Como's dream debut and Bayern's cruise set tone for Champions League

Under the floodlights of Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, Como celebrated a fairy‑tale Champions League debut as they dismantled RB Leipzig 4‑1, while Bayern Munich cruised past Bodo/Glimt with a 5‑0 win and Manchester United dispatched Sabah 4‑0 at Old Trafford on Thursday.

Como's historic debut

The Italian side's first‑ever qualification to Europe’s elite competition forced a rapid upgrade of the lakeside Stadio Sinigaglia to meet UEFA standards. Failure to comply would have seen Como host matches 200 km away at Sassuolo, but Cesc Fabregas’s side avoided that fate. Martin Baturina opened the scoring in the 15th minute, Taso Douvikas doubled the 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.

Bayern's opening triumph

Six‑time winners Bayern Munich began their group campaign with a dominant 5‑0 victory over Norway’s Bodo/Glimt. Jamal Musiala struck the opener two minutes after the break, Harry Kane headed the second on the hour – his 34th goal in 39 Champions League appearances – and Alphonso Davies added a powerful half‑volley before Michael Olise completed the scoring with a late brace.

Manchester United and other newcomers

Manchester United returned to the Champions League after a two‑season absence and proved too strong for Azerbaijan champions Sabah, who lost 4‑0 at Old Trafford. Matheus Cunha opened the scoring in the 27th minute, Bruno Fernandes and Benjamin Sesko added two before halftime and Lisandro Martinez completed the rout. Sabah, a club that did not exist a decade ago, earned their place by winning the domestic title and defeating Israel’s Hapoel Beer‑Sheva in the qualifiers.

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Como’s dazzling start and Bayern’s effortless win underline the widening gap between established powerhouses and newcomers, while United’s resurgence hints at a competitive group stage that could reshape the European hierarchy this season.