Como opened their UEFA Champions League campaign in style, beating RB Leipzig 4-1 at Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia. The scoreline matched the flow of chances and duels, not just a hot finishing streak. With possession split 50-50, the Italian side simply created and converted better moments. The home crowd saw goals from Martin Baturina, Anastasios Douvikas, Assane Diao and a late Máximo Perrone strike. Leipzig’s reply came from Andrija Maksimović, but it never tilted the tide.

Como were compact without the ball and quick to spring forward. Sofascore’s numbers paint the picture clearly: xG finished 2.30-1.42, big chances 7-2 and shots on target 6-4. Win the key moments, win the match.

Como set the tone with chance quality and duels

– The match was balanced on the ball but not in the penalty areas. Como took 10 of their 14 shots inside the box, a higher share than Leipzig’s 8 of 14. That fed into a 6-4 edge in shots on target and a 3-0 advantage in big chances scored. When they attacked, they went straight into dangerous zones rather than long phases of harmless circulation.
– The hosts also won the fight. They came out on top in 59 percent of all duels, as well as 59 percent on the ground and 59 percent in the air. Dribbles were efficient too, with Como completing 14 of 21 attempts compared to Leipzig’s 9 of 21. Tackles told a similar story, 19-13 to the home side, helping Cesc Fàbregas’ team keep their box reasonably tidy despite Leipzig’s late volume.
– Passing volume was near even, but accuracy and directness helped. Como completed 465 of 515 passes and connected on 17 of 36 long balls. Cross selection was measured, hitting 2 of 6. It looked pragmatic rather than speculative, which mattered on a night when Leipzig slung in 17 crosses for a 3 of 17 success rate.

Key moments that decided it

– Como’s breakthrough came on 15 minutes. Martin Baturina took up a central pocket and picked his spot with a right-foot shot for 1-0. The hosts stayed patient, then struck again in minute 38 when Baturina slid a ball into Douvikas, who finished low for 2-0.
– Early in the second half, the pattern repeated. Nico Paz threaded a neat pass to Assane Diao, who hit a low finish for 3-0 on 54 minutes. Leipzig responded four minutes later as Christopher Nkunku teed up Andrija Maksimović, who curled into the far side for 3-1.
– From there, Leipzig pushed with more possession and more shots, but Como kept the more dangerous looks. The late insurance came on 90 minutes. Paz again provided the assist and substitute Máximo Perrone thumped home left-footed for 4-1.
– Goalkeeping also nudged the margin. Jean Butez made three saves and posted 0.50 goals prevented. At the other end, Maarten Vandevoordt’s line read two saves and -1.71 goals prevented. One notable error each led to a goal on both sides, but Como’s finishing and stability in front of their keeper won the day.

MVP spotlight: Martin Baturina runs the show

– Baturina’s influence matched his scoreboard impact. He registered a Sofascore Rating 9.2, the match high, with one goal and one assist in 66 minutes. He completed 25 of 29 passes, created three key passes and fashioned two big chances. His expected assists were 0.49 and his expected goals 0.26, reflecting both the quality of the chance he created and the threat of his own finish.
– The Croat mixed guile with timing. He made two successful long balls, progressed the ball into the attacking half consistently and drew two fouls in useful zones. Defensively he chipped in with a tackle and a recovery, helping Como control the middle before making way at 66 minutes to a deserved ovation.
– Others shone around him. Nico Paz quietly stacked value with two assists and five tackles for a strong supporting shift. Assane Diao’s pace and timing brought a goal and constant outlet play on the break. Those contributions mattered, but Baturina’s early strike and creative weight set the platform that Leipzig never quite dislodged.

Leipzig’s response and what held them back

– Martín Demichelis’ side owned more of the second half, 57 percent possession with a 9-7 edge in shots and 37-18 in final-third entries. Yet they converted that territory into just one shot on target after the break. Como still posted the higher second-half xG at 1.33-0.61, underlining how the hosts’ attacks were sharper even while defending deeper.
– There were bright spots. Maksimović was Leipzig’s best performer on Sofascore with a 7.8, scoring and finding useful pockets. Nkunku produced the assist for the goal and three key passes before being withdrawn on 60 minutes as fresh legs arrived. Antonio Nusa also carried the ball well, logging four shots and two key passes.
– The issues came in execution and protection. Leipzig attempted 17 crosses and landed just three. On the flanks, high involvement brought risk: David Raum and Ridle Baku combined for 15 crosses but also conceded turnovers and a costly error each in defensive actions. With Como winning more duels across the park, second balls mostly went the other way.

Numbers that shaped 4-1

– The story was less about total shots and more about shot quality. Como’s xG and xGOT leads, plus 3-0 in big chances scored, explain the margin. Their five offsides show a front line happy to push the last shoulder and threaten depth.
– Como were also efficient at ending danger. They made 18 clearances and 38 recoveries to Leipzig’s 34, and they won 14 of 19 tackles. That allowed them to weather Leipzig’s stronger second half without conceding control in the box.
– Passing phases were evenly matched. Como’s 465 accurate passes edged Leipzig’s 443. The hosts were stronger on long diagonals at 17 of 36, and Leipzig’s long passing hit 10 of 30. Those switches helped Como find isolated matchups, which is where Diao and Paz did their best work.
– In goal, Butez’s two big saves were timely, while Vandevoordt’s tough night compounded Leipzig’s issues with chance prevention. Referee Serdar Gozubuyuk showed five yellows, and while Leipzig committed fewer fouls in the second half, the home team had already banked the lead and the higher value shots.
– Formations told you why transitions mattered. Como’s 4-2-3-1 sprung Baturina and Paz between Leipzig’s midfield and defense, while the visitors’ 4-4-2 asked a lot of the wide men in both directions. On a night decided by duels and choices in the final third, Como simply made better ones.

This was a statement start for Como against top European opposition. The performance combined control in key phases with a clinical edge in front of goal. On Sofascore, that translated into superior team metrics and standout individual scores. If this is the level they can sustain, nights like this will not feel like a surprise for long.

Player of the Match

By Sofascore Rating, the best player was Martin Baturina with a 9.2. Fans also backed him, giving Baturina 4117 of 5532 total votes. Both the rating and the crowd picked the same player.