Cesc Fàbregas led Como to a historic Champions League debut as the Italian club produced an outstanding 4–1 victory over RB Leipzig at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia.
Martin Baturina, Anastasios Douvikas, Assane Diao and substitute Máximo Perrone scored for Como as Fàbregas’ side announced their arrival in European football with an impressive victory over the German Bundesliga club.
Baturina gave Como the lead after 15 minutes before Douvikas doubled the advantage in the 38th minute. Diao then made it 3–0 nine minutes into the second half, putting the hosts firmly in control.
Andrija Maksimović pulled one back for Leipzig in the 58th minute, but Como refused to surrender their advantage and Perrone restored the three-goal cushion with a 90th-minute strike.
The victory was particularly significant because this was Como’s first appearance in the Champions League and their first-ever participation in UEFA competition.
The club’s rise has been remarkable. Only seven years ago, Como were playing in Serie D, Italy’s fourth tier. Their subsequent ascent through the Italian football pyramid culminated in a fourth-place Serie A finish last season and qualification for Europe’s elite club competition.
Fàbregas, who has played a central role in Como’s transformation, had described the Leipzig fixture before kick-off as an important occasion for the club’s history. His team subsequently delivered a performance that matched the significance of the night.
Como were particularly impressive during the opening stages, combining technical quality, movement and rapid transitions to unsettle Leipzig. UEFA’s account of the match highlighted the combination between Baturina and Douvikas for the opening two goals, while Diao’s counter-attacking finish further demonstrated Como’s attacking efficiency.
The result also made Como the only Italian team to win on the opening matchday of the 2026/27 Champions League campaign.
Despite the historic victory, Fàbregas immediately warned his players against allowing the occasion to distract them from the demands of the domestic campaign.
“The happiness must last a maximum of five minutes,” the Como coach said after the match, stressing that his team must show the same intensity in Serie A, with the next league fixture already approaching.
That mentality reflects the scale of Como’s challenge. Their Champions League debut may have produced a dream result, but Fàbregas knows the club must now balance the demands of European football with its Serie A ambitions.
For one night, however, Como had every reason to celebrate. A club that was playing in Italy’s fourth division just seven years ago had not only reached the Champions League but had opened its historic campaign with a commanding 4–1 victory.
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