Nico Paz double sinks United 4-1 at Como as Carrick’s winless run reaches seven
Nico Paz scored twice and set up another as Como beat Manchester United 4-1 in the Champions League. Carrick's United, missing several players and with Yoro suspended, have now gone seven games without a win in all competitions.
Manchester United slipped to a heavy Champions League defeat in Italy on Wednesday evening. Como won 4-1, with Nico Paz at the centre of almost everything.
Paz struck in the second minute from a Lucas Da Cunha pass, and Como led 1-0 at the break. Anastasios Douvikas doubled the lead in the 49th minute after Paz set him up. Paz added his second in the 57th minute. Jacobo Ramón made it four in the 76th minute, assisted by Kaiki Bruno. Joshua Zirkzee replied in stoppage time from an Amad Diallo pass.
Paz is 22 years and 43 days old. No younger player has scored and assisted in the same Champions League game against United since Alan Dzagoev, according to Goal. The CSKA Moscow player did so in November 2009. Paz played 80 minutes.
United took more shots but rarely tested the goalkeeper
Most of United’s attempts were speculative. Eight came from outside the box, against three for Como. Como’s expected goals figure was 2.12, against 1.11 for the visitors. The hosts also had 55% of the ball and completed 597 accurate passes to United’s 474.
The numbers are consistent with a side that created the better chances while United shot from distance. United collected three yellow cards, for Andrey Santos, Carlos Baleba and Shea Lacey. Marc-Oliver Kempf was Como’s only booking.
United’s injury list forced De Ligt back into the side
United arrived without Dorgu (hamstring), Heaven (illness), Mainoo, Martínez (thigh), Šeško (shin), Shaw and Rashford. Yoro was suspended. Matthijs de Ligt made his first start in 325 days after back problems. He only got in because of a wider injury crisis at the club, Sky Sports reported. Como were also short, missing Chalobah (ankle), Diao (thigh), Kean (shin) and Jesús Rodríguez.
The attack is struggling as well. Bruno Fernandes has been directly involved in only one goal in his last nine United appearances. Leeds, Tottenham and Fulham all held United to 1-1 draws. Brighton beat them 2-3.
Sabah were beaten 4-0 in United’s European opener on 10 September. A 2-0 defeat away to Atlético de Madrid followed on 13 October. Como began their first Champions League campaign with a 4-1 home win over Leipzig, then lost 3-2 at Feyenoord. The league phase finishes on Wednesday 27 January 2027.
The Bournemouth fixture kicks off at 14:00 GMT. It was moved because Bournemouth play in Europe on the Thursday before. A trip to Chelsea follows on Saturday 31 October at 12:30. After the Roma game, United travel to Sporting CP on 25 November and host Leipzig on 8 December.
