serie A showdown, Fabregas litmus test Inter, and Chivu Fabregas dugout duel have set Italian football alight, blending personal grudge with tactical chess in a fixture that feels like destiny’s derby. Fabregas, who spurned Inter’s advances last summer for a €150 million transfer kitty at Como, faces off against Cristian Chivu—the Romanian legend who snagged the Nerazzurri job instead. It’s no coincidence: Tuttosport dubs it a “fascinating duel,” pitting Fabregas’ rapid rise—Como’s 24 points from 13 games, Serie A’s stingiest backline (7 conceded)—against Chivu’s title holders, who lead by a whisker in a four-way top tussle with Roma, Milan, and Napoli. One prior meeting? Fabregas edged Chivu 1-0 at Parma in May, but Inter’s San Siro fortress (unbeaten in 12 home league games) flips the script.
Fabregas’ Como isn’t punching above weight—they’re landing haymakers. Promoted last season, the Lariani sit unbeaten in 14 (10W, 4D), averaging 60% possession like their possession-obsessed hosts. The secret? A €150M war chest luring gems like Nico Paz (5G, 5A in 13 games, his 50th appearance looming) and Sergi Roberto, blending flair with steel—Edoardo Goldaniga and Ivan Smolcic anchor a defense that’s shut out foes in 7 of 13. Fabregas, the midfield maestro turned tactician, preaches “clear ideas in the final third,” crediting his side’s resilience: “We’ve improved—now it’s about converting draws to wins.” Absent: Roberto and Goldaniga (injured), but Assane Diao’s return adds wing bite.
Inter, under Chivu’s steady hand post-Inzaghi’s Al-Hilal exit, are a juggernaut in waiting—unbeaten in 10 league games, but a midweek Coppa Italia cruise (5-1 vs Venezia) masked Champions League jitters. Marcus Thuram and Mehdi Taremi lead the line, with Hakan Calhanoglu pulling strings, but wing-back woes (Denzel Dumfries and Matteo Darmian sidelined) could cramp their flanks. Chivu, the 2010 treble hero, knows Fabregas’ blueprint: “He’s grown fast—this is his chance to stamp it.” Head-to-head? Inter dominate (6W, 6D, 1L in 13), but Como’s home unbeaten streak (8 games) adds spice.
Analysts are split. Sports Mole tips a 2-1 Inter win but flags Como’s “toe-to-toe” possession battle, while Khel Now eyes both teams to score—Fabregas’ attack, led by Paz, could exploit Inter’s leaky backline (12 conceded). On X, #FabregasVsChivu trends: @SempreInter fans chant “Cesc who? Nerazzurri forever,” while @Como1907_ hails “Our gaffer’s revenge tour—Paz to score!”
For Serie A diehards—from Milanese ultras to global neutrals—this litmus test probes Fabregas’ mettle: Can his possession poetry pierce Inter’s iron curtain? Economically, a Como upset juices mid-table drama, boosting DAZN subs amid €1B rights wars. Lifestyle thrill? It’s the ultimate ex factor—Fabregas’ snub fueling a tactical tango. Politically neutral, but culturally seismic: Inzaghi’s shadow looms, testing if Fabregas is the next great import.
Lineup predictions:
| Team | Predicted XI (4-3-3) |
|———|———————————————–|
| **Inter** | Sommer; Bisseck, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Taremi |
| **Como** | Reina; Goldaniga, Smolcic, Diao; Paz, Strefezza, Morata; Roberto, Douvikas (if fit) |
As Sinigaglia sells out, Fabregas’ fate hangs on this: Triumph, and he’s a titan; stumble, and the Inter “what if” whispers louder.
In summing up, Como vs Inter on December 6 is Fabregas’ ultimate litmus test—his unbeaten Lariani (24 pts, best defense) vs Chivu’s champs in a possession showdown that could redefine his managerial arc. Looking ahead, a draw keeps Como third; a win catapults them—either way, this dugout duel etches Fabregas deeper into Serie A lore.
Sam Michael
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