Como announced themselves on their first Champions League night with a 4-1 dismantling of RB Leipzig at the Stadio Sinigaglia, turning a lakeside occasion into a statement of continental intent for Cesc Fàbregas’s rapidly rising side.
Como 4-1 RB Leipzig: Fàbregas’s side own their first Champions League night
SEO title: Como 4-1 RB Leipzig: Cesc Fàbregas side shine on Champions League debut
SEO description: Como marked their first Champions League match with a 4-1 win over RB Leipzig, as Martin Baturina, Anastasios Douvikas, Assane Diao and Maxi Perrone led an emphatic display.
A new stage at Sinigaglia
The occasion carried a particular weight for a club that was playing in Italy’s third tier only six years ago. Como president Mirwan Suwarso gave up his own seat so that long-serving supporters born in 1950 or earlier could attend a defining evening for the city.
He missed a performance that underlined how far the club have travelled. The old Sinigaglia stand has been replaced by a new structure completed in two months, another visible sign of a project moving quickly on and off the pitch.
From the Prealps beyond the stadium, the view now takes in Champions League football. Longstanding fans shared the crowd with club shareholders Thierry Henry and Raphael Varane, while Hollywood actors were also present for the occasion around Lake Como.
What happened
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Como began without the caution expected from Champions League newcomers. Their collective high press, patient construction from goalkeeper Jean Butez and constant off-ball interchanges repeatedly unsettled a Leipzig side managed by Martín Demichelis.
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Martin Baturina opened the scoring after collecting the ball on the right roughly 50 metres from goal. The Croatian beat two opponents, released Douvikas and continued his run. When the return ball deflected off Baku and came back to him, Baturina recovered from a stumble, shifted past two defenders and finished with his right foot.
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The goal continued Baturina’s strong start to the season: he now has three goals and two assists in his first four matches. After initially struggling for prominence last season with Nico Paz operating in a similar area, he developed into a roaming wide player capable of moving inside and exchanging positions with the Argentine.
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Leipzig tried to impose the aggressive pressing normally associated with Red Bull sides, but Como’s fluid movement disrupted their marking. The second goal came from a long move beginning with Butez, shifting across the field before Álex Valle moved inward on the left and found Baturina. Baturina carried the ball clear of pressure and threaded a vertical pass for Douvikas, who got ahead of Lukeba and finished beyond Vandervoordt.
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Douvikas, who was at Celta Vigo two years ago, has become a central figure in Como’s rise. The club paid €13 million for the forward, who scored 17 goals last season after Fàbregas helped sharpen his strengths.
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In the second half, Assane Diao added another goal after another collective attack. Supplied by Nico Paz, Diao controlled the ball and drove a right-footed finish inside the post. Injuries have interrupted his progress over the past year, but the forward is now pushing towards the international level many expected of him.
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Maxi Perrone completed Como’s four-goal evening. The Argentina international was among the club’s three standout performers last season but now begins some matches from the bench, reflecting the increased depth assembled by Suwarso and Fàbregas.
A project built beyond investment
Como’s ascent has involved major spending, including a strong recruitment focus on Spanish talent, but the Leipzig result was presented as evidence of planning rather than money alone. The squad has been assembled with clear roles, and Fàbregas has developed a team with an immediately recognisable structure.
Luis Milla embodied that progression against Leipzig. The former Getafe player, shaped under José Bordalás, made his Champions League debut at 31 and was among Como’s best performers. While other Italian clubs overlooked him, Como secured him for around €6 million.
The 4-1 result did more than provide a memorable first European fixture. It confirmed that Como’s transformation from third-division football to Champions League dominance has been driven by targeted investment, deeper squad options and a coach whose tactical identity is already carrying into Europe.
For Suwarso, the only regret may be the ticket he gave away. With demand for seats at Sinigaglia already limited, he may be less willing to surrender his place when the next European night arrives.
