Nico Paz brace stuns Manchester United in Como rout

A Nico Paz brace and an assist powered Como to a 4-1 Champions League win over Manchester United on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, at Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia. The victory took the Italian side, coached by Cesc Fàbregas, to six points in the league phase, while United remained on three and the pressure on head coach Michael Carrick grew.

Paz opened the scoring in the opening minutes, curling a finish past Senne Lammens from the edge of the penalty area. The former Real Madrid player found space between the lines and bent the ball beyond the goalkeeper, setting the tone for the rest of the half, in which United struggled to cope with Como's pressing. SportPesa's match report noted the early strike forced United to chase the game from the outset. The hosts carried their lead into the interval with the visitors offering little in attack.

The lead doubled soon after the restart, when Paz threaded a pass through for Anastasios Douvikas to lift the ball over Lammens. The Argentina international then struck again in the 57th minute, dispossessing half-time substitute Carlos Baleba near the halfway line, driving into the area and beating the onrushing Lammens to complete his double.

Jacobo Ramón made it 4-0 in the 76th minute, heading in from close range after substitute Kaiki, released by Alex Valle down the left, floated in the cross for a free header. Joshua Zirkzee pulled a goal back in stoppage time, hooking down Amad Diallo's ball over the top and firing in on the bounce, after a VAR check allowed the goal to stand.

How Como dominated

The numbers showed where the game was won. Como held 55 per cent of possession and placed eight of eleven shots on target, while United managed four of thirteen. United recorded more attempts overall, but the figures help explain a result that was more decisive than the shot count suggested, according to SportPesa's post-match record.

Como goalkeeper Jean Butez denied Amad Diallo on two separate occasions, including a strike he fingertipped over the crossbar, and Harry Maguire headed wide at the other end. Diallo provided United's best moments but Butez held firm until Zirkzee's stoppage-time strike. Lammens later stopped Paz completing a hat-trick, and the forward left the pitch to a standing ovation.

What it means for Como

Manchester United had never visited Como in the Champions League before Wednesday, as reported by Geo Super. BBC Sport noted it was only Como's third appearance in the competition, according to Thames Compass. Sven Jablonski was the referee in Como.

Paz's display earned him a place in UEFA's Champions League Team of the Week, according to Football Italia, where he was chosen in a creative midfield role. He was named alongside Napoli's Scott McTominay, who starred in their win over Bodo/Glimt, and Inter's Carlos Augusto, who scored the winner against Shakhtar Donetsk. It capped a perfect round for Italian football in the competition: every Serie A side won their Matchday 3 ties, Football Italia reported. Elsewhere on Wednesday, Bayern drew 2-2 with Arsenal and Galatasaray won 4-2 at Lille, according to Thames Compass. Bayern's week had already been disrupted after head coach Vincent Kompany was hospitalized following a collapse at training.

Carrick under pressure

The defeat stretched United's winless run to seven matches in all competitions, according to SportsNewz. United were without the suspended Leny Yoro, and Matthijs de Ligt started for the first time since last November. The club is also among those reported to have reserved the right to seek compensation from Manchester City after the guilty verdict on financial charges.

The pattern is now familiar. United conceded inside the opening minute of a 2-0 defeat at Atlético Madrid the previous week and drew 1-1 at Leeds on Sunday in the Premier League before the trip to Italy. After the match in Como, Carrick walked over to the small group of away supporters who had stayed in the stands and raised his hands in apology, while English media described the night as one of United's most embarrassing in Europe, according to Thames Compass.

United host Bournemouth at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday, with Carrick still searching for a response.