Como host German side RB Leipzig on Thursday, September 10, in their historic first UEFA Champions League fixture at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia.
The Italian team qualified for Europe's premier club competition for the first time in their history after securing a fourth-place finish in Serie A last season.
The match marks an unprecedented milestone for Como. Beyond making their debut in the Champions League, the club are competing in a UEFA-organized tournament for the very first time. Broadcast coverage for the match includes streaming on HBO Max alongside real-time updates provided by CNN Esportes, with kick-off scheduled for 16:00 Brasília time.
Como are based in the northern Italian region of Lombardy and play their home games at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, situated along the shores of Lake Como. The club returned to Serie A in recent years following a prolonged period outside the top flight, completing a remarkable ascent through the Italian football pyramid to earn their place among Europe's elite.
Leipzig return under new management
RB Leipzig arrive in Italy with significantly more European experience, entering the main European tournament for the eighth time since their group-stage debut in 2017. However, the German side are looking to move past a difficult recent record in the competition.
During the 2024/25 Champions League edition, Leipzig endured a disappointing campaign, finishing in 32nd place during the league phase after recording seven losses and managing only a single victory.
The German club missed out on Champions League football entirely during the 2025/26 season. Although Leipzig finished third in the Bundesliga that year, the domestic campaign was not enough to retain manager Ole Werner in his role at the club.
Ahead of the 2026/27 season, Leipzig appointed former Argentina international defender Martin Demichelis as their new head coach. Demichelis, who previously managed River Plate after a playing career with Bayern Munich and Manchester City, takes charge of the side as they aim to re-establish themselves on the European stage.
Opening round of the expanded league phase
The clash in Como represents the opening round of the Champions League league phase for both teams in the 2026/27 edition. UEFA introduced the single-league format to replace traditional four-team groups, with each team competing against eight different opponents to determine progression to the knockout rounds.
While Como seek to celebrate their historic European debut with a positive result on home soil, Leipzig aim to kick off their return to Europe's top tier with three points under Demichelis.
