Mattia Liberali Doubt for Como vs Sassuolo Clash
The roar of a famous European night has given way to a nervous wait in Como.
Mattia Liberali, the bright Italian talent who has just begun to leave his mark in Serie A, is highly unlikely to feature in Como’s home game against Sassuolo on Saturday after suffering a muscle problem in midweek.
The 20-year-old felt discomfort while warming up during Como’s emphatic 4-1 win over Manchester United in the Champions League on Tuesday, according to Gazzetta. He never made it off the bench. Not because of tactics. Because the medical staff, sensing the risk, shut it down as a precaution.
Now the concern is real.
Gazzetta reports that Liberali will undergo medical tests today to assess the extent of the issue, but the indications are bleak for the weekend. The former Milan and Catanzaro prospect is described as “highly unlikely” to be included in the squad for the visit of Sassuolo.
It comes just as his season had caught fire.
Last week, away to Fiorentina at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, Liberali marked his first Serie A start for Como with his first league goal, helping the Azzurri to a 3-1 victory. It was the sort of performance that hinted at a breakout campaign: intelligent movement, sharp touches, and the cool finish of a player unfazed by the stage.
Now Como must consider how to cope without him.
The timing could hardly be worse for the newly ambitious club. Moise Kean is already sidelined. Assane Diao is out as well. The attacking department, once a source of optimism, suddenly looks thin.
And yet, the table tells a different story of their start.
Como sit fifth in Serie A with 14 points from seven games: four wins, two draws and just one defeat. They have taken scalps, shown resilience, and carried that form into Europe with the statement win over Manchester United.
Sassuolo’s visit was meant to be another step in consolidating their place in the top positions. Instead, it now doubles as a test of depth and nerve.
Liberali’s absence, if confirmed, strips Como of a player who had begun to offer exactly what they needed between the lines: invention, a goal threat from midfield, and the energy to knit together a depleted forward line.
The stadium will still fill, the lights will still come on, and the stakes will still be high. But as Como prepare for Saturday, one question hangs over their promising start: how long can they keep punching this hard without one of their most exciting young weapons?
