Como enjoyed a dream Champions League debut with a 4-1 win over RB Leipzig on Thursday. Manchester United and Bayern Munich also recorded big wins in their opening matches.
Como make history
Como made their Champions League debut after a race against time to upgrade the Stadio Sinigaglia to meet UEFA requirements.
The Italian club marked the occasion with a convincing win over Leipzig.
Marti Baturina opened the scoring in the 15th minute. Taso Douvikas then doubled Como’s lead.
Assane Diao made it 3-0 early in the second half. Andrija Maksimovic pulled one back for Leipzig before Maximo Perrone sealed the win in stoppage time.
“It was a great night for the team and for the city,” man-of-the-match Baturina said. “Of course, it’s a beautiful feeling, I’m really proud of myself and the whole team, and we need to continue like this because this is only the beginning.”
Man Utd cruise past Sabah
Manchester United marked their return to the Champions League with a 4-0 win over Sabah at Old Trafford.
The Premier League club had been absent from the competition for two seasons.
Matheus Cunha opened the scoring in the 27th minute. Bruno Fernandes and Benjamin Sesko then struck before half-time.
Lisandro Martinez added United’s fourth goal after the break.
The result gave Michael Carrick’s side a strong boost ahead of Sunday’s Manchester derby.
“It’s nice to have a clean sheet,” Carrick said. “I thought some of our attacking players were fantastic; some of the football we played was really good: dangerous on transition, and we defended for the most part really well.”
Sabah still made Champions League history. They became the first club to start a match with 11 players from 11 different nationalities.
Bayern continue winning run.
Six-time champions Bayern Munich also started their campaign in style. They beat Norway’s Bodo/Glimt 5-0.
Bayern struggled to break through before half-time. Jamal Musiala finally opened the scoring two minutes after the restart.
Harry Kane headed in the second on the hour. Alphonso Davies then made it 3-0 with a powerful half-volley.
Michael Olise completed the scoring with two late goals.
Bayern have now won their opening match in each of their last 23 Champions League campaigns.
Elsewhere, Fenerbahce drew 1-1 with Roma on their return to the competition after 18 years.
Roma took the lead through Bryan Cristante in the 39th minute. Archie Brown equalised three minutes after half-time.
PSV Eindhoven also drew 1-1 with Shakhtar Donetsk. Lens, meanwhile, beat 10-man Slavia Prague 3-2 after scoring twice in stoppage time.
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