Como are preparing for their first-ever Champions League fixture, and the line-up says they are taking it seriously. The match kicks off at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia in Como at 20.00 UK time, 21.00 CEST, with Nico Paz, Martin Baturina and Anastasios Douvikas all starting. Trevoh Chalobah and Yan Couto are in the XI too.
Como's attacking selection
Cesc Fabregas has not gone cautious for the club's biggest European night. Football Italia reported that Como start Nico Paz, Martin Baturina and Anastasios Douvikas, with Chalobah and Couto in defence for the historic debut against RB Leipzig. Moise Kean must therefore wait for his first start after the deadline day transfer from Fiorentina.
The attacking choices fit what Como have shown in Serie A. Paz has a 7.27 rating this season, while Baturina's is 7.34. Douvikas has made 3 Serie A appearances and scored 2 goals, which gives Como a centre-forward option with a bit of edge rather than a placeholder for the occasion.
Leipzig arrive with work to do
Leipzig come to Lombardy after a disappointing 3-1 Bundesliga defeat against Werder Bremen last weekend. Football Italia also reported that they are missing Christoph Baumgartner, Viggo Gebel, Rocco Reitz, Abdoul Koné and Leopold Zingerle, while Brajan Gruda, Castello Lukeba and Romulo are back in the squad after injury.
The trip still looks far from straightforward for Como, but the balance of the selection is the point here. They finished the 2025 Serie A season with 71 points and 4th place, and they arrive after convincing league wins over Napoli and Genoa. That is a credible domestic base to bring into Europe, and Fabregas has backed it with a line-up that asks questions from the start.
The first Champions League night in Como is scheduled for 20.00 UK time, and the home side have named a front line built around Paz, Baturina and Douvikas rather than a line-up designed to watch Leipzig control the game.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
