The curtain rises as Como 1907 makes its all-time debut in the UEFA Champions League at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium against Leipzig. The match will also mark Cesc Fàbregas's team's season debut in front of the BiancoBlù fans.
The Lariani, fresh off a 1-4 victory on the road against Genoa last Friday, will face Martin Demichelis's Leipzig, a team that sits in seventh place in the Bundesliga standings with three points after two matchdays. The Germans have plenty of experience in the competition, having played in the UEFA Champions League for seven consecutive seasons since 2019–20, including the one that kicks off tonight.
The match between Como and Leipzig promises to be an intriguing clash between two young teams known for their attacking style of play.
The words of Como 1907 head coach Cesc Fàbregas ahead of Como 1907-Leipzig:
"I understand the excitement across the whole city, within the club and among the fans, because this is a historic occasion. At the same time, we have to remember that, ultimately, it is still a football match, and that we want to be better than them. Leipzig are a great team, so we have to make the most of this moment to learn, rise to the occasion and try to win. I have a lot of confidence in the team.
"My biggest dream is for the team to play our way, with our own identity, style and philosophy, whoever the opponent may be. We have to show that, whether it's our first time or our hundredth, it doesn't matter. We have to step onto the pitch, compete and do everything possible to win."
Leipzig
Leipzig heads into the opening match of the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League after losing its last league game 3-1 on the road against Werder Bremen. The team, led by Martin Demichelis, who joined as head coach this summer after leaving Mallorca, is made up of a group of young and dynamic players.
Over the summer, key players joined the squad, including Christopher Nkunku, who returned to Leipzig after stints with Chelsea and Milan; forward Marc Guiu from Chelsea; Neil El Aynaoui from Roma; and Rocco Reitz and Maxime Esteve. These new arrivals join a core of highly talented players such as defender Castello Lukeba and attacking wingers Antonio Nusa and Johan Bakayoko, among others.
The Lariani will face a fast, proactive team that is very strong at exploiting open spaces: in defense, veterans of the caliber of Orban, Klostermann, Raum, and Henrichs are invaluable assets, while further up the field, Martin Demichelis gives plenty of room for creativity and allows the technical and athletic skills of his players to shine.
Previous encounters
Tonight's match will be the first-ever meeting between Como 1907 and Leipzig.
Squad
1 BUTEZ Jean
2 KEMPF Marc
3 VALLE Alex
4 RAMON Jacobo
5 PERRONE Maximo
6 MILLA Luis
7 DA CUNHA Lucas
9 DOUVIKAS Tasos
10 PAZ Nico
11 DIAO Assane
12 GINELLI Lorenzo
13 DOSSENA Alberto
16 KAIKI Bruno
17 RODRIGUEZ Jesus
20 BATURINA Martin
21 RICCI Samuele
27 COUTO Jan
28 SMOLCIC Ivan
30 LIBERALI Mattia
90 KEAN Moise
97 SANCHEZ Robert
99 CHALOBAH Trevoh
Match details
- Date: September 10th 2026
- Kick-off: 21:00
- Stadium: Giuseppe Sinigaglia
- Referee: Serdar Gözübüyük (Netherlands)
- Assistants: Patrick Inia (Netherlands) - Rogier Honig (Netherlands)
Where to watch
- Italy: Sky Sport
- Rest of the World: Check local listings.