Senegal forward Assane Diao will be among the players to watch when Como 1907 make their historic UEFA Champions League debut against RB Leipzig on Thursday.
Diao has made an impressive start to the season with the Italian side, scoring twice and providing an assist in three Serie A appearances.
The Senegalese forward will now have the opportunity to test himself on Europe’s biggest club stage when Como host experienced German side RB Leipzig at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia at 19:00 GMT.
The match will mark the first time in Como’s history that the club has played in the Champions League.
Led by former Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fàbregas, Como head into their first league-phase fixture with confidence after making an encouraging start in Serie A.
The Italian side have impressed with their attacking football and defensive solidity, setting up an intriguing contest against a Leipzig team with considerably more experience of European competition.
For Diao, the fixture represents an early opportunity to take his form in Italy onto the continental stage.
The Senegal international has scored two goals and created another in his three Serie A matches this season, giving him an important role in Como’s attacking approach.
Como will hope their attacking qualities can help them make an immediate impression in their first Champions League campaign.
Their opponents, however, are familiar with the demands of the competition.
Leipzig are appearing in the Champions League for the eighth time and will bring considerable European experience to Como.
The German club are expected to rely on their trademark intensity and pressing as they look to control the match and secure an important result in their opening league-phase fixture.
Leipzig have had some recent difficulties in domestic competition and will also be without several key players, including Christoph Baumgartner.
Despite those setbacks, the German side still possess significant attacking quality, with Christopher Nkunku and Willi Orban among the players expected to play important roles.
The meeting in northern Italy is expected to provide an interesting tactical contest between two contrasting styles.
