RB Leipzig Kicks Off Champions League Campaign in Como

Bundesliga club RB Leipzig kicks off its return to the Champions League in Como, Italy. On September 10, the team led by Leipzig’s new coach, Martin Demichelis, will face AC Como—which features former Hertha player Marc Oliver Kempf—and on October 13, RB will play its first home game against PSV Eindhoven. This is according to the detailed schedule for the group stage released by UEFA.

Following the away match at Real Madrid on October 21, there will be a reunion on November 4 with former Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol, who will be visiting Leipzig with Manchester City. Twenty days later, French first-division club RC Lens, led by German coach Dino Toppmöller, will visit Leipzig. The year will then conclude on December 8 with an away match at Manchester United.

Group stage ends on January 27

The home game against Shakhtar Donetsk on January 20 and the away match at Feyenoord Rotterdam seven days later will wrap up the group stage. If Leipzig finishes the group stage as one of the top eight teams after eight games, the Round of 16 would begin on March 9.

If Leipzig has to go through the playoffs, the team would face matches as early as February 16 and 24. If the team finishes the group stage in 24th place or lower, the away match in Rotterdam would mark the end of the season in Europe’s premier club competition.