⚽️🇮🇹 Exclusive: Raphaël Varane discusses the future at Como
In this week’s Italian soccer digest, we hear from Como's former World Cup winner, we look at Atalanta's incredible streak, and much more!
💪 Atalanta go 10 in a row as Lookman wins CAF Player of the Year
Atalanta’s best-ever start to a Serie A season continued on the most recent match day, when their 1-0 win at Cagliari sealed a tenth consecutive league win.
😮 After winning 10 straight for the first time in their history, La Dea sit top of the Serie A table for the second consecutive match day.
🗣️ “Some of the squad is mature. Others still need to absorb the attitude of the old guard,” said coach Gian Piero Gasperini after the Cagliari win, suggesting that there is still another level for the league leaders to reach.
🕺 Cagliari may have been defeated by the league leaders, but at least their mascot had the chance to throw some shapes.
👏 Atalanta, meanwhile, booked another big win on Wednesday evening when they thrashed Serie B side Cesena 6-1 to reach the final eight of the Coppa Italia. They’ll host Bologna in the quarterfinals in February.
🎉 Atalanta had yet another reason to celebrate this week: Ademola Lookman was crowned CAF Men’s Player of the Year at Monday evening’s CAF Awards. The award recognizes Africa’s best male player of the year.
👉 Lookman scored a hattrick in last season’s Europa League Final - delivering Atalanta its first trophy in 61 years - and was part of the Nigeria team that were finalists at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
🇳🇬 This marks the second year in a row that the CAF Player of the Year has been a Nigerian playing in Serie A, after Victor Osimhen’s win in 2023.
⭐️ Raphaël Varane Exclusive Interview: “I see Como competing for European places”
After retiring from soccer in September, World Cup-winning defender Raphaël Varane now serves as a board member at Como, focusing on youth and education. The Frenchman spoke exclusively with Calcio Weekly about his new role, the club’s ambitions, and the way the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia is becoming a Hollywood hotspot…
How have you adapted to your role off the field since your retirement announcement?
It was challenging at first, as football has been my life for so many years. But I’ve embraced this new chapter with a sense of purpose. My role on the development board allows me to contribute to the club in a meaningful way, using my experience as a player to shape the future of Como. It’s fulfilling to help the team grow and support young talent while continuing to be part of the sport I love.
Where do you see Como in five years?
In five years, I see Como as a well-established club in Serie A, competing for European places. We want to build sustainably, not just by focusing on results but also by creating a strong identity and connection with the community. The vision is to develop a club that attracts top talent, nurtures young players, and becomes a destination for football fans worldwide. Lake Como is already iconic - our goal is to make Como 1907 just as iconic in football.
What do you think about the atmosphere at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia?
The fans bring so much energy, and there’s something special about playing in such a historic stadium by the lake. It’s intimate, passionate, and reflects the community spirit that surrounds the club. Every match feels personal here - it’s not just about football; it’s about the connection between the fans, the team, and the city.
How important is attracting talent such as Nico Paz, Andrea Belotti, and, of course, Cesc Fabregas to the club?
It’s vital for our vision. Bringing in people of that caliber not only strengthens the squad but also raises the profile of the club globally. It shows that we’re serious about competing at a high level and creating something special here. These players also bring invaluable experience and leadership, which helps the younger players grow. It’s a testament to the ambition we have at Como.
Why do you think so many celebrities and VIPs are coming to watch Como?
I think it’s a combination of factors. Lake Como is one of the most beautiful places in the world, and when you add football into the mix, especially with the passion and ambition we have at the club, it creates a unique environment. Celebrities enjoy the charm of the region while connecting with the excitement of the game. The project here is also creating a buzz, and people want to be part of that journey.
For more on Como, including more thoughts from Varane in the coming weeks, check out Como TV.
👀 Inter make scudetto statement in Rome
Atalanta may be ahead in Serie A proceedings, but defending champions Inter made a big statement on Monday when they put six unanswered goals past Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico.
6️⃣ Inter’s win featured six different scorers (Hakan Çalhanoglu, Federico Dimarco, Nicolò Barella, Denzel Dumfries, Carlos Augusto, and Marcus Thuram). It’s the first time the Nerazzurri has ever had six different scorers in a Serie A away game.
😲 Per Opta Paolo, Inter has now scored more away goals in a calendar year than ever before (47).
🦅 Lazio are no pushovers either: Marco Baroni’s side sit just six points off top spot in Serie A, and this was their first home defeat since April!
📈 The Serie A title race remains tight: Inter sit in third place, three points behind Atalanta, but they have a game in hand. Only six points separate the top five.
Up next For Inter 👉 After hosting Udinese in the Coppa Italia today (3pm, CBS Sports), Simone Inzaghi’s side welcome Como to the San Siro on Monday (2.45pm ET, CBS Sports and FOX Deportes).
😱 ICYMI: Che Adams scores from way downtown!
There was nothing unlucky about Friday 13th for Che Adams, who scored from inside the center circle to secure a 1-0 win for Torino at Empoli!
👏 The Scottish forward has notched four goals and an assist this season, helping Torino to 11th spot after 16 rounds.
🇮🇹 Udine to host 2025 UEFA Super Cup
Bluenergy Stadium, home of Udinese, will host the 2025 edition of the UEFA Super Cup.
🗣️ The match, to be played on August 13th, 2025, is contested annually between the winner of the Champions League and the Europa League.
💫 Udine becomes the first Italian city to host the UEFA Super Cup since the title has been decided in a single game at a neutral venue.
🇪🇺 UEFA also announced that Turin will host the Nations League Final Four if Italy wins its quarterfinal matchup against Germany in March. If the Azzurri triumphs, the finals will be played in June between Allianz Juventus Stadium and the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino.
💬 Calcio Conversations
Gameweek 16 featured one of the lesser-known derby matches on the Serie A calendar: the Derby dell’Appennino!
🤷♂️ Who is involved? The Derby dell’Appennino is between Fiorentina (representing the Tuscan capital of Florence) and Bologna (the capital of the neighboring Emilia-Romagna region ). The first meeting took place in October 1928, and the Rossoblu have 43 wins overall to Fiorentina’s 58.
❓ What does the name mean? The fixture gets its name from the Appennino Tosco-Emiliano mountain range, which sits between the two cities and regions. Although more than 60 miles separate the two capitals, the mountain range that runs down the spine of Italy forms a natural barrier between them.
❤️ Fiorentina’s Edoardo Bove discharged from hospital following on-pitch collapse
Fiorentina midfielder Edoardo Bove has returned home from a two-week stint in hospital following his on-pitch collapse against Inter.
🗣️ The 22-year-old published a message on his Instagram on Monday: "The unpleasant episode that occurred during Fiorentina-Inter proved to me, even more than I thought, that football is much more than a match, a championship, or a career. I am truly grateful to belong to this world, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the affection and closeness you have shown me! I'm fine, and that's the most important thing!”
👉 Bove has had an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) fitted, which precludes him from playing Serie A games. The device, however, is removable.
👏 Fiorentina posted a heartwarming clip of Bove returning to their Viola Park training ground to rapturous applause from his teammates.
🎂 Milan celebrates 125th anniversary with retro kit and honors for legends
On December 18th, 1899, the Milan Foot Ball and Cricket Club was born. The Rossoneri celebrated its 125th anniversary over the weekend with the release of a beautiful retro kit and a gala that honored some of its legends.
👕 The Rossoneri wore the kit in their goalless draw with Genoa on Sunday. If you’re looking for a stocking stuffer, it’s available for purchase in the club’s official store.
🎩 After the match, the San Siro hosted a 125th-anniversary gala, in which Marco van Basten and Filippo Inzaghi were inducted into the AC Milan Hall of Fame Presented by Emirates.
👀 A few familiar faces from the past were recognized on the field during the game, too.
📺 This weekend on CBS Sports, Paramount+, FOX Deportes, and SiriusXM
Friday, December 20th
Verona v Milan (2.45pm ET, also on FOX Deportes)
Saturday, December 21st
Torino v Bologna (9am ET)
Genoa v Napoli (12pm ET)
Lecce v Lazio (2.45pm ET, also on Sirius XM FC)
Sunday, December 22nd
Roma v Parma (6.30am ET)
Venezia v Cagliari (9am ET)
Atalanta v Empoli (12pm ET, also on FOX Deportes)
Monza v Juventus (2.45pm ET, also on Sirius XM FC)
Monday, December 23rd
Fiorentina v Udinese (12.30pm ET)
Inter v Como (2.45pm ET, also on FOX Deportes)
🇨🇦 Watch ALL Serie A games live on Fubo - and select games with Italian-language commentary on TLN 🇨🇦
🇺🇸 Watch select games with Spanish-language commentary on FOX Deportes and English-language commentary on SiriusXM 🇺🇸
🎅 Happy Holidays from Calcio Weekly!
We’ll be back in your inboxes next week on Friday, so we’ll take the opportunity to wish you a very Happy Holidays!
If you like this newsletter, you may also enjoy the great work of our friends at Total Italian Football, who bring you daily calcio content, podcasts from Serie A stadiums, Women’s Serie A coverage, and much more!
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Ciao ciao e buon natale!
Great stuff, Ryan. Thanks for all the insight to a league I don’t follow that closely. Looking forward to more.