Como fought back from behind twice to secure a 2-2 draw with Paris FC as Udinese fell to a 2-0 defeat against Swansea City in pre-season friendly fixtures.
The matches highlighted differing levels of preparation, with Swansea showing superior fitness compared to their Italian opponents. The results come with less than a month remaining until the Serie A campaign commences.
Late drama at Stadio Sinigaglia
Cesc Fabregas’s Como side hosted Diego Coppola’s Paris FC at the Stadio Sinigaglia, though the manager remained without several key players who are still on extended breaks following World Cup participation.
The hosts opened the scoring through Alessandro Gabrielloni, giving the home crowd an early advantage to celebrate. However, Paris FC turned the match around before the interval thanks to a brace from Pablo Pagis, who proved clinical in front of goal.
Fabregas introduced substitutes to change the game’s momentum, with Tasos Douvikas making a decisive impact from the bench. The forward scored a late equaliser to rescue a draw for the Serie A side. The fixture also marked a milestone for defender Andres Cuenca, who made his debut following his recent transfer from Barcelona.
Swansea’s fitness tells against Udinese
Udinese encountered a well-drilled Swansea City side, with the Championship team demonstrating the benefits of being further along in their pre-season programme. Swansea open their competitive season on 8 August with an EFL Cup tie, and their sharper condition was evident throughout the ninety minutes.
Liam Cullen gave the Welsh side an early lead, capitalising on the Italian outfit’s sluggish start. Despite efforts to find a way back into the contest, Udinese could not break down an organised defence.
The result was sealed late on when Elijah Just scored on his debut appearance for Swansea, completing a comfortable 2-0 victory. The outcome underlined the gap in readiness between clubs at different stages of their summer preparations.
Looking ahead
Both Como and Udinese will use these fixtures to refine their tactics and match fitness before the Serie A opener. Fabregas awaits the return of his international contingent to complete his squad options, while Udinese must address the defensive vulnerabilities exposed by Swansea’s attack.
Swansea, meanwhile, will take confidence from their clean sheet and professional performance as they approach the start of their domestic campaign.