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Dream debut for Como: Cesc Fabregas' side thrash RB Leipzig to announce themselves on the Champions League stage

Como's climb from the depths of the lower divisions to the summit of European football hit an extraordinary high on Thursday night as they tore apart RB Leipzig. In the club's first-ever appearance in the Champions League, Cesc Fabregas' men performed with the calm and assurance of battle-hardened campaigners to seal a historic 4-1 win.

A meteoric rise from Serie B to European prominence

Exactly four years ago, on September 10, 2022, Como were stuck in the lower half of Serie B, enduring a dispiriting 2-0 home loss to Sudtirol. Move ahead to September 10, 2026, and the turnaround feels almost unbelievable. The Lariani did not merely take part in their first Champions League match; they controlled it from start to finish, sweeping aside a heavyweight such as RB Leipzig with a display that is likely to be remembered for decades.

Fabregas had spent the week trying to reduce the sense of occasion, saying in the build-up: "Against Leipzig, it will be a game like any other." That piece of psychological management clearly reached the players, who showed no trace of nerves against a German side well accustomed to this competition. While Leipzig looked unsettled by the atmosphere and the intensity generated by the hosts, Como played with a sharpness and conviction that suggested they fully belonged among Europe's top teams.

Baturina and Diao sparkle in a commanding performance

Although much of the pre-match focus had been on the creative quality of Nico Paz, it was others who took centre stage on this landmark evening. Paz, despite still not being at 100% physical condition, still displayed his class by supplying two crucial assists, but the night belonged above all to Martin Baturina. The Croatian playmaker scored Como's first-ever Champions League goal with a flash of pure brilliance, latching on to an intelligent cutback from Tasos Douvikas and finishing with ruthless accuracy.

Alongside Baturina, Assane Diao delivered another major statement in a Como career that has already had dramatic swings. After an outstanding debut campaign followed by a difficult spell last year due to injuries, Diao looked back to his most destructive best on Thursday. He was almost impossible to contain out wide, repeatedly running at the Leipzig back line and forcing them backwards, before completing his display by firing in Como's third goal in the 54th minute after being set up by Paz. Added to that was the relentless work rate and sharp finishing of Tasos Douvikas, who showed both his predator's instinct in the box and his capacity to combine with others like a modern No. 9. As a unit, Como's forward line looked among the most dangerous in the competition. Substitute Maximo Perrone then added the finishing touch to the scoreline, converting a Nico Paz through-ball in stoppage time to make it 4-1.

Tactical authority and the Fabregas blueprint

The smoothness and cohesion of Como's football reflected the work of the coaching staff, with each movement appearing almost directed by Fabregas from the touchline. This was not a team interested in sitting deep and trying to protect a draw; it was a side determined to overwhelm the opposition. The tactical structure meant Leipzig were never allowed to feel comfortable in possession, with Como's mid-block instantly turning into an aggressive press whenever the trigger arrived.

It is precisely this "big club" mentality that has impressed onlookers most. Even when Leipzig tried to build momentum in the second half, Como did not panicking. Instead, they remained even more committed to their principles, using their technical edge to play through the pressure. The manner in which the team controls possession, employing short and crisp combinations to shift opponents from side to side before producing a vertical killer pass, has become one of the defining signatures of the Fabregas era.

A new beacon for Italian football in Europe

For followers of Italian football, Como's display felt like a breath of fresh air and naturally invited comparisons with the best years of Gian Piero Gasperini's Atalanta. It has been a long time since a Serie A side approached a European match with such unchecked aggression and attacking ambition. This Como team seems to embody a new phase for Calcio, one shaped by courage, technical excellence and a refusal to be overawed by established power. They are, quite literally, an advertisement for the development of the Italian game, offering a model for how smaller clubs can compete at the top through smart recruitment and a clearly defined footballing identity.

Although the league phase has only just started, the rest of Europe will undoubtedly be paying attention to what is happening at Stadio Sinigaglia. The club has moved from being an intriguing project to becoming a frighteningly real threat for any opponent. As they now turn towards domestic fixtures against Parma and Roma, Fabregas will no doubt want to keep his squad grounded, but supporters can hardly be blamed for allowing themselves to dream.