Como will play their first-ever Champions League match on Thursday when they welcome RB Leipzig to Stadio Sinigaglia, marking the latest step in the club’s remarkable rise under manager Cesc Fabregas.
The Lombardy club only returned to Italy’s top flight two years ago and were playing in Serie D in 2019. Their fourth-place finish in Serie A last season secured a first European campaign of any kind, while also bringing the Champions League to the small stadium on the shores of Lake Como.
Como’s rapid progress has followed significant investment from their wealthy owners. They finished last season strongly, winning four of their final five league matches to claim a place in the top four ahead of established clubs including AC Milan and Juventus.
They also reached the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia for the first time. Their run ended narrowly over two legs against eventual winners Inter Milan, after Como collapsed late in the second leg at San Siro.
The club’s form has continued into the current campaign. Only Inter have collected more points in the calendar year, while Como have recently won away at both Napoli and Genoa.
Como have been Serie A’s biggest spenders since 2024 and have assembled an attack featuring playmaker Nico Paz and last season’s leading scorer Tasos Douvikas. Their defensive record was equally impressive, with 19 clean sheets making them the best defence in the division last term.
Fabregas, who made 104 Champions League appearances as a player, now hopes to guide Como beyond the achievements of fellow debutants Sabah, LASK and Viking.
The former midfielder’s side began the season with three consecutive away matches while Stadio Sinigaglia was brought up to UEFA standards. The return to their home ground comes with Como close to full strength, with only long-term absentee Jayden Addai unavailable.
Leipzig seeking a response
For RB Leipzig, this will be their eighth Champions League campaign since making their European group-stage debut nine years ago.
Their most recent involvement was a disappointment, with Leipzig finishing 32nd in the 2024-25 league phase after seven defeats and only one victory. The German club return to Europe’s leading competition after missing out last season, having finished third in the Bundesliga last term.
That achievement did not save Ole Werner’s job, however, and Martin Demichelis is now in charge. It is Demichelis’ first Champions League campaign as a manager, although he played 67 matches in the competition for Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Malaga.
He also faced Fabregas during his playing career, when Manchester City lost to Barcelona.
Leipzig began the new season by beating Eintracht Trier in the German Cup and Borussia Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga. They were beaten 3-1 by Werder Bremen last week, though, and their away record in the Champions League offers little encouragement ahead of the trip to Como: they have taken only one point from their past six away matches in the competition.
Leipzig’s form in all competitions is listed as two wins and one defeat, while Como’s is one draw and two victories.
Both clubs have strengthened their squads for the league phase. Como’s most prominent addition may be Italy striker Moise Kean, who scored five goals and provided one assist in his previous six Champions League appearances.
Kean made his Como debut as a substitute in Friday’s 4-1 victory over Genoa. Douvikas remains the current number nine, though, having scored 14 Serie A goals last season and added two more this term.
Paz has previously played limited Champions League minutes with Real Madrid but is now expected to have a more substantial role. Martin Baturina and Assane Diao are also likely to feature in the attacking third.
Leipzig will be without Rocco Reitz, Romulo and Christoph Baumgartner. Baumgartner scored a personal best 17 goals in all competitions last season. Brajan Gruda and Assan Ouedraogo are doubts.
The visitors can call on recent signing Marc Guiu, who joined from Chelsea, while Christopher Nkunku has returned on loan from the Milan AC. Yan Diomande departed during the summer, but Antonio Nusa remains an important option out wide. Nusa scored on his Champions League debut for Club Brugge at the age of 17.
Probable teams
Como: Butez; Couto, Chalobah, Ramon, Valle; Perrone, Da Cunha; Diao, Paz, Baturina; Douvikas.
RB Leipzig: Vandevoordt; Baku, Orban, Lukeba, Raum; El Aynaoui, Seiwald, Banzuzi; Bakayoko, Nkunku, Nusa.
Prediction and betting tips
- Como to avoid defeat and fewer than 3.5 goals: 2.00 - Nico Paz to be decisive: 2.00 - Moise Kean or Christopher Nkunku to score: 1.70
Leipzig have greater Champions League experience in their squad, but Como have developed into a well-organised side under Fabregas and could prove difficult to contain.
With the Lariani returning home after several weeks travelling across Italy, Como are expected to mark their European debut with a victory.