Como made a memorable Champions League debut by beating RB Leipzig 4-1 in their opening league-phase match at Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia.

Martin Baturina and Tasos Douvikas put the Italian side two goals ahead before half-time, while Assane Diao and Maximo Perrone added further goals after the break to complete a historic night for the club on the shores of Lake Como.

After waiting 119 years to play their first European match, Como needed only 15 minutes to make their mark. Baturina opened the scoring in front of around 11,000 supporters.

Como’s Champions League debut against Leipzig

Douvikas drove into the penalty area before cutting the ball back, but Leipzig defender Ridle Baku could not clear. Baturina recovered after slipping inside the box and found the net to score Como’s first-ever goal in European competition.

The roles were reversed in the 38th minute. Baturina sent Douvikas through on goal, and the forward calmly finished past Maarten Vandevoordt to give Como a 2-0 lead.

Cesc Fabregas’ team continued to control the match after the interval. Senegal winger Diao finished from a tight angle across Vandevoordt, while captain Lucas da Cunha missed an excellent opportunity to add another.

Leipzig eventually pulled one back through Andrija Maksimovic, whose first-time effort from the edge of the box reduced the deficit. Perrone then restored Como’s three-goal advantage in the 90th minute to complete the 4-1 victory.

Como’s rapid rise to European football

The Champions League appearance capped a remarkable rise for Como, who have secured European football after a difficult period in their history. The Lombardy-based club went bankrupt twice during the past two decades.

Como ended a 21-year wait to return to Serie A in 2024, achieving promotion after three promotions in six seasons.

Under former Arsenal, Chelsea, and Barcelona midfielder Fabregas, the club finished fourth in Italy last season. That result secured their place in this season’s Champions League.

Como prepare for their next European fixture

The historic European debut was played in front of a sold-out crowd. Before the match, club president Mirwan Suwarso and several directors announced plans to give away their seats so elderly supporters could attend.

Como will play their next European fixture away from home, travelling to Feyenoord on 14 October.

RB Leipzig’s next European match will come a day earlier, when the Bundesliga club hosts PSV Eindhoven.

Martin Odegaard’s impressive start to the season continued as the Arsenal captain produced the decisive moment to secure victory over Napoli in Naples.

The Gunners had been wasteful in front of goal and appeared destined for a frustrating draw in their first Champions League match since their agonising defeat in last season’s final.

But Odegaard finally broke the deadlock with an excellent finish from outside the box, sending Arsenal’s 1,500 travelling supporters into celebration. It was his fourth goal in five games, including the Community Shield.

Martin Odegaard gives Arsenal a crucial win

Piero Hincapie dropped to his knees and punched the ground in relief after the final whistle as Arsenal secured an important victory in Italy.

Mikel Arteta’s side had already missed three excellent opportunities to punish last season’s Serie A runners-up before Odegaard found the breakthrough.

Mikel Merino had the first major chance when he was presented with an opportunity to mark his first club start since January. However, the Spain midfielder headed directly at Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret midway through the opening half.

Bukayo Saka then appeared set to open the scoring but lifted his effort over the crossbar before Hincapie also missed from close range when he fired over from inside the six-yard box.

Arsenal dominates Napoli with 26 attempts

Despite their missed opportunities, Arsenal eventually found the goal they needed. There were 29 passes in the build-up to Odegaard’s winner, making it their second-most passes for a Champions League goal since records began in 2003-04.

Only Lucas Perez’s second goal against Basel in December 2016 involved more passes, with 33 in the build-up.

Arsenal also recorded 26 attempts during the match, their highest total in a single Champions League game since the beginning of last season.

The victory means Arteta’s side have made a winning start to this Champions League campaign after winning all eight group-stage matches on their way to last season’s final.

Arsenal survive scares to beat Napoli

The Gunners were not completely untroubled, with the hosts creating a couple of worrying moments. One of the most notable came when David Raya spilled a shot from outside the box by Kevin de Bruyne, the Manchester City midfielder who won the Champions League in 2023.

Ben White reacted quickest to the danger and cleared the loose ball before Napoli could take advantage.

Arsenal ultimately held on to claim a fine victory in Italy, with Odegaard’s decisive strike making the difference after Arteta’s side had struggled to convert several earlier chances.