Fabregas Urges Como to Refocus on Parma After Historic Leipzig Rout
Como opened their Champions League history with a 4-1 win over Leipzig at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia on Thursday, but Cesc Fabregas has made clear that the club must turn quickly towards Serie A and Monday’s meeting with Parma.
What changed for Como
Martin Baturina, Tasos Douvikas, Assane Diao and Maximo Perrone scored as Como produced a commanding performance in their first match in the European Cup/Champions League. The hosts created the better opportunities, finishing with an expected-goals advantage of 2.30 to Leipzig’s 1.42.
The result made Como the fourth Italian side to win on their competition debut, after Juventus, AC Milan and Udinese. It was also only the second occasion on which an Italian club had scored at least four times in its first European Cup/Champions League fixture; Sampdoria beat Rosenborg 5-0 in September 1991.
- Douvikas became the first Greek player to score on his Champions League debut since September 2005.
- Baturina became the second Croatian, following Mislav Orsic, to record a goal and an assist in more than one Champions League match.
Fabregas recognised the scale of the night for the city and the club, describing it as a reward for last season’s work. However, he said the satisfaction could be brief with another fixture arriving within days.
Competition context
Fabregas has placed domestic consistency above the excitement of the European occasion. Serie A remains Como’s principal target because league performance is what can secure a return to the Champions League, he said.
The former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder wants his young squad to use the energy generated by the Leipzig result without allowing it to affect their league standards. He warned that he would be unhappy if the players failed to give the same commitment in Serie A, stressing the need for humility and the ability to compete every three days during a demanding autumn schedule.
Como are fourth in Serie A after taking seven points from their opening three fixtures, with two victories and one draw. The coming run will test both the group’s physical condition and its depth.
What is scheduled next
Como return to the Sinigaglia on Monday, September 14, when Parma visit for the club’s fourth Serie A match of the campaign. Fabregas expects the same intensity shown against Leipzig as his side begin balancing league ambitions with Champions League football.
