Como scores first Champions League goal, Baturina nets historic strike

A club that was playing in Serie B just a few seasons ago now has a Champions League goal to its name. Martin Baturina found the net in the 15th minute against RB Leipzig on September 10, 2026, scoring Como 1907’s first-ever goal in the competition and capping one of the most improbable rise stories in recent European football.

From Serie B to the Champions League stage

Como’s path to this moment runs through a remarkable 2025-26 Serie A campaign. The club finished fourth in Italy’s top flight, good enough to punch their ticket to the Champions League for the first time in their 117-year history.

Baturina was central to that project. After arriving from Dinamo Zagreb on June 17, 2025, on a five-year contract for a fee reported at around €25 million plus bonuses, he contributed six goals and three assists across 29 Serie A appearances during the qualifying campaign.

A player built for big moments

The Champions League wasn’t entirely new territory for Baturina personally. He first tasted the competition back in 2022 with Dinamo Zagreb, getting a taste of elite European football before most players his age had figured out their best position.

For a player who cost €25 million just over a year ago, his current trajectory has predictably attracted attention from clubs with significantly deeper pockets. Como reportedly values Baturina at €80 million, with interest surfacing from Premier League clubs and Bayern Munich.

The Fabregas factor

It would be easy to focus entirely on Baturina, but Como’s Champions League appearance is as much a story about Cesc Fabregas and the project he’s constructing in northern Italy. Beyond their fourth-place league finish, Como also reached the semifinals of the Coppa Italia during the 2025-26 season, further underlining the scope of what Fabregas has built.

Baturina’s five-year contract suggests Como are building for the medium term, not just enjoying a moment. The willingness to set an €80 million asking price rather than cash in immediately reinforces that message.

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