Como's Agonising Loss: Owner Hartono Passes as Azzurri Charge into Power Rankings Top 10
Como 1907 are in mourning after co-owner Michael Bambang Hartono's death, crediting the Hartono family's transformative ownership since 2019 that propelled them from Serie C to fourth in Serie A. Amid the heartbreak, the Azzurri enter power rankings at 10th on the back of six-game unbeaten streak under Cesc Fàbregas. The rankings highlight European heavyweights like Bayern Munich at 1st and surging sides like PSG and Barcelona.
Como's Agonising Loss: Owner Hartono Passes as Azzurri Charge into Power Rankings Top 10
Picture this: you're at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia, Como fans belting out chants, the team's flying high. Then the gut-punch hits. The club announced the death of co-owner Michael Bambang Hartono on Thursday, leaving everyone reeling.
"Deeply saddened," the Azzurri posted, extending condolences to the Hartono family and their Djarum Group. It's a tough one, especially with the family steering Como into their best era since... well, forever.
From Third Tier to Top Four Dream
Rewind to 2019. Brothers Michael and Robert Hartono snapped up Como when they were slogging it out in Serie C. Fast forward, and after 21 years in the wilderness, they're back in Serie A, currently fourth and sniffing Champions League football.
As Lorenzo Bettoni at Football Italia notes, these Indonesian billionaires – combined net worth $43.8 billion, richest in their country – have transformed the Larians. Gratitude poured out from the club: under their lead, Como's penned a shiny new chapter.
It's bittersweet. The lads are unbeaten in six across all comps under Cesc Fàbregas, scalping Juventus, Roma, and both Milan giants. Last weekend's Roma win? Puts CL destiny in their own mitts.
Power Rankings: Como Crashes the European Party
That form's catapaulted Como into this week's power rankings at 10 (new entry), per The Football Faithful on OneFootball. Massive shake-up after a bonkers week of Euro footy.
9. Manchester United (new): Caretaker Michael Carrick's loving life – seven wins from nine, including top-four scalps. 3-1 over Aston Villa has them eyeing CL.
8. Sporting Lisbon (new): Epic comeback! Fifth team ever to flip a 3-0 CL deficit, smashing Bodo/Glimt 5-0 AET for quarters – first since '83.
7. RC Lens (down from 6): Bottled it against Lorient, missing a chance to rattle PSG's cage in Ligue 1.
6. Man City (down from 5): Pep's woes – drew West Ham, then out to Real Madrid in CL. Third time losing both legs of a knockout tie.
5. PSG (up from 7): Postponed a league game to smash Chelsea 3-0 (agg 8-2) into CL quarters. Liverpool next. Aura indeed.
4. Real Madrid (steady): Arda Güler's half-volley wonder vs Elche, then Etihad efficiency to ditch City. Europe specialists.
3. Barcelona (steady): 12 goals in a week! Thumped Sevilla, then Newcastle 7-nil at Camp Nou – only second English side to ship 6+ in CL.
2. Arsenal (steady): Nine-point Prem lead. Late Everton smash (shout 16-year-old Max Dowman's record-breaker), then Bayer Leverkusen bye in CL. Quadruple? Why not, ahead of Carabao Cup final.
1. Bayern Munich (unchanged): Unstoppable. 4-1 over Atalanta sealed one of CL's biggest agg wins (10-2). Quadruple chasers' biggest threat.
Como's rise amid tragedy shows footy's cruel poetry. Hartono's legacy? A club reborn. Hats off, and RIP. What's next for the Azzurri? CL glory, hopefully.