Como made an impressive Champions League debut by defeating visitors RB Leipzig 4-1 in their opening league-phase outing at Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia.

Goals from Martin Baturina and Tasos Douvikas in the first half gave the debutants a 2-0 lead before Assane Diao and Maximo Perrone added to the scoreline after the break on a historic night for the Italian club on the shores of Lake Como.

Como have had to wait 119 years to play their first game in Europe, but they only needed 15 minutes to make a mark on the occasion as Baturina pulled them ahead in front of their 11,000-strong support.

Douvikas drove into the box and cut the ball back but Leipzig defender Ridle Baku failed to clear and the Croatia attacking midfielder recovered from a slip inside the box to score the Serie A side's first-ever goal on the continental stage.

The roles were reversed in the 38th minute when Baturina played Douvikas on goal and the forward slotted past Maarten Vandevoordt to double Como's advantage.

Cesc Fabregas' side continued their ascendancy in the second half as Senegal winger Diao finished across goalkeeper Vandevoordt from a tight angle before their captain Lucas da Cunha spurned a gilt-edged chance to score a fourth.

Andrija Maksimovic's first-time effort from the edge of the box reduced the deficit for the Bundesliga club but Perrone's fourth for the hosts in the 90th minute capped off a fantastic night for Como.

Since being bought by Indonesia's Djarum Group in 2019, Como have enjoyed a rapid and remarkable rise in Italian football to secure European football.

The Lombardy-based outfit have twice gone bankrupt in the past two decades and ended a 21-year wait to reach Serie A in 2024 after three promotions in six seasons.

"Their new owners have invested a lot of money but without taking away the spirit the club have had for many, many years," European football journalist Julien Laurens told BBC Match of the Day.

Como finished fourth in Italy last season under former Arsenal, Chelsea and Barcelona midfielder Fabregas to book their place in this season's Champions League.

The 2010 World Cup winner made his coaching debut with Como in Serie B in 2024 and has seen his managerial stock rise along with the club's fortunes.

The Spaniard was reportedly one of the names on his former club Chelsea's shortlist to replace Liam Rosenior in the summer but has stayed on to oversee a third season with the club.

"Fabregas arrived as a young coach and helped them qualify with a young squad last year," Laurens said.

"He has taken a lot of these players to the next level and has created an incredible atmosphere. He is demanding and hard working. They are a big family - Italian clubs are very much like that. They have that connection with the fans.

"And Fabregas is very much at the heart of everything. And if he leaves one day, it will be incredibly difficult to replace him."

After tickets for their European debut were sold out, club's president Mirwan Suwarso and several directors had announced their plan to give away their seats to allow elderly supporters to attend.

In the next European fixture, Como will travel to Feyenoord on 14 October while Leipzig host PSV Eindhoven the previous day.

Watch highlights of every Champions League game from 22:00 on Wednesday on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

There will also be a Champions League Match of the Day on BBC One on Wednesday, from 22:40 to 00:00.