Como’s Sinigaglia Stadium Cleared for Champions League Opener Against Leipzig
Como will begin their Champions League campaign at Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia on Thursday night after the lakeside venue received UEFA Category 4 certification following a redevelopment completed in less than 90 days.
The approval removes the need for Cesc Fabregas’ team to use Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia, which had been prepared as an alternative home ground. Leipzig will instead travel to Como for the league-phase opener, marking the club’s first European fixture at its own stadium.
Rapid work brings stadium up to UEFA standard
Como’s Indonesian owners funded the project in cooperation with the local municipality. The central work involved removing the old tubular Curva Ovest and replacing it with a permanent reinforced-concrete stand built to satisfy UEFA requirements.
The playing surface has also been made two metres wider and relaid with hybrid turf. The changes are intended to support the possession-based approach favoured by Fabregas, who made 104 Champions League appearances during his playing career.
Elsewhere, the stadium has received improved lighting, redesigned press facilities, refurbished toilets and updated internal security infrastructure.
Temporary tubular seating in the distinti area means the ground will hold around 11,000 spectators for European ties, but demand has been immediate. Tickets for Leipzig’s visit were sold out within minutes.
Fabregas seeks a fierce home atmosphere
Fabregas wants Como’s compact lakeside setting to become a difficult venue for visiting sides, with the manager aiming to create an atmosphere comparable to a smaller-scale La Bombonera. His experience in Europe’s leading club competition will be a major reference point as Como take their first steps in the tournament.
The hosts approach the match in strong domestic form. They have collected seven points from their opening three Serie A fixtures and travelled to Genoa on Friday before recording a 4-1 victory.
Leipzig face a disciplined Como defence
Leipzig arrive with concerning European numbers. The Bundesliga side have gone 18 continental matches without keeping a clean sheet and have won only once in their past 10 Champions League proper games.
Como will look to extend that difficult sequence through a defence that allowed only 29 league goals last season. Fabregas’ side have conceded three times in the current Serie A campaign, providing a solid platform ahead of Thursday’s historic night at Sinigaglia.
