Como are suffocating Serie A with their aggressive pressing | OneFootball

“Breathtaking.” That’s the word used to describe something extraordinary, something that leaves you speechless. But Como’s football is literally breathtaking. It’s a pragmatic kind of beauty — Fàbregas’s side doesn’t play a Catalan-style tiki-taka, but rather an ultra-organised system built around technically superb players, weaving sequences of play that seem instinctive and rehearsed to perfection.

Before being aesthetically pleasing, the style is designed to suffocate the opponent. It starts with ferocious full-pitch pressing, cutting off every possible outlet, denying the opponent any breathing space, and reclaiming possession quickly to impose their own rhythm. Regardless of the opponent, the philosophy doesn’t change. In fact, the stronger the rival, the more Como’s identity shines through.

It was on full display at the Maradona, and one stat captures the essence of Como’s approach: the duels won by the defenders. Ramón (9/2), Diego Carlos (8/0), and Smolčić (9/2) completely shut down Napoli’s forwards, aggressively stepping out to win the ball high and clog the home side’s build-up play.

This intense, relentless pressure is no accident. Como have the lowest PPDA (Passes per Defensive Action) in Serie A at 8.2 —testament to their instant pressing approach. The goal is not just to make build-up play hard, but to deny time to think. Fàbregas’s men play like soldiers, with such hunger to win the ball back that they often disrupt the rhythm of the game: surprisingly, Como are the second-most fouling team in the league (15.9 fouls per match) and also second in cards received (24 yellows, 2 reds). Even their star talent Nico Paz — arguably the league’s most gifted player — is second overall in fouls committed (27).

The style that’s suffocating Serie A also protects their goal: Butez has conceded only 6 times, making Como the second-best defence in the league. It’s football that takes your breath away — not for its romanticism, but for how it shuts down the opposition’s ability to breathe, think, and build.

Even though they left the Maradona with just a point, their territorial dominance sent a clear message: this is a team with massive ambitions. And they’ve yet to unleash their full attacking firepower.