Como are set to make their historic Champions League debut on Thursday, hosting German side RB Leipzig. The Italian club will be looking to continue their strong start to the season, while RB Leipzig aim to bounce back from a recent domestic defeat.
Leipzig Seek Response After League Loss
RB Leipzig travel to Como following a disappointing 3-1 loss to Werder Bremen in their last match. This result marked their first defeat under new coach Martin Demichelis, coming after an impressive start to the season that included a 6-0 DFB-Pokal victory over Eintracht Trier and a 3-0 win against Borussia Mönchengladbach in their Bundesliga opener.
The club’s managing director for sport, Marcel Schäfer, described the defeat as a “real wake-up call” ahead of their Champions League campaign. Leipzig will be keen to learn from this performance and deliver a strong response in their European opener.
Como’s European Debut
For Como, this match represents their first-ever appearance in European football. They secured their spot in the Champions League by finishing fourth in Serie A last season, a significant achievement for the club managed by Cesc Fabregas.
Como have carried their positive momentum into the new campaign, currently sitting third in Serie A with seven points. Their most recent league outing saw them secure a comfortable 4-1 away win over Genoa, demonstrating their attacking prowess and solid form.
Team News and Absentees
RB Leipzig are contending with several injury concerns ahead of the fixture. Midfielders Christoph Baumgartner and new signing Rocco Reitz have both been ruled out. Additionally, Romulo and Assan Ouedraogo, who have yet to feature this season due due to injuries, remain doubts for the match. Defenders Castello Lukeba and Brajan Gruda also missed the Werder Bremen game and are in a race against time to be fit for the Champions League opener.
Como, in contrast, have a relatively clearer injury list, with only one confirmed absentee. Jayden Addai has been sidelined since February due to an Achilles tendon rupture and will not be available for the historic encounter.