Champions League Disappointment
RB Leipzig’s UEFA Champions League campaign began with a significant setback, as they fell to a 4-1 defeat against debutants Como. The match, played at Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, saw the Italian side dominate, with Martin Baturina scoring Como’s first-ever Champions League goal in the 14th minute [1]. Despite a goal from Andrija Maksimović for RB Leipzig, the German club was largely outplayed [2]. Maksimović’s goal was the team’s only reply as Como’s Diao, celebrating his 21st birthday, also found the net on his Champions League debut [3]. The result has put early pressure on RB Leipzig, with Sport Managing Director Marcel Schäfer releasing a statement regarding the club’s situation, hinting at ongoing internal discussions [4]. This heavy loss marks a challenging start to what was anticipated to be a competitive European season for Leipzig.
Squad Status and Line-up Insights
For the Champions League clash against Como, RB Leipzig’s starting eleven featured players such as Antonio Nusa, Castello Lukeba, and Christopher Nkunku [2]. Maarten Vandevoordt was in goal and conceded four times [1]. The team also saw the return of Brajan Gruda to the squad after an injury layoff, providing a boost in options [5]. However, several players were unavailable for the match due to injury, including Christoph Baumgartner, Rocco Reitz, Leopold Zingerle, Abdoul Koné, and Viggo Gebel [5]. Despite these absences, Como coach Cesc Fàbregas acknowledged Leipzig as a well-organized and strong opponent with very strong players across the pitch, including on the flanks and in central defense, prior to the match [6]. The depth of the squad will be tested as Leipzig navigates both domestic and European competitions.
What it means
RB Leipzig currently sits 9th in the Bundesliga table with 3 points from two matches, having secured one win and suffered one loss. Their goal difference stands at 4 goals scored and 3 conceded. Recent form shows a mixed bag of results, with a 3-0 home win against Borussia Mönchengladbach followed by a 3-1 away loss to SV Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga, and then the significant 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como. This sequence of results indicates an inconsistent start to the season for the club. The upcoming fixture sees RB Leipzig host Hamburg in the Bundesliga on September 13th. This home game presents an immediate opportunity for the team to bounce back from their European disappointment and improve their standing in the domestic league. A strong performance and a win will be crucial to alleviate the early season pressure and regain momentum before the site’s forecast for the match locks 24 hours before kick-off.
Sources
- Football Italia: Video: Baturina scores Como’s first ever goal in the Champions League football-italia.net ↩
- Bundesliga.com: RB Leipzig well beaten by UEFA Champions League debutants Como bundesliga.com ↩
- Football Italia: Diao: ‘A childhood dream come true’ to score on Champions League debut football-italia.net ↩
- Kicker: Unruhe bei RB Leipzig: Schäfer gibt Statement ab kicker.de ↩
- Football Italia: UCL | Como 4-1 RB Leipzig: Perfect Champions League debut football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Como coach Fabregas: ‘Leipzig clash an important match for our history’ football-italia.net ↩