Como vs RB Leipzig – News and Probable Lineups

Completing their remarkable ascent by qualifying for the Champions League, the debutants Como will take on RB Leipzig on Thursday night at the modest Stadio Singaglia.

After making significant investments to compete with Europe’s best, the Italian team is following the path of fellow outsiders Leipzig, who reached the semi-finals six years prior.

Match overview

Como is not only starting its first Champions League venture, but it also marks their first participation in any UEFA tournament, following an impressive fourth place finish in Serie A last season.

Securing four victories from their last five matches enabled them to clinch a vital top-four finish ahead of established names such as AC Milan and Juventus.

This achievement is remarkable for a club that only returned to Italy’s highest division two years earlier, having been in Serie D as recently as 2019.

Under the leadership of Cesc Fabregas, the team also progressed to their first Coppa Italia semi-final, narrowly losing to the eventual champions, Inter de Milão, after a disappointing performance in the second leg at San Siro.

Como’s affluent owners are beginning to reap significant benefits from their investment: only Inter have accumulated more points this year, and the Lariani have recently triumphed against both Napoli and Genoa on their travels.

As Serie A’s biggest spenders since 2024, they have assembled a squad teeming with attacking prowess – highlighted by main playmaker Nico Paz and leading scorer Tasos Douvikas – while maintaining a league-high 19 clean sheets last season.

Consequently, ambitions are high at the Lombardy club under Fabregas, who boasts 104 Champions League appearances during his playing career. They will aim to surpass other debutants, including Sabah, LASK, and Viking.

While Como are newcomers to this level, this fixture will mark RB Leipzig’s eighth appearance in the Champions League since they first participated in the group stage nine years ago.

However, Leipzig’s last campaign ended in disappointment as they finished 32nd during the 2024-25 league stage, amassing only one win against seven losses.

Having reached the semi-finals in 2020, Leipzig is back in European competition after a one-year absence, finishing third in the league last season. The change in management saw Ole Werner depart, with Martin Demichelis now leading the team.

This will be Demichelis’s first managerial role at this level, having accumulated 67 Champions League appearances as a player with Bayern Munich, Manchester City, and Malaga, where he once faced Fabregas during a Barcelona victory over City.

In their three domestic matches thus far, Leipzig overpowered Eintracht Trier in the DFB-Pokal and Borussia Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga, but suffered a 3-1 defeat against Werder Bremen last week.

This away loss has only fueled concerns about playing in Como’s unique lakeside venue, particularly as Leipzig has secured just one point from their last six Champions League away games.

Team News

Both teams have been active in strengthening their squads ahead of this group phase, and Como’s standout acquisition might be Moise Kean, who has contributed five goals and one assist in six prior Champions League matches.

The Italian forward made his initial appearance off the bench during Friday’s 4-1 victory over Genoa, although the current leading scorer Douvikas netted 14 goals in Serie A last season and has already added two to his tally this term.

Paz had limited participation in this competition with Real Madrid but is now set for his first substantial chance to make an impact; Martin Baturina and Assane Diao are also anticipated to play a role in the attacking setup.

With only long-term injury victim Jayden Addai sidelined, Fabregas has nearly a full squad at his disposal for Como’s return to Sinigaglia; they began their campaign with three matches on the road while renovations were made to the stadium to comply with UEFA standards.

Conversely, Leipzig will be without Rocco Reitz, Romulo, and Christoph Baumgartner, who had a career-best 17 goals in all competitions last season.

There are also doubts over Brajan Gruda and Assan Ouedraogo, but Spanish striker Marc Guiu has recently joined from Chelsea, and Christopher Nkunku has returned on loan from Milan.

Although Yan Diomande left in the summer, Antonio Nusa – who notably scored on his Champions League debut for Club Brugge at the age of 17 – will still add depth on the flank.

Como probable starting XI:

Butez; Couto, Chalobah, Ramon, Valle; Perrone, Da Cunha; Diao, Paz, Baturina; Douvikas

RB Leipzig probable starting XI:

Waterworthy; Baku, Orban, Lukeba, Raum; El Aynaoui, Seiwald, Judges; Bakayoko, Nkunku, Nusa

Despite Leipzig’s greater Champions League experience, Como has evolved into a well-oiled machine under Fabregas and could pose a formidable challenge.

With a return to their home ground following weeks on the road in Italy, the Lariani are expected to start their group stage with a win.