As Roma and Como take part in their Serie A matchup in front of the large crowd at Stadio Olimpico on a cold December evening, there is an overwhelming sense of significance attached to both clubs' positions on the Serie A table. On one side, AS Roma with the weight of expectation from their supporters; on the other, Como demonstrating that they can cope with the pressure of expectation.

Roma sits comfortably in the league's top four, albeit with a little pressure related to their recent inconsistent form. Como have had a mixed bag of results this season, having already recorded their worst defeat of the season. However, Como have also exceeded many people's expectations for their performance thus far this season. The league table indicates there are clear divisions between clubs; however, the situation is far more complicated.

Match Details

• Competition: Serie A
• Date: 15th December 2025
• Time: 07:45 PM (UTC)
• Location: Stadio Olimpico, in Rome
• Prediction of Outcome: Roma 44% Win | Draw 30% | Como 26% Win

Roma: Defensive Dominance, Offensive Update

A few weeks ago, Roma was leading the Serie A table. However, since that time, the picture has become very complicated. Roma has suffered two straight losses by 1-0 to Cagliari and Napoli. These losses were without scoring any goals by Roma. This may not seem overly alarming in itself, but there is a bigger problem: Roma is having problems scoring goals.

When understood as a team that has built one of the most resilient defensive bases in Italy under coach Gian Piero Gasperini, Roma has demonstrated this at the league level. With only eight goals given up over 14 Serie A matches, Roma possesses the tightest back four in the league and also has had their best defensive performance after 14 matches in over a decade. Roma keeps producing clean sheet after clean sheet and continues to rely on its defensive structure as its strength.

However, typically in football, teams that are only relying on control and caution typically will not achieve success. Due to injuries and inconsistency in the form of the attacking players on the Roma roster, there is an obvious imbalance in the construction of the team; Artem Dovbyk has had trouble finding form, Paulo Dybala is injured and currently has only scored one goal in the league, and Evan Ferguson has had a season full of frustration with limited periods of promise.With the most impressive attacking display of its season, the Italian football club Roma showed up on Thursday in Europe with a win over Scottish side Celtic. The 3–0 victory away from home was a reminder that when Roma plays with confidence, they can achieve very good attacking results. Ferguson scored a brace before halftime, and Roma had all the control in this match; this victory puts them in a great position to qualify for the knockout rounds of the Europa League.

The European response is crucial for Gasperini, since it gives the manager more confidence and leverage when talking to his forwards about scoring goals as well as a timely reminder of their abilities.

Under the Gasperini Blueprint at the Olimpico

Roma will revert to Gasperini’s preferred 3–4–2–1 formation, which employs elements such as compact spacing, aggressive wing play, and fluid movement from space to space. Due to Zeki Çelik’s suspension following the recent red card in Cagliari, either Wesley or Devyne Rensch is expected to fill in at right wing-back, while Manu Koné and Bryan Cristante will provide strength and balance to the central midfield area.

The creative responsibility falls heavily upon Lorenzo Pellegrini and Matías Soulé, with Soulé leading the way as Roma's leading scorer thus far this season; he has netted 4 league goals. The combination of their creativity and the ability to exploit spaces available in the opposition midfield area will ultimately decide this match against a side that prefers to retain possession and build up with patience rather than playing in a deep, block-style defensive position.

Roma has not been as explosive at home as they would like to have been this season, but their approach to the matches has been calculated and deliberate instead of being overly aggressive or cluttered with excessive volume. They have created success by limiting the opposition's opportunities to play from a deep position, while also using a combination of due diligence, discipline, and positional superiority to earn the points necessary to finish in a good position.

Como's Path to Serie A: Confidence Has Been Tested: Identity Remains Intact

The journey of Como back to Serie A has been one of the greatest success stories of the current season. After gaining promotion to Serie A with a newfound sense of ambition and supporting resources, they have not only secured their survival in the top division but have also participated in all of the league matches to date. Currently Como has gained 24 points over the first 14 matches, with 3 points separating them from the current holder of the 4th place in Serie A, Roma, with historical powers such as Lazio and Juventus lagging behind Como.

Como’s heavy defeat last week against Inter Milan (4-0) is placed into context since it represents their only loss since August and is also their first occasion of conceding more than one goal in a match. It was a very demoralizing lesson in how quickly the scales can be tipped if the fine margins are removed in games versus top-level clubs. Como did, however, remain true to their identity and retained over 58% possession during the match while attempting to play through pressure, instead of taking a backward step. Como has defined their identity under Cesc Fabregas. The club typically retains over 60% possession in Serie A, employs an effective pressing strategy, and builds attacking play with patience. Como does not play like typical newly promoted teams who only concentrate on defending deep and playing in transition; they aim to dictate the outcome of their matches from the moment they begin.

Cesc Fabregas at Como vs Gian Piero Gasperini at Atalanta: A Tactical Battle

There is as much tactical intrigue in this match-up between the coaches as there is in the players on the pitch. Gasperini's teams are founded upon a supportive structure, rehearsal of patterns, and efficiency in transition. Meanwhile, Fabregas tends to favor a positional system, ball possession, and strategic calculation of risk-taking.

Como will likely employ a 4-2-3-1 tactical arrangement, utilizing Nico Paz as the creative component directly behind Tasos Douvikas. Paz is currently among the best young performers within the league this season, scoring five goals and providing five assists, as well as being the player with the highest total number of shots on goal for the Serie A. Como needs Paz to engage defenders when receiving the ball between both lines in an attempt to create opportunities when attempting to penetrate the well-organized Roma squad.

That said, Como has additional problems to deal with in terms of injuries and/or suspension(s). Álvaro Morata is still on the shelf with an injury; meanwhile, Máximo Perrone is serving a suspension, while both Sergio Roberto and Edoardo Goldaniga will not be available. The absence of these players makes it more challenging for Como to change their midfield players during games and manage late-game situations, which is an area historically where experienced players have made a difference at the Stadio Olimpico.

Head-to-Head: History Favors Roma, Margins Remain Slim

Como has historically not fared well against Roma while playing away from home. Of the 13 total away matches in the Serie A against Roma, Como has won only once—that being a narrow 1-0 victory back in 1950. Most recently, Roma defeated Como in the two teams' last meeting at the Stadio Olimpico by the score of 2-1; thus, the trend continues with respect to closely contested matches between these two Italian rivals. The recent encounters between the two clubs have demonstrated that the greatest victory margin has been two goals on all occasions. The contests are conservatively played with excellent tactical execution on both sides, so rarely is there a sudden outburst. There is often an extra dose of drama provided for the end of each encounter, in conjunction with the way Roma have played when attacking and defending, as well as how Como's players perform tactically.

Key Battles That Can Decide the Night

The key battle in the middle of the park will be between Bryan Cristante and Lucas Da Cunha. If Roma can disrupt Como's tempo from the beginning, they will force Como to make poor decisions and regain control of the field. However, if Como are able to get into their rhythm, they may force Roma to play a more defensive role than they want to. At the back end, Gianluca Mancini's leadership will be very important in the way he manages Paz, as well as the ability to concentrate on Douvikas' runs into space off the back of the defense.

Current Winning Odds from Stake.com

Prediction: Stability in Disorder

This is going to be a close, low-scoring game by every indication. The more robust defense of Roma, higher average attendance at home, and more experience backed by the European competition will give them some confidence, though Como has had the type of coolness with the ball and methodical way of playing that has shown it can withstand pressure when under attack.

It is interesting to note that Roma have yet to draw a game in Serie A for more than 20 games, which shows how much they have improved and indicates that this game may be pivotal when it comes to the final result. Roma is under massive pressure to end their current run of poor form, while Como are a relatively new team trying to adapt to the rigors of elite-level away fixtures. Therefore, the slight edge will go to the host team.

• Final Prediction: Roma 1–0 Como
• Good Strategies: Roma to win | Under 2.5 total goals

It won't be a work of art, but it will be revealing—a game where composure, structure, and belief will be far more important than artistry. If Roma are to establish themselves as contenders for the title, this is the type of game they must learn to dominate.