Udinese vs Como: Exact Date & Time for 26/27 Clash
Udinese vs Como: The Complete Beginner’s Guide to the 2026/27 Serie A Opener
What is Serie A? It’s the top professional football (soccer) league in Italy, similar to the Premier League in England or La Liga in Spain.
Match Details at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | August 22, 2026 |
| Time | 12:30 PM (local time in Italy) |
| Stadium | Bluenergy Stadium |
| Location | Udine, Italy |
| Occasion | First game of the 2026/27 Serie A season |
Udinese: Fighting to Escape the Danger Zone
Why This Game Matters So Much
Think of Udinese like a student who barely passed last year and needs a strong start to avoid summer school. Last season, they finished 19th place (second to last) in the 20-team league. That’s the "relegation zone" — teams there risk dropping to the second division.
Preseason Momentum: The Good News
Udinese ended their warm-up games on a high note:
- 3 wins in their last 4 practice matches
- Beat Calcio Padova in the Coppa Italia (Italy’s domestic cup)
- This built confidence before the real games begin
Missing Players (Injuries & Suspensions)
| Player | Reason | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Giorgi Chakvetadze | Injured | Creative midfielder out |
| Christian Kabasele | Suspended | Experienced defender banned |
Udinese’s Probable Starting Lineup (11 Players)
Goalkeeper: Maduka Okoye
Defenders (3): Nicolo Bertola, Oumar Solet, Matteo Palma
Midfield/Attack (7): Nicolo Zaniolo, Jurgen Ekkelenkamp, Jesper Karlström, Jakub Piotrowski, Hassane Kamara, Mergim Vojvoda, Keinan Davis
Formation Note: This looks like a 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 setup — three defenders, five midfielders, two forwards.
Como: The Ambitious Newcomers Chasing Europe
A Totally Different Story
While Udinese fights to survive, Como dreams of Europe. They’re currently 5th in the table — a Champions League qualification spot!
The Cesc Fàbregas Factor
Their manager is Cesc Fàbregas — a World Cup winner with Spain and former Barcelona/Arsenal/Chelsea star. He’s building something special at this small club from Lake Como.
The Double Challenge: Serie A + Champions League
This season, Como debuts in the Champions League (Europe’s elite club competition). Think of it like:
- Serie A = Your regular school exams
- Champions League = The national olympiad at the same time
They need squad rotation (resting players) and depth (good backups) to handle both.
Summer Transfer Window Drama
- Álvaro Morata (striker) might leave — Lazio and Atalanta interested
- Fàbregas must trim the squad to meet registration limits for both competitions
- Targets: Moisés Kean (from Fiorentina), Samuele Ricci (loan from AC Milan)
Preseason: Testing Against the Best
Como played Liverpool (English giants) twice in one day at Anfield:
- Morning: 0-0 draw (respectable!)
- Evening: 2-0 loss (expected against world-class opposition)
- Also drew 1-1 with Arsenal (another English powerhouse)
- Only win: 3-2 vs Famalicão (Portuguese side)
Como’s Probable Starting Lineup
Goalkeeper: Jean Butez
Defenders (4): Trevoh Chalobah, Jacobo Ramón, Kaiki, Yan Couto
Midfielders (2): Lucas Da Cunha, Máximo Perrone
Attackers (4): Nico Paz, Martin Baturina, Assane Diao, Anastasios Douvikas (striker)
Absence: Jayden Addai (injured)
No suspensions for Como
Recent Form Comparison: Last 5 Games Each
Udinese: 3 Wins, 1 Draw, 1 Loss
| Date | Opponent | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15 | Calcio Padova | Won 1-0 | Coppa Italia |
| Preseason | Barcelona | Won 1-0 | Friendly |
| Preseason | Mainz 05 | Drew 3-3 | Friendly |
| Preseason | Trabzonspor | Lost 0-1 | Friendly |
| Preseason | (Other) | Won | Friendly |
| Totals | 5 games | 7 goals scored, 4 conceded |
Como: 1 Win, 2 Draws, 2 Losses
| Date | Opponent | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 16 | Liverpool | Lost 0-2 | Friendly |
| Aug 16 | Liverpool | Drew 0-0 | Friendly |
| Preseason | Arsenal | Drew 1-1 | Friendly |
| Jul 31 | Famalicão | Won 3-2 | Friendly |
| Preseason | (Other) | Lost | Friendly |
| Totals | 5 games | 6 goals scored, 5 conceded | 0 clean sheets |
Key Stat: Udinese kept more clean sheets (games without conceding) and conceded fewer goals overall.
Head-to-Head: Recent History
Last 4 Serie A Meetings
| Date | Venue | Result | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 6, 2026 | Bluenergy Stadium | 0-0 | Draw |
| Jan 2025 | Bluenergy Stadium | 1-4 | Como |
| Sep 2024 | Bluenergy Stadium | 1-0 | Udinese |
| (Earlier) | Como | Como won | Como |
Summary
- Como: 2 wins
- Udinese: 1 win
- Draws: 1
- Biggest result: Como’s 4-1 thrashing in Udine (Jan 2025)
Current League Table Context
| Position | Team | Situation |
|---|---|---|
| 5th | Como | Champions League spots |
| … | … | … |
| 19th | Udinese | Relegation zone |
This match = Udinese’s chance to start climbing | Como’s chance to prove they belong at the top
How to Watch in the United States
Streaming & TV Options
| Platform | Type |
|---|---|
| Fubo | Live streaming service |
| Paramount+ | Streaming (CBS platform) |
| DirecTV Stream | Live TV streaming |
| CBS Sports Network | Cable/satellite TV channel |
Tip: Most offer free trials — check before signing up!
Watching from Abroad? Use a VPN (Step-by-Step)
What’s a VPN? A Virtual Private Network lets you appear to be in another country online, bypassing geo-blocks.
How to Set Up VPN on Your TV
- Choose a VPN (ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark, etc.)
- Check compatibility — Does your TV support VPN apps? (Android TV, Fire TV, Apple TV do; others may not)
- Option A: Native App (Easiest)
- Install VPN app from TV’s app store
- Log in, connect to USA server (or your home country)
- Open streaming app (Fubo, Paramount+, etc.)
- Option B: Router Setup (For TVs without VPN support)
- Install VPN on your Wi-Fi router
- All devices on Wi-Fi (including TV) now use VPN
- Option C: Smart DNS (Faster, no encryption)
- Use VPN provider’s Smart DNS feature
- Configure in TV’s network settings
- Verify — Check IP location website on TV browser to confirm
- Stream! — Open your sports app and enjoy
Important: Activate VPN BEFORE opening the streaming app!
Key Takeaways (Important Points)
MUST-KNOW FACTS
- Udinese = Desperate for points, fighting relegation, good preseason form
- Como = Flying high (5th), Champions League debut, tested vs Liverpool/Arsenal
- History favors Como recently (2 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss in last 4)
- Udinese missing 2 key players (injury + suspension)
- Como missing 1 player (injury), no suspensions
- Watch in USA: Fubo, Paramount+, DirecTV Stream, CBS Sports Network
- Abroad? Use VPN → connect to US server → stream normally
Summary
This opening weekend clash tells a tale of two seasons. Udinese starts at the bottom looking up, needing points yesterday to avoid another stressful campaign. Their preseason form (3 wins in 4) offers hope, but missing defenders Chakvetadze and Kabasele hurts.
Como arrives as the surprise package — 5th place, Champions League football, and a squad battle-tested against Liverpool and Arsenal. Cesc Fàbregas has them playing fearless football, though zero clean sheets in preseason is a slight concern.
Head-to-head: Como holds the psychological edge with that 4-1 demolition last January, but Udinese won the return fixture.
For US viewers, four legal streaming/TV options exist. Travelers should set up a VPN before match time.
Kickoff: August 22, 2026 • 12:30 PM local • Bluenergy Stadium • Don’t miss it!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What time is the match in US time zones?
12:30 PM in Italy (CEST) = 6:30 AM ET / 5:30 AM CT / 4:30 AM MT / 3:30 AM PT on August 22, 2026. Early wake-up call!
2. Can I watch for free legally?
Yes — Fubo, Paramount+, and DirecTV Stream all offer 7-day free trials. Sign up the day before, watch the match, cancel before charged.
3. Why is Como in the Champions League if they’re not a "big club"?
They finished 5th last season — in Italy, 5th place earns a Champions League playoff spot. They won their playoff to reach the group stage. It’s a huge achievement for a club of their size!
4. What happens if Udinese loses this game?
They start the season 0-1 with 0 points, still in the relegation zone (19th), with increased pressure on the coach and players. Not mathematically fatal, but psychologically tough.
5. Who are the star players to watch?
- Udinese: Nicolo Zaniolo (ex-Roma/Juventus, talented but injury-prone winger), Keinan Davis (striker, ex-Aston Villa)
- Como: Nico Paz (young Argentine playmaker, Real Madrid academy product), Anastasios Douvikas (Greek striker, scored 19 goals last season), Trevoh Chalobah (Chelsea loanee, solid defender)