Como, September 10, 2026 – The thrill of the first time? For its historic debut in the Champions League, Como does not pay the price of inexperience, immediately showcasing the qualitative, enveloping, and intense style of play now well known in Italy: Fabregas’ ideas take hold even in Europe thanks to a stellar first half closed at 2-0 thanks to goals scored by Baturina at 15′ and Douvikas at 38′, interrupted by a double great chance for Lipsia signed by Maksimovic and Guiu. This is effectively the sliding doors moment of the entire match for Demichelis’ team, which at 54′ concedes the third goal signed by Diao. The matter seems closed for Como, who in turn incredibly misses the chance for the fourth goal with Da Cunha, shortly after conceding, at 58′, Maksimovic’s goal on a mistaken clearance during build-up. A youthful and inexperienced mistake in the context of a second half that is much more about management and also more or less marked suffering, but which does not erase the dream night at Sinigaglia, which witnesses the fourth goal scored by Perrone in full injury time and, above all, Como’s victory in their absolute debut in the Champions League, curiously making them the only Italian team to celebrate on this first day of the most prestigious European competition.
The official line-ups
Fabregas chooses a 4-2-3-1 opened by Butez, with Couto, Chalobah, Ramon, and Valle in a defense shielded by Da Cunha and Milla: the only striker is Douvikas, assisted by Baturina, Paz, and Diao. Demichelis responds with a 4-3-3 that sees Vandevoordt in goal, protected by Baku, Orban, Lubeka, and Raum: in midfield are El Aynaoui, Seiwald, and Nkunku, while in attack are Maksimovic, Guiu, and Nusa.
First half
Como approaches its Champions League debut match with vehemence, but the first shot, at 10′, is taken by Lipsia with Nusa, who receives from Nkunku and challenges Butez from outside. The reply from the Lariano team comes at 11′, when Vandevoordt must oppose within seconds first to Douvikas and then to Paz. The cheer at Sinigaglia is delayed slightly, because at 15′ Douvikas crosses a ball that Baku repels: Baturina arrives, who does not forgive and signs the 1-0. Lipsia tries a quick reaction with Nusa, but his shot finds Butez’s response. At 18′ again number 7, the liveliest of the guests, penetrates the area and does everything well before finding the opposition of Milla, who concedes a corner. At 26′ Couto crosses for Diao’s header, intercepted by Vandevoordt but everything is nullified for an offside call. At 35′ Lipsia nearly equalizes twice within seconds: first Maksimovic opens with his left but not enough to beat Butez, who flies, and on the continuation of the action a cross from the left arms Guiu’s header that goes just wide. The Germans’ regrets increase at 38′, when the double missed chance turns into a blow as Douvikas collects Baturina’s visionary through ball, gets past Lukeba, and does not miss one-on-one with Vandevoordt. Riding the wave of enthusiasm, Paz tries to join the celebration, but his left shot is too weak to scare the visiting goalkeeper. Como insists until the 1′ added time: nothing else happens, with the Lariano team halfway through the match in full control of the situation.
Second half
There are no substitutions at halftime, with Lipsia trying to reopen the contest with a curling free kick from Raum that dangerously crosses the entire small area of Como, who struggles to lower the visitors’ pressure. At 53′ the long German siege ends with an off-target shot from Nusa and, once again, a missed chance is followed by a goal from a more clinical Como than ever: it is 54′ and Diao joins the party, receiving from Paz and punishing Vandevoordt with a diagonal shot once again at the first opportunity. At 57′ the Lariano team themselves become wasteful when Da Cunha incredibly misses the chance for the fourth goal at the end of a very fast counterattack: a nice sombrero to evade the visiting goalkeeper’s exit, much less the close-range shot into an empty net sent wide. This time the rule of missed goal-conceded goal hits Como, when at 58′ Maksimovic shortens the distance with a first-time left shot exploiting a mistake in the home team’s build-up and, above all, the perfect assist from Nkunku. Demichelis immediately tries to exploit the positive momentum by making three changes: Gomis, Ouedraogo, and Banzuzi come on for Seiwald, Guiu, and Nkunku. Fabregas responds with three moves of his own: Kean, Perrone, and Kempf come on and Douvikas, Da Cunha, and Baturina go off, while on the Lipsia side Gruda replaces Maksimovic. At 72′ another enveloping action from the visitors ends with a shot fired over the bar by Ouedraogo: with the ball out, Fabregas takes the opportunity to replace Couto with Smolcic. Lipsia earns a corner: Raum takes it for Banzuzi, who heads wide. At 78′ Gomis receives a deep ball and shoots, but again without the accuracy of his best days. At 81′ Baku shoots with a diagonal that grazes the post to the right of Butez. Como also strikes at 83′ with a counterattack where Kean serves Paz in the area, who from a good position misses the knockout blow. Fabregas’ last move is Ricci for Diao, while Demichelis throws Henrichs into the fray for Baku, who before leaving the field tries a cross without even earning a corner due to an unlucky ricochet with Milla. At 91′, in the context of 3′ added time, Perrone’s shot on Paz’s through ball is successful: the cherry on top of a dream debut for Como in the Champions League, probably impossible to imagine more rosy than this.
