Lake Como gets its derby back

You read that right: it has been exactly 50 years since Lake Como saw its derby in Serie B. Lecco's last appearance in the second tier was in fact in 1973, but the promotion earned against Foggia in the play-offs finally gives the most unique derby in Italy back to us. The charm of Lake Como and its two teams can finally return to be associated with Serie B, a league full of history and tradition and in which everyone dreams of reaching the spotlight of the top division. 

The two small towns divided by the lagoon waters so dear to Manzoni will be the stage for a double challenge unheard of in the past 50 years, prevented by the ruthless terrains of the third division. A pity given the grand location of the lake, a stage deserving of a heated and heartfelt rivalry that will enrich the already intriguing calendar of the upcoming Serie B season. 

Playing on the shores of one of the most well-known and appreciated locations in the world is alluring as is, but the fact that both Lecco and Como have deep roots in the lake elevates the status of the derby exponentially. Lecco, in fact, was first conceived as a rowing club in 1896, and later established a football section in 1912. Their color scheme has always been one of the most unique in Italy, combining dark blue with light blue, one to represent the bright sky, and the other as a tribute to the lake and the rowing club where everything started. The team has also been widely affiliated with fishing boats typical of the area, known as batell amongst the locals.

Como also have their own links to the lake. The obvious one is the club’s main color (light blue), reminding us of the world-famous waters located just 400 meters from “Giuseppe Sinigaglia” stadium, named after a famous rowing champion and war hero from Como. The team logo features very symbolic waves, and this season’s home kit design is heavily inspired by the lake’s water. Lecco and Como are located at the opposite ends of the lake’s two branches that merge into one further north, creating an upside-down “Y” shape. This creates the perfect division for the rivalry, as every derby has the entire lake’s dominance at stake.

Even more interesting, however, is the traditional power dynamic that will be reinforced during the 2023-2024 season. With more all-time Serie A appearances, a higher population, and control over Lecco until 1992 (when the two cities were in the same province), Como has always had the upper hand in this rivalry, both on and off the field. Even now, Como’s superiority is tough to ignore, with massive financial differences clear to all.

Lecco is a very small organization, and with only €166,000 spent on salaries for the past season, their Serie B promotion is considered to be a true miracle. Not to mention that owner Paolo Di Nunno is a self-made entrepreneur whose beginnings in the football world can be traced back to Italy’s fourth and fifth tiers. And it is precisely this rapid rise that poses some logistical problems for the club from Larian, which does not have a stadium that meets Serie B requirements, so it will probably have to play its home games in Padua. But the delay in sending the confirmation to the prefecture of the Veneto province could cause an incredible turnaround with the demotion of Lecco and the rescue of Brescia.

Como, on the other hand can boast a roster full of big names (Cesc Fabregas, Daniele Baselli, and Patrick Cutrone to name a few) and a €16.5 million salary budget, enabled by two of the richest men in all of Indonesia: brothers Michael Bambang Hartono and Robert Budi Hartono, co-owners of the Djarum group. A rivalry of true contrast.

Despite the differences in many domains, both clubs have gone bankrupt multiple times, and have had to spill blood, sweat, and tears to be where they are today. The Lake Como rivalry has been on a rocky journey ever since that last game in Serie B in 1973, but the derby del Lario is finally back where it deserves to be. Get ready for two of the most unique teams in the league to fight harder than ever to try and win over the lake, stay in Serie B, and who knows, maybe even make it to Serie A.