Calcio Amore

Domenica Bastardi – Game 1 of 38: Como away, Lazio’s long road begins

by
Scott Balaam
27 August 2025

https://x.com/scottbalaam

The marathon of following Lazio home and away across all 38 Serie A fixtures has officially begun.

Game 1 took me north to Lake Como, a trip that offered beauty, nostalgia, and a reminder of the challenges that lie ahead for Maurizio Sarri’s side.

This season promises to be as demanding as it is unpredictable, and if the first whistle in Como taught us anything, it’s that Lazio’s fight for consistency will be fierce.

My adventure for the 2025–26 Serie A campaign didn’t kick-off as I had hoped.

After the 353km drive north I saw Como enjoy a convincing 2–0 victory against my beloved Lazio at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia on August 24, 2025 – fortunately for this trip it wasn’t just about the football or at least that’s what I told myself!

Tasos Douvikas opened the scoring in the 47th minute with an assist from Nico Paz, and Paz himself doubled the lead with a spectacular free-kick in the 73rd minute.

Ticket frustrations

Before even stepping foot in Como, the first challenge was securing a ticket. I was genuinely worried about missing out on the away end, especially with so few tickets available.

The thought of failing my challenge before it had even started weighed heavily, and the idea of having to sit among opposition fans was not something I was prepared to stomach.

I pre-registered and kept a close eye on the home sections, which were selling out quickly.

At one point I almost gave in and bought one just in case, but I decided to gamble and wait – determined to stand with my fellow Lazio supporters. The crazy part is that away tickets didn’t even go on sale until the Monday before the game.

When the time finally came, I logged in ten minutes early only to be met with a ‘16-minute wait’.

That wait turned into 45 minutes, and at one point the system looked like it had crashed entirely. The longer it dragged on, the more nervous I became.

Thankfully, persistence paid off and I got my ticket in the end, though I heard from other fans that it took them nearly twice as long.

Most clubs use Vivaticket or Ticketone, which are far from perfect but at least functional. Como, however, runs their own system – and it’s really not a good one.

Clunky, unfriendly, and stress-inducing, it made the whole experience far harder than it should have been.

Still, the relief of finally securing my place in the away end made the victory even sweeter.

Fan reactions to ticketing woes

I wasn’t alone in my frustrations. Many Lazio fans took to social media to express their displeasure with the ticketing process. One fan tweeted:

“Logged in at 18:50, waited 45 minutes, and still got a ticket. Como’s system is a joke. #LazioAway”

Another shared their experience:

“Tried to buy a ticket for the away end, but the system crashed multiple times. Ended up sitting in the home section. Disappointing. #LazioFans”

These sentiments were echoed by others, highlighting a widespread issue that marred the matchday experience for many supporters before the game had even started.

Como: The setting and the story

Whatever happened on the pitch, the trip to Como was worth it for the setting alone. The city is breathtaking—its lakeside beauty framed by mountains, its old streets full of charm.

Before the match, I took a stroll around the historic centre and was reminded just how special football trips can be.

In a wonderful twist, I bumped into Giuseppe, a student I had taught English back in 2013 at the Lewis School. A decade may have passed, but the warmth of recognition and shared memories over coffee made the afternoon feel even more special. Football has a way of reconnecting lives in the most unexpected places.

The stadium itself is unique—intimate, atmospheric, and with the lake as its backdrop. Many fans and journalists say Como is one of the best places in Italy to watch football, and it’s easy to see why.

The combination of the passionate crowd, compact ground, and the shimmering lake behind one of the goals makes it incredibly picturesque.

It’s a setting that enhances the matchday experience, offering something you rarely get elsewhere in Serie A. Without a doubt, it ranks as one of the best stadium settings I have ever visited.

For anyone considering a trip, I can’t recommend Como enough. Come for the calcio, stay for the lake, the food, and the sense of being somewhere truly distinct.

The match: A Lazio point of view

Lazio’s opener wasn’t the statement performance many had hoped for.

The Biancocelesti looked short of rhythm, struggled to impose themselves, and relied heavily on defensive resilience and moments of individual skill.

From the stands, you could sense the frustration—a familiar worry that this might be a long and grinding season rather than one of fluent, attacking football.

Sunday’s match wasn’t just frustrating on the pitch; there was also controversy surrounding the refereeing by Gianluca Manganiello.

A clear handball by the Como goalkeeper outside the box went unpunished, and there were moments when a penalty for Lazio could easily have been awarded.

Many fans felt there was a subtle favouritism towards the home side, and while it’s never an excuse – Lazio still failed to create meaningful chances—the calls (or lack thereof) didn’t help the team.

Like last season, and the seasons before that, it often feels as though referees in Italy have an uneasy relationship with Lazio, leaving supporters shaking their heads as much as the players themselves.

The Lazio ultras deserve huge credit. They sang from start to finish, lifting the players with their passion even as the team faltered. Without them, the atmosphere could easily have turned sour. Their loyalty and volume were one of the few bright spots of the afternoon.

Looking ahead, the clash against Hellas Verona already feels like a must-win. Dropping more points so early could see Lazio slip into a rut, and the fixture list won’t get any kinder.

Post-match fan reactions

After the match, fans continued to voice their frustrations and concerns:

“This will be a long season of suffering, transfer embargo’d by one of it (sic) not the worst club owner to exist. The only benefit of this season is each loss probably brings us a step closer to Lotito’s reign of terror finally ending.”

“The only benefit of this season is each loss probably brings us a step closer to Lotito’s reign of terror finally ending, the money dries up and he has no choice but to sell us.”

These comments reflect the deep-seated frustrations among Lazio fans, not just about the team’s performance but also about the broader issues affecting the club.

The Matchday Experience

Stadium Name: Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia
Attendance: 12055
Ticket Price: €35 felt fair for a Serie A opener in such a setting.
Petrol Costs: Including the toll between Florence and Como, the return journey cost around €95 – long, but manageable for a mini-adventure.
Parking: €5 for street parking.
Beer-o-Meter: €5 for a cold, refreshing lager under the sun. Simple pleasures, made better by the setting.
Food: N/A – I took the Italian approach and brought my own mortadella panini with me!
Waiting time to leave the stadium: 45 minutes.

Travelling as an away fan in Italy is never easy. Police checks are thorough, stewards can be harsh, and the post-match waits are often exhausting.

On Sunday, I decided to enter the ground early, which made things calm and straightforward. After the game, there was still the inevitable wait to leave—but at just 45 minutes, it was far better than usual.

Como’s promise: Watch out for Nico Paz

This season, Como look set for a strong campaign. Their squad has balance, the atmosphere around the club feels positive, and in Nico Paz they have an attacking threat who can make life difficult for anyone.

If he stays fit, Como could easily surprise the doubters and push into the top half and fight for a European place.

Home after the whistle

One of the joys of this trip was turning it into a short holiday.

After leaving the ground, I enjoyed a peaceful walk back through the city, before driving just ten minutes to the apartment where my wife and our two dogs were waiting.

I must admit, after a frustrating evening, I treated myself to a few bottles of Tennent’s Super.

My wife has officially banned me from drinking the stuff at games as part of the agreement that allows me to complete this challenge of attending all 38 fixtures.

The ban isn’t without reason—while I like Tennent’s, the truth is that Tennent’s doesn’t really like me!

Still, sitting back with a bottle in hand was a fitting way to close out the first chapter of this long journey.

Conclusion: One down, thirty-seven to go

Lazio’s campaign has begun with a mixed feeling—an underwhelming performance balanced against the joy of travelling and the unshakable loyalty of the fans.

The signs suggest it will be a long, difficult season, one that will test both the players’ resilience and the patience of supporters.

But as a trip, Como was unforgettable. Beautiful city, welcoming stadium, and a reminder of why this journey—exhausting, frustrating, and time-consuming as it will be—is worth it.

One game down, thirty-seven to go. For Lazio, the real work starts now.