Como host RB Leipzig on Thursday in the late match of the day in the Champions League league phase. Kick-off is at 9:00 p.m. CEST (3:00 p.m. ET) at Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, with Como making their historic debut in European competition after finishing fourth in Serie A last season.
Cesc Fabregas has overseen Como’s remarkable rise from Serie D to the Champions League, and the Italian club will now get its first taste of European football against an RB Leipzig side returning to the competition after missing out last season. Leipzig arrive looking to respond after a 3-1 Bundesliga defeat to Werder Bremen, their first loss of the new campaign.
Starting Lineups and Team News
Confirmed starting XIs:
Como [4-2-3-1]: Butez — Yan Couto, Chalobah, Ramón, Valle — Da Cunha (C), Milla — Baturina, Paz, Diao — Douvikas
RB Leipzig [4-2-3-1]: Vandevoort; Raum, Lukeba, Orban, Baku; Seiwald, El Aynaoui; Nusa, Nkunku, Maksimovic; Guiu.
Como Team News
Como have almost a full squad available for the biggest match in the club’s history. The only known injury absence is long-term absentee Jayden Addai, leaving Fabregas with plenty of options as he prepares his team for its Champions League debut.
Summer signing Moise Kean made his Como debut from the bench in Friday’s 4-1 win over Genoa and could provide another attacking option. Meanwhile, striker Anastasios Douvikas scored 14 Serie A goals last season and has already found the net twice this campaign, while Nico Paz, Assane Diao and Martin Baturina give Como plenty of creativity behind the forward line.
RB Leipzig Team News
Leipzig’s injury picture has improved ahead of the trip to Italy. Christoph Baumgartner and Rocco Reitz remain unavailable, while Brajan Gruda has recovered from an ankle problem and trained with the squad before traveling to Como. Castello Lukeba is also back in training after missing the defeat to Werder Bremen with a muscular issue.
Romulo has also returned to consideration after dealing with a knee tendon problem, although it remains to be seen whether new coach Martin Demichelis will throw him straight into the starting lineup. Leipzig can also call on Christopher Nkunku, who has returned on loan from AC Milan, while Antonio Nusa remains one of the team’s most dangerous attacking outlets.
Live Updates
8′ – It’s been all Como in the opening minutes. 69% possession but no real chances.
15′ – GOAL COMO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Baturina
Give-and-go between Douvikas and Baturina. Baturina found himself alone in front of goal and slid it in from 10 yards out. Deserving goal as Come have been dominate.
24′ – Como still keeping pressure on the German side with 63% possession but the shots on goal is all squared at 2-2 as Leipzig are using the counter fairly effectively for now.
38′ – GOAL COMO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Douvikas
Beautiful feed Baturina to Douvikas who found himself in a sprint against Orban as he slots the ball passed the keeper for 2-0.
HALFTIME – Como 2-0 RB Leipzig
52′ – Leipzig are a little more adventurous at the start of the second half but Como still comfortably ahead 2-0 and playing that way.
54′ – GOAL COMO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Diao
Perfectly executed counterattack as Leipzig was getting comfortable in front of Como’s goal. Fast passing crowned by a perfect pass bu Nico Paz to Diao who shoots it in from a difficult angle. 3-0.
57′ – Should have been 4-0 after another Como fast counter but a miss from 7 yards out.
59′ – GOAL LEIPZIG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Maksimovic 3-1
Leipzig come right back to make it a 2-goal game with a wicked shot from outside the box by Maksimovic.
64′ – Wide open game now with chances on both ends. Wonderful open football.
65′ – Moise Kean in for Como
77′ – Things have calmed down with Leipzig enjoying more of the possession but Como successfully shutting them down and even threatening on the counter.
90′ – GOAL COMO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Perrone 4-1
From another counterattack. Wonderful work by Nico Paz on the right side who finds Perrone who slides it in. A historic night in Como.
FINAL SCORE – COMO 4-1 RB LEIPZIG
The fairy tale continues for Cesc Fabregas’ side. A perfect start to their Champions League debut. They put the game away in the first half and simply defended and relied on the counterattack in the 2nd half. It worked. Historic night in Lake Como. This is a team to watch this season in the Champions League as well as Serie A.
Como vs RB Leipzig Lineup Today: Confirmed Starting XI, Team News and Live Updates