Leipzig suffer crushing defeat in Lombardy as Como run riot
| Photo: Claudio Villa/Getty Images. |
Martin Demichelis' maiden Champions League game in charge of RB Leipzig ended in an unsavoury 4-1 loss to FC Como 1907 tonight. The Lombardy club, on their first appearance in Europe's premier competition, making it a fairytale start to their league phase.
Despite chances at both ends, in which Maarten Vandevoordt produced a fine double save, Como claimed a 1-0 lead inside 15 minutes. A Tassos Douvikas cut back fell to Martin Baturina who kept his balance to find the net before Ridle Baku could intervene.
Antonio Nusa looked for an instant response for Demichelis side, only for Jean Butez to get his body behind the Norwegian's strike. It wasn't long before Como reasserted themselves, with Nico Paz and Baturina pulling the strings in attack as the Bundesliga side felt the pressure.
Como's Croatian talent swiftly turned provider six minutes out from the break, spotting Willi Orban sitting deep. His precise pass for Douvikas left the striker with the simple task of holding off Lukeba and converting to leave Cesc Fabregas' side in dreamland.
Things went from bad to worse for Leipzig, who despite some growing dominance to start the second half, fell 3-0 behind when Paz exposed Orban once again. Assane Diao hared past the Hungarian centre-half and unleashed a low shot that nestled inside the far post.
Providing some scant consolation, Andrija Maksimovic's sublime strike from the edge of the box was perhaps Leipzig's only bright moment. Ultimately, Como had the last laugh as Paz fed compatriot Perrone in injury time to wrap up their historic 4-1 triumph in style.
