Como is preparing to face Feyenoord on the second day of the Champions League group stage, with a tactical choice that has attracted attention: the Argentine striker Nico Paz will be deployed as a false nine. Coach Cesc Fàbregas has also decided to leave Greek midfielder Tasos Douvikas on the bench for strategic reasons, while Moise Kean is not available for the match.
Como's group for the match includes Baturina, Diao and Paz, all on the pitch at the same time. Fàbregas has already experimented with this arrangement in the past, for example during the match with Milan at San Siro, where Paz played in that position successfully. The false nine role was also used in the match against Roma, where the club achieved a 2-1, and the manager continued to test the configuration in the 2024/25 season to maintain the element of surprise in front of the opponents.
According to Fàbregas' statements reported by Sky Sport, the choice to field Paz in that position is not definitive. "Baturina and Paz are lined up one way, then how the pitch lets you find spaces is another. Our Champions list is limited. Addai, Caqueret and Kean cannot play and we have to make changes and also prepare for Serie A. Let's see how it goes today," explained the coach, underlining the importance of adapting the formation based on the opponent's defence.
Como, who have already shown tactical flexibility in recent matches, aim to exploit Paz's versatility to create spaces and confuse the Feyenoord defence. With the bench reduced due to the absences of Kean and Douvikas, the team will have to rely on the adaptability of the players on the pitch. The result of this choice will be evident only after the start of the match, when the team will have the opportunity to put Fàbregas' strategy into practice against a high-level opponent.