Como Makes Historic Champions League Debut with 4-1 Win Over RB Leipzig
AM730 · 3 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Italian Serie A club Como marked their historic Champions League debut with an emphatic 4-1 victory over RB Leipzig at their 12,000-capacity Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia on Thursday. The club, founded in 1907, earned their first-ever European competition spot after finishing fourth in Serie A last season under former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas. Club owner Mirwan Suwarso and several executives announced they would surrender their tickets to elderly supporters born in 1950 or earlier, ensuring long-time fans could witness the historic occasion. Fabregas, who guided Como back to Serie A in 2024 after a 21-year absence, praised the victory but emphasized that domestic league performance remains the top priority.
Key Points
- Como secured a 4-1 victory over RB Leipzig in their Champions League debut, with Badolona scoring in the 15th minute and Duvikas adding goals in the 38th and 54th minutes
- Peroni completed the scoring in the 90th minute while Masmovic scored Leipzig's consolation goal in the 58th minute
- Club owner Mirwan Suwarso and executives gave up their seats, prioritizing elderly fans born in 1950 or earlier who supported the team through multiple divisions
- Stadium capacity was reduced from 12,000 to approximately 11,000 due to UEFA regulations, making tickets extremely limited for this historic match
- Fabregas warned his squad that the "excitement will only last five minutes" before they must refocus on Monday's Serie A match against Parma
- Como's Champions League group stage opponents include Feyenoord, Manchester United, Lens, Real Betis, Paris Saint-Germain, and Barcelona
Why It Matters
This victory signals the remarkable rise of a club that endured two bankruptcies in the past two decades and spent 21 years outside Italy's top flight before their 2024 promotion under Fabregas . For Hong Kong football fans, Como's story demonstrates how strategic management and patience can transform a club's fortunes, offering lessons for developing football cultures in smaller markets. The club's gesture of prioritizing elderly supporters over executives also sets a heartening example of fan engagement at a time when European football faces criticism for rising ticket prices and commercialization.
This victory signals the remarkable rise of a club that endured two bankruptcies in the past two decades and spent 21 years outside Italy's top flight before their 2024 promotion under Fabregas . For Hong Kong football fans, Como's story demonstrates how strategic management and patience can transform a club's fortunes, offering lessons for developing football cultures in smaller markets. The club's gesture of prioritizing elderly supporters over executives also sets a heartening example of fan engagement at a time when European football faces criticism for rising ticket prices and commercialization.