Como won, Roma drew, whilst Inter and Napoli lost. From Fàbregas’s entanglement to Allegri’s reverse ‘cortomusismo’

The team managed by Cesc Fàbregas beat Leipzig 4–1. Admittedly, the German side is a team under reconstruction and still a long way from finding its balance, but Laghée’s side were making their absolute debut on the big European stage and played without any first-time nerves.

The Gunners are in Naples for their first Champions League away fixture. However, the comparison between the two clubs appears unfavourable for the Azzurri, particularly in terms of facilities rather than results.

Before the advent of the ‘Greater Europe’, Como faced Mitteleuropa in the Mitropa Cup 46 years ago, a tournament that was once highly prestigious before it was downgraded to a minor cup competition and eventually disappeared altogether

The manager at the helm of the Turkish side (Roma’s opponents) seems to have stepped straight out of a coming-of-age novel. A life spanning from the Bosphorus to the touchline, marked by illustrious friendships, missed league titles and a destiny that has always hung in the balance

The final matches of the qualifying rounds for the European cups are taking place. A journey through teams with a glorious past but a somewhat complicated present, and complete unknowns ready to enjoy European football