Como Thrash RB Leipzig 4-1 in Stunning Champions League Debut
Como marked their Champions League debut with a remarkable 4-1 home win over RB Leipzig on September 10, 2026, completing a rise that would have seemed improbable when they were beaten 2-0 by Südtirol in Serie B exactly four years earlier. Cesc Fabregas’s side played without the caution often associated with a first European night, pressing Leipzig hard and attacking with confidence at the Stadio Sinigaglia.
Key takeaways
- Martin Baturina scored Como’s first goal in Champions League football.
- Nico Paz supplied two assists despite not yet being fully fit.
- Assane Diao struck Como’s third goal in the 54th minute after an outstanding wing display.
- Substitute Máximo Perrone completed the 4-1 result in stoppage time.
- Como will now turn back to Serie A fixtures against Parma and Roma.
Como make their European statement
Fabregas had attempted to reduce the pressure before the match, insisting that Leipzig should be treated no differently from any other opponent. His players followed that approach, producing a controlled and aggressive performance against a German club accustomed to competing at this level.
Rather than defending deep and attempting to protect a result, Como imposed themselves through their pressing and possession. Their mid-block quickly became a high-intensity press when the opportunity arose, preventing Leipzig from finding a steady rhythm on the ball.
The home side’s first historic Champions League goal came from Baturina. The Croatian playmaker reacted to a cutback from Tasos Douvikas and finished decisively to put Como in front.
Paz had been a major focus before kick-off and, although short of full fitness, he remained influential. The Argentine’s two assists helped shape the result, including the pass for Diao to score in the second half.
Diao and Perrone finish the job
Diao was a persistent threat on the flank, repeatedly driving Como forward and forcing Leipzig’s defence backwards. After an injury-hit previous season, the winger looked closer to the level he showed during his strong first campaign at the club. His 54th-minute finish, created by Paz, gave Como their third goal of the evening.
Douvikas also played an important part in the attacking display, combining penalty-box instincts with effective link play. Como’s forwards regularly exchanged short passes before finding more direct routes through Leipzig’s shape, a pattern that has become central to Fabregas’s team.
Leipzig attempted to respond after the interval, but Como did not abandon their approach. They continued to play through pressure and retained enough composure in possession to limit the visitors’ recovery. Perrone then added the final touch in stoppage time, running onto another Paz through-ball to secure a 4-1 victory.
The result continues Como’s extraordinary progression from the lower half of Serie B in September 2022 to a convincing Champions League win four years later. With the league phase under way, the attention around the Stadio Sinigaglia will grow, but Fabregas must now prepare his squad for domestic tests against Parma and Roma.
