Como’s A-List Guests Treated to Hollywood Ending as Club’s Hospitality Vision Takes Off

Perhaps the Hollywood ending for Como was entirely predictable. You only needed to take one look at the assortment of stars watching on from the stands.

Alessandro Gabrielloni provided the stardust on the pitch, as his memorable cameo from the bench helped to secure a famous 2-0 win for the hosts over Claudio Ranieri’s struggling Roma side.

The No9 nicked home the winning goal in the third minute of stoppage time, sparking jubilant scenes around the stadium, and a star-studded Tribuna d’Onore. He added the final flourish four minutes later when he kept his composure to tee up Nico Paz for the second. But for much of the night, the cameras had been trained on the attractions away from the action.

Watching on from the VIP area were a trio of stars who know a thing or two about blockbuster finales.

Keira Knightley, fresh from her role in Netflix series Black Doves, was among supporters. No stranger to football, Knightley made her breakthrough on the big screen while starring in 2002 hit Bend it Like Beckham.

She was joined by husband and musician James Righton, while sat beside the pair was further big-screen royalty in Michael Fassbender. American actor Adrien Brody was also watching on with his son.

The Sinigaglia Stadium has become something of a hotbed this season for celeb-spotting, with Kate Beckinsale, Andrew Garfield and Hugh Grant among the familiar names to have already attended Serie A games on the lake this season.

The list is only set to grow, with club officials hinting at the Social Football Summit in Rome last month that Peaky Blinders star Cillian Murphy has expressed an interest in taking in a match.

It is all part of a strategy to boost the club’s profile outside of footballing circles, while also leaning on the city’s reputation among celebrities and tourists alike as one of the world’s most picturesque destinations.

Work behind the scenes is ongoing to produce a series of world-class hospitality experiences, with three opened since the summer.

“At the moment the total of external hospitality are around 380 people. There are three beautiful locations,” explained the club’s head of ticketing operations Alberico Moro earlier this year. “A lounge bar. The name is Lucia Como. The second external hospitality is the rowing club. It’s is on the lake. So if the weather is good they have the terrace on the lake.

“We have started the third external hospitality in Villa Carminati. That is one of the most beautiful villas in Como. Also, Villa Carminati is a two-minute walk from the ground. They have the entrance on the lake and also another entrance on a route close to the stadium. This is the most luxury external hospitality. We received a lot of beautiful comments, positive feedback about this.”

On this occasion, Knightley, Fassbender and Brody were all hosted in the club’s trophy room inside the stadium, but the guest list wasn’t restricted to just movie stars.

Among those present was England international Dele Alli. The 28-year-old has been without a club since his release from Everton in the summer, but has now been invited by Como head coach Cesc Febregas to train with his team to keep his fitness up after the Christmas period.

“He could train with us from after Christmas, but only to help him get some fitness,” said the Spaniard after Sunday’s victory.