Cesc Fabregas acknowledged Como are "only at the beginning of their journey" as they look to push for Champions League qualification. 

Como have been the story of the season in Serie A as the underdogs have eclipsed some of the biggest names in Italian football to put themselves in the running for a top-four finish. 

Fabregas' side are engaged in a tight battle for the final Champions League spot. 

And the Spaniard has urged his team to keep that perspective in mind as they host league leaders Inter on Sunday at Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia. 

"Last season we finished on 49 points with a big gap to the top six," Fabregas said.  

"With seven games left we have six more points than that and we are in the Coppa Italia semi-final.  

"But we cannot forget that we are only at the beginning of a journey, not even halfway through it. 

"The path is ours. We cannot forget that and start acting like we are something we are not just because we are playing Inter. 

"We must score, play with courage. We know who Inter are and we know we can lose, they have players who make the difference. But we will face them with the conviction to win." 

Inter, meanwhile, have amassed a healthy seven-point lead at the top of the table, and Opta's supercomputer gives them a 94.3% chance of winning the title.  

Cristian Chivu's side defeated Roma 5-2 in their last outing to end a three-match winless streak, but they will know that the title race pressure cannot be fully eased just yet. 

"Seven matches to go. We'll do everything to win it [the title]. We're in great shape," Inter midfielder Piotr Zielinski said. 

"After the break, between training sessions and the match against Roma, it was immediately clear that something had changed.  

"Everyone came back with the right energy. And those who were coming off a disappointment with their national team put it behind them." 

Inter and Como will face off again on April 21, in the second leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final. That tie is level at 0-0 after the first fixture.

PLAYERS TO WATCH   

Como – Tasos Douvikas 

All of Tasos Douvikas' last five Serie A goals have come in home games, including the three scored in his last three appearances at Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia.  

However, excluding his goal in Como's first match of the season, Douvikas has not yet managed to score against sides in the top four of the table at the start of the matchday. 

Inter – Marcus Thuram 

With Lautaro Martinez ruled out for this clash, the attacking burden may fall on Marcus Thuram, who is coming off a stellar performance against Roma. 

The Frenchman scored once and provided two assists, marking the third-ever time he has been involved in three goals in a single Serie A match, and the first since he picked up two goals and an assist against Hellas Verona in November 2024. 

MATCH PREDICTION: INTER WIN 

Inter have won each of their last ten Serie A matches against Como with an aggregate score of 24-2. In fact, Como are the only side in the history of the Italian top-flight against whom the Nerazzurri have collected at least ten consecutive victories. 

Chivu's side have also managed clean sheets in each of their last six league matches against Como (18-0 on aggregate). Only against Lecce (seven) does Inter have a longer ongoing run of consecutive clean sheets in the league. 

But Como come into Sunday's match in some fine form themselves, having won their last three home games and scoring ten goals in the process. The last time they managed a longer run of consecutive home victories in the league was between September and December 1980 (a run of five). 

Como's last league victory against Inter also came at home, though that was back in December 1985.  

Since then, Inter have recorded one draw and four victories in their visits to Lombardy, all of which have seen the Nerazzurri score two goals (a pair of 2-1 and 2-0 wins). 

Fabregas, though, might be extra motivated ahead of this contest. The Spaniard has lost all three of his Serie A matches as a manager against Inter, making them the only side against whom he has failed to gain a single point in the competition. 

Furthermore, Inter are the only side against which Como have failed to find the net since Fabregas was appointed manager in 2024. 

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY 

Como – 32.2% 

Draw – 27.4% 

Inter – 40.4%