F.C. Como Women defeat 3-1 Olympique de Marseille in friendly match

The first match of 2025 for F.C. Como Women ended with a 3-1 victory against French side Olympique de Marseille. The friendly match, played at the club's Sport Village in Cislago (VA), was broadcast exclusively and live globally on the DAZN platform and on DAZN Women Football's YouTube channels, being watched by over 17,000 viewers. The match featured an innovative storytelling format, never before seen in women's football, providing a fresh way to experience the game.

Stefano Sottili’s team controlled the game against Frédéric Gonçalves’ side, securing a solid win thanks to first-half goals from Bolden, Karlernäs, and Del Estal. In the second half, the only goal for the French team came in the 67th minute from Leger.

WeAre8 Makes its Debut on the Field

The friendly match also served as the official launch of F.C. Como Women’s new kit, marking the beginning of the club's collaboration with WeAre8, its new main sponsor. This partnership signals the start of a new phase of growth and professionalization. 

Zoe Kalar, CEO & Founder of WeAre8, met the players and, together with them before the match, unveiled the new kit featuring the sponsor’s logo. “It was magical to present the jersey today with the players: a unique and brilliant way for me to start 2025,” said Zoe Kalar. “I fell in love with the club and the players, initially from afar, but as I got to know them personally, I realized that the technology we’ve developed can really support them, change the way the world sees them, and open up new opportunities for exposure and economic growth.” She added: “The idea that a small group of women, with the right energy and the right context, can truly inspire others and change the world is what I believe in. And that’s why our technology and our platform were created: to serve and support this vision.”

A New Way to Tell Women’s Football

The lead commentator, Victoire Cogevina Reynal, co-CEO & co-Founder of Mercury/13, guided the innovative match broadcast, highlighting the stories of the players and the club. She enriched the narrative with anecdotes and details that brought the audience closer not only to the game’s emotions but also to the personal stories of the players on the field. Special guests joined Victoire during the match, including Dominika Skorvankova, midfielder for Como Women, Lucia Lobato, defender for OM, Elena Mirandola, CEO of Como Women, and Stefano Petruzzo, CEO of the French club.

“The idea behind this unique broadcast format came from our desire to tell women’s football in a very human and authentic way,” said F.C. Como Women CEO Elena Mirandola. “A recent Deloitte study highlights that among the younger generations—who are also the most interested in women’s football—there is a growing attention to the everyday lives of athletes and the life of the Clubs. So, we thought we’d seize this opportunity to test a format that responds to this new trend. What happens on match day is the result of a lot of hard work, and we believe it’s important to give visibility to what happens behind the scenes.”

“It was exciting to comment on a match for the first time. I think this new format can work. People are curious about our lives as athletes, and this can bring more interest to the entire women’s football movement,” said Skorvankova in the post-match.

“We believe storytelling is the key to transforming commentary and engaging exciting new audiences. These players have stories that people want to hear, and once they do, they become more invested in their success,” said Victoire Cogevina Reynal. “Today was about introducing the protagonists of our story: a small, independent team facing the giants of football, standing their ground with determination. Welcome to a new era of women’s football!”

Match Summary

Como Women Line-Up: 22 Gilardi; 2 Marcussen, 17 Sagen, 24 Rizzon, 6 Bergersen; 16 Karlernäs, 11 Conc, 21 Picchi; 33 Kramzar; 10 Bolden, 9 Del Estal. Coach: Stefano Sottili

Substitutes: 7 Nischler, 12 Soggiu, 13 Liva, 25 Marchiori, 20 Vaitukaityte, 23 D’Agostino, 27 Petzelberger, 28 Kerr, 30 Ruma.

Olympique de Marseille Line-Up: 30 Verdier; 20 Kbida, 4 Joseph, 15 Blanchard, 25 Giaimo; 12 Khezami, 10 Diakhate, 6 Paprzycki, 14 Perret; 9 Diop, 29 Joseph. Coach: Frédéric Gonçalves

Substitutes: 3 Lobato, 5 Moryl, 7 Laplacette, 16 Gautier, 17 Bourgouin, 18 Leger, 19 Domond, 22 Couasnon, 96 N’gazi, 33 Mazza.

Scorers: 24’ Bolden, 43’ Karlernäs, 45’ Del Estal; 67’ Leger.

Referee and Assistants: Adenti Veronica, Cappello Eleonora, Capelli Sara