Martín Demichelis is set for his UEFA Champions League debut as RB Leipzig manager when the German club visits Como in Italy for the competition opener. It is a notable night for both sides: Demichelis is beginning a new European campaign with RB Leipzig, while Como is making its first appearance in the Champions League.
How RB Leipzig has started under Demichelis
The match against Como will be Demichelis’s fourth game in charge of RB Leipzig. Before that trip, he has overseen three official matches, with two victories and one defeat. The early results include a 6-0 DFB Pokal win over Eintracht Trier, a 3-0 Bundesliga victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach, and a 3-1 loss to Werder Bremen.
That mixed start gives this opener a useful early test. RB Leipzig have already shown the ability to score freely in one match and control another, but they also have a defeat on the record before their European reset. For a new coach, that makes the first Champions League night a chance to settle the team into a clearer rhythm.
Why the Como trip matters
Como brings its own significance to the fixture as a debutant in the Champions League, and the matchup pairs two clubs that favor attacking football. That should make the game an open one, with RB Leipzig and Como both looking to establish themselves quickly in the competition.
For Demichelis, the timing is important. A Champions League opener is always a major assignment, but it also arrives at a moment when his team is still shaping its identity. The link between domestic form and European expectations will be obvious in Italy, where the first result of the campaign can set the tone for what follows.
The wider context also makes the night easy to follow for fans tracking Como's rise. Articles such as Udinese Vs Como 1907 Standings: Como's 2026/27 Serie A opener at Udinese sets the tone for a season with no room for drift and Liverpool Vs 1907 Friendly Match Time: Kick-off moved to 11.30am for Como clash underline how closely the club is being watched as its profile grows.
In simple terms, this is a debut night for Demichelis, a debut night for Como, and an early statement opportunity for RB Leipzig. The Champions League opener should tell us a little more about how quickly the new coach can make his mark.
