Leipzig Faces Brutal Defeat Against Como

Leipzig’s leaders didn’t bother hiding behind excuses. Not after this.

Cesc Fabregas’s Como side, backed robustly since the Djarum Group takeover in 2019, ripped through them and exposed every flaw in a display that left the Bundesliga club’s senior voices sounding bruised and brutally honest.

Captain David Raum called it what it was: a thrashing.

“This feels really awful, we got a real thrashing today,” the 28-year-old left-back admitted, his assessment as sharp as any cross he might usually deliver. “The first half was terrible. The second [half was] maybe a touch better. Overall, it wasn't a good performance from us.”

Leipzig arrived with a clear tactical idea. On the pitch, it vanished.

“We have to learn from this. We need to get together as soon as possible, we actually had a clear plan,” Raum said. “But we weren't brave or clever enough with the ball again. We had the chances to play. But it wasn't sharp enough, there just wasn't enough of anything today.”

The tone from the back line didn’t soften when Willi Orban stepped up. If anything, it cut deeper.

The 33-year-old centre-back acknowledged that Como, making their Serie A bow under Fabregas, dictated everything that mattered with the ball.

“We had a reasonable game plan, but it quickly became clear that we couldn't get a grip on Como's game,” Orban admitted. “This game hurts a lot today. Como showed us what it means to be active with the ball, to make decisions on the ball, and to play good passes in the final third.”

That was the sting: Leipzig were shown, in real time, what a composed, confident side looks like in possession – and how far off that standard they were on the night.

“We need to learn that from our opponents today; credit to them,” Orban added. “Ultimately, our game plan didn't work out.”

The message from Leipzig’s dressing room was unmistakable: the gap to elite continental level is not theoretical. It just played out in 90 punishing minutes.