Champions League football is being played on a… Thursday? That’s right. Since there’s no Europa or Conference League games this week, the Champions League action is split across three days instead of the usual two. Many eyes will likely turn to Bayern Munich hosting last year’s darlings Bodø/Glimt, but the most intriguing fixture features a different Bundesliga team. RB Leipzig make the trip to one of the most picturesque stadiums in the world to face Champions League debutants Como.
Match Details
Who: Como vs. RB Leipzig
What: UEFA Champions League
Where: Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, Como, Italy
When: Thursday September 10, 3:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM PT
Watch: Paramount+, CBS Sports Network, ViX
Como Start Exciting New Chapter
The rise of Como 1907 has been quite remarkable. A perennial Serie B and Serie C club for the majority of their history, their fortunes changed in 2019 when Indonesian tobacco moguls bought them. At that point in time, Como had just won their group in Serie D. They were up to the first division within five years. Last season, in just their second campaign back in Serie A, Como finished fourth and earned Champions League football for the first time ever.
One of the key reasons for their success is Cesc FÃ bregas. A legendary midfielder in his playing career, Cesc transitioned seamlessly to the coaching side of the game. He took charge of Como permanently in the summer before their first season in Serie A. FÃ bregas guided them to safety comfortably, finishing 10th. They pushed on last year to beat out Italian giants AC Milan and Juventus to punch their ticket to the Champions League.
Como are an exciting forward-thinking club littered with young talent, but one name sticks out. Nico Paz has been their best player since joining from Real Madrid Castilla in the summer of 2024. His first season as a professional resulted in six goals and eight assists, but last year was his true breakout. Paz announced himself to the world with a stellar campaign, scoring 13 goals and providing seven assists. He was named to the Serie A Team of the Season and earned a spot on Argentina’s World Cup roster. Paz just scored his first goal of the new season last match against Genoa and will be at the heart of everything Como do against Leipzig.
Leipzig Looking For League Phase Qualification
Last time RB Leipzig were in the Champions League, things didn’t go according to plan. In the 2024/25 season, they crashed out in the league phase after losing seven of their eight matches. That included losses to the likes of Celtic and Sturm Graz. Due to finishing seventh in the Bundesliga that same season, Leipzig weren’t in any European competition last year. This time around they’re back in the Champions League and will be determined to give a better account of themselves.
Leipzig’s start to the new season has been up and down. Their first Bundesliga match was a 3-0 domination of Borussia Mönchengladbach. That result showed signs of a successful campaign ahead for Leipzig. However, they lost 3-1 to Werder Bremen over the weekend, a team that almost got relegated last season. This Champions League fixture against Como will be the biggest test they’ve faced yet.
The big news in Leipzig over the summer was the sale of star winger Yan Diomandé to Real Madrid. That transfer saga went back and forth, but in the end the 19 year old left for a fee of up to $162 million. It’s a big loss for Leipzig but other players are stepping up. Right back Ridle Baku has been the unsung hero, scoring in all three of Leipzig’s matches to start the season. Antonio Nusa is coming off a good World Cup with Norway and has two goals in three games from the left wing. It’ll be a team effort to replace Diomandé’s production, but so far Leipzig’s stars are doing the job.
The Hooligan Take
This should be an extremely entertaining match featuring two high quality sides from good leagues. It will be an end to end affair with both teams finding the net at least once. The fact that it’s Como’s first ever Champions League match will be a huge boost for the home side since their players and fans will really be up for it. Add in their great form to start the season and I see this ending in a dramatic Como victory.
Prediction: Como 3-2 RB Leipzig
Braden Hines is a writer and data analyst with a passion for U.S. Soccer. Runs American Ultras Talk on YouTube and X. Works for Carolina Ascent FC and Syracuse Men’s Soccer.
