Feyenoord hosts Como in Champions League after contrasting openers

Feyenoord and Como 1907 met on 14 October at De Kuip Stadium in Rotterdam for the second matchday of the 2026–27 Champions League. Como arrived with a 4–1 win over RB Leipzig, while Feyenoord sought to recover from a 5–1 loss at Barcelona, with the match featuring tactical contrasts between Cesc Fàbregas's Italian side and Giovanni van Bronckhorst's Dutch team.

Quick Facts

UEFA Champions League match
Feyenoord hosted Como 1907
Como won opening fixture 4–1 against RB Leipzig
Feyenoord lost opening fixture 5–1 to Barcelona
Martin Baturina scored Como's first-ever Champions League goal

Feyenoord and Como 1907 faced off on 14 October at De Kuip Stadium in Rotterdam in the second round of the 2026–27 UEFA Champions League. The match pit two teams with sharply different opening performances: Como arrived with three points from a 4–1 victory over RB Leipzig in September, while Feyenoord sought recovery after a 5–1 defeat at Barcelona.

Managed by Cesc Fàbregas, Como deployed a 4–2–3–1 formation with goalkeeper Robert Sánchez, defenders Ivan Smolčić and Trevoh Chalobah at centre-back, left-back Álex Valle, and midfielder Máximo Perrone alongside Luis Milla in midfield. Martin Baturina, who scored Como's first-ever Champions League goal against Leipzig, returned to the starting lineup in the attacking midfield role, with Anastasios Douvikas as sole striker and Assane Diao on the wing. Nico Paz, signed from Real Madrid, was deployed in an advanced attacking position.

Feyenoord, under Giovanni van Bronckhorst, lined up in a 4–3–3 formation with Tjark Ernst in goal, a back four of Givairo Read, Jeremiah St. Juste, Mika Mármol, and Javi López, and a midfield three of Charles Vanhoutte, Gjivai Zechiël—an academy graduate who earned Eredivisie Player of the Month for August—and Oussama Targhalline. The front three comprised Luciano Valente, Nacho Ferri, and Anis Hadj Moussa, an Algerian winger named Eredivisie Player of the Month for May 2026.

The fixture represented a notable managerial comparison: both Fàbregas and Van Bronckhorst had played for Arsenal and Barcelona during their careers, though under different circumstances. Fàbregas had constructed Como's rapid rise from Serie B to European competition in roughly two years, while Van Bronckhorst was rebuilding Feyenoord following their domestic dominance in the Eredivisie, where they had recently achieved a 7–0 win over PEC Zwolle and a 5–0 victory over FC Utrecht.

Como entered the match unbeaten in the Champions League but had faltered in Serie A, drawing 0–0 with AS Roma and losing 0–2 to Frosinone in their prior fixtures. Key player Moise Kean was unavailable due to injury. Feyenoord, conversely, had demonstrated attacking verve in domestic play but faced the challenge of regaining confidence at European level following the Barcelona drubbing, in which only substitute Sem Steijn had scored.

The match kicked off at 18:45 CET (17:45 BST) and was broadcast on TNT Sports 4, HBO Max (UK and Ireland), Paramount+ (USA), and Vidio (Indonesia). Before the match, Como sat sixth in the Champions League standings with three points, while Feyenoord lay 33rd with none.

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#UEFA #soccer #De Kuip #Giovanni van Bronckhorst #Matchday 2 #Champions League #UEFA Champions League #Cesc Fàbregas #Como 1907 #football

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Why This Matters

Two contrasting European trajectories converge: Como has secured back-to-back wins (Leipzig 4–1, Champions League debut) while Feyenoord seeks to contain damage after a 5–1 Barcelona loss. Standings impact is direct—Como holds sixth place with three points; Feyenoord remains scoreless at 33rd. Managerial tactics (Como's 4–2–3–1 attack-minded setup vs. Feyenoord's 4–3–3 balance) and squad depth (Como missing injury-ruled Moise Kean; Feyenoord relying on emerging midfield talent) will determine whether Como extends its unbeaten continental record or Feyenoord halts its slide.

Timeline & Sources

Oct 12, 2026

Wire

Como drew 0–0 with Roma in Serie A

Oct 14, 2026

Wire

Feyenoord vs Como 1907 match kicked off at De Kuip Stadium

Oct 14, 2026

Wire

Feyenoord vs. Como 1907 Champions League Matchday 2 at De Kuip Stadium

Oct 21, 2026

Wire

Feyenoord scheduled to play Betis

Oct 21, 2026

Wire

Como scheduled to play Manchester United

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