Como enjoy dream Champions League debut, big wins for Man Utd and Bayern Munich

Como enjoyed a dream Champions League debut as the humble Italian club trounced RB Leipzig 4-1 at home but fellow new boys Sabah were crushed 4-0 at Manchester United on Thursday. Six-time winners Bayern Munich opened their group phase campaign with a 5-0 thrashing of Norway’s Bodo/Glimt while Fenerbahce made their long-awaited return to the competition with a 1-1 draw at home with AS Roma. Como’s first-ever qualification to Europe’s elite club competition meant a race against time to get their lakeside Stadio Sinigaglia home upgraded to meet UEFA guidelines. Failure to do so would have meant playing their home games 200km away at the home of Sassuolo, but Cesc Fabregas’s side were spared that and celebrated in style. Marti Baturina got the party started with a 15th-minute opener before Taso Douvikas doubled their lead.

Assane Diao made it 3-0 early in the second half before Andrija Maksimovic pulled one back for the visitors, but Maximo Perrone wrapped it up in stoppage time. “It was a great night for the team and for the city,” man-of-the-match Baturina said. “Of course, it’s a beautiful feeling, I’m really proud of myself and the whole team and we need to continue like this because this is only the beginning. ” Azerbaijan champions Sabah did not even exist a decade ago, but after winning the domestic title they moved into the qualifying rounds and beat Israel’s Hapoel Beer-Sheva to proudly take their place in the group stage alongside Europe’s big guns. A visit to Old Trafford for United’s return to the Champions League after a two-season absence proved a step too far though as they were rolled over by Michael Carrick’s side. Matheus Cunha began the rout in the 27th minute before Bruno Fernandes and Benjamin Sesko struck shortly before halftime. Lisandro Martinez…