Como 1907 Opens the Como Cup with the Match Against Al-Ahli

Como 1907 – Al-Ahli SFC
Como Cup 2025 – Semifinal

Como 1907 opens the inaugural edition of the Como Cup by hosting Al-Ahli SFC at the “Giuseppe Sinigaglia” stadium. The international tournament (23–27 July) brings Ajax and Celtic to the shores of Lake Como as well, offering the BiancoBlu a high-level test against both European and Middle Eastern opposition during their summer pre-season preparations.

Squad List

2 Marc Kempf
5 Edoardo Goldaniga
7 Gabriel Strefezza
8 Martin Baturina
9 Alessandro Gabrielloni
10 Patrick Cutrone
11 Tasos Douvikas
15 Fellipe Jack Ozilio
19 Nicolas Kühn
20 Sergi Roberto
22 Mauro Vigorito
23 Máximo Perrone
26 Yannik Engelhardt
28 Ivan Smolčić
30 Jean Butez
31 Mërgim Vojvoda
33 Lucas Da Cunha
41 Álex Valle
42 Jayden Addai
43 Andrea Le Borgne
46 Dylan Sgarbi
51 Francesco Andrealli
77 Ignace Van der Brempt
79 Nico Paz
80 Maxence Caqueret
90 Iván Azón

“I really like the idea of the Como Cup, I think it’s a great concept. It’s the first edition, so we’ll see how it goes, but it’s exciting for everyone: for the city, for the club, and for us as a team. I’m sure there will be a fantastic atmosphere and real competition.

“I don’t believe in friendlies where you win 10–0 – you don’t learn anything from them. I want high-quality tests that push you to be at your best if you want to win. Facing Lille was a real test. For us, it was our first match after just six training sessions, while they’d already played three games in three weeks. That’s exactly why I wanted a challenge: to understand who we are, to find our identity, and to compete at the level that I, the staff, and the players expect.

“This year, we need to be strong, have an even clearer idea of our approach, improve our pressing and build-up play, and aim to be more compact as a unit. We’ve got a lot of young players, and I see them giving everything and listening every day. The quality has gone up, as have the competition and the hunger.”

— Cesc Fàbregas in the pre-match press conference

Previous Matches 

Como 1907 and Al-Ahli have never met before in an official fixture.

The Opponent

Al-Ahli arrive on the shores of Lake Como off the back of an outstanding season: a fifth-place finish in the 2024/25 Roshn Saudi League (67 points, 69 goals scored) as a newly promoted side, crowned by their remarkable triumph in the AFC Champions League Elite — a 2–0 win in the final against Kawasaki Frontale, with goals from Galeno and Kessié.

Managed by German coach Matthias Jaissle, Al-Ahli are an aggressive team when pressing and sharp in transitions. They look to control the tempo through technical quality in central areas, before attacking with pace and flair down the flanks.

Players to Watch

Blending international experience and proven talent, Al-Ahli boasts several standout names. Between the posts is Édouard Mendy, 2021 Africa Cup of Nations winner and Champions League hero with Chelsea — a commanding presence in the air and a reliable shot-stopper.

In defence, Roger Ibañez (formerly of Roma) brings aggression and excellent ball-control, alongside Merih Demiral (ex-Juventus and Atalanta), a physically dominant centre-back strong in duels and dangerous on set pieces.

In midfield, the engine is Franck Kessié (ex-Milan and Barcelona), who combines power and late runs into the box, with a Serie A title and Spanish Supercup to his name.

In the final third, Riyad Mahrez, formerly of Manchester City, offers flair and left-footed quality, with a record that includes a Champions League title, five Premier League titles, and an Africa Cup of Nations.

On the opposite flank, Galeno (formerly of Porto) brings pace, directness, and a knack for scoring key goals, as he showed in this year’s AFC Champions League final.

Match Details

• Date: Wednesday, 23 July 2025
• Kick-off: 20:30 CEST
• Venue: Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium, Como (Italy)
• Referee: Calzavara, Locicero, Luciani, Colombo

Where to Watch

• Italy: Como TV and Sky Sport (streaming on NOW)
• Bulgaria: A1 / Max Sport
• Turkey: Saran
• Balkans: Sportklub
• Israel: Charlton
• Malaysia & Brunei: Astro
• USA: CBS – Golazo
• South Korea & Southeast Asia: SpoTV