UCL | Como 4-1 Man Utd: Historic Nico Paz dominated Manchester United

Como had the greatest night in their history by humiliating Manchester United 4-1 in the Champions League with a Nico Paz brace, Tasos Douvikas and Jacobo Ramon.

The Lariani continued making history with their first ever European adventure, as after beating RB Leipzig here 4-1, they lost 3-2 away to Feyenoord. Injuries were beginning to pile up, as Trevoh Chalobah, Moise Kean, Jesus Rodriguez and Assane Diao missed out, so Maxence Caqueret was added to the UEFA list and Lucas Da Cunha used in a new role.

Manchester United were in crisis, sitting 13th in the Premier League, managing three draws in their last six competitive games, including a 2-0 Champions League loss to Atletico Madrid. They had Leny Yoro suspended, with Benjamin Sesko, Marcus Rashford, Patrick Dorgu, Kobbie Mainoo, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Ayden Heaven and Manuel Ugarte injured. Ex-Roma and Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt received his first start since November 2025.

Diogo Dalot fired off target from a promising position after the Alex Valle slip, but it took just over 120 seconds to break the deadlock at the other end.

Nico Paz gathered just inside the area, took a touch as Harry Maguire backed off, and bent the magnificent left-foot finish into the far top corner for his first Champions League goal.

Maguire couldn’t keep his header on target after a corner, then just about got the ball in a sliding tackle on Martin Baturina inside the penalty area.

Baturina’s slide-rule pass released Tasos Douvikas to force a tricky Senne Lammens save at the near post, then the Greece international shinned the finish when sent through by Yan Couto.

Como would’ve had a penalty before half-time when Lammens tripped Douvikas, but Manchester United were rescued by the offside flag. Douvikas was also offside on the rebound when Lammens parried the Baturina scorcher from outside the D.

Ex-Atalanta forward Amad Diallo came on for the restart, but the hosts deservedly doubled their lead. Baturina found Nico Paz, whose slide-rule pass released Douvikas to sweep past the on-rushing Lammens with the inside of the right boot from 15 yards. It was the Greece international’s third goal in as many Champions League games.

It was nearly 3-0 moments later, as Lucas Da Cunha gathered from Baturina, cut inside Maguire and bent the left-foot finish just past the far top corner.

That was only a warning, as Nico Paz caught half-time substitute Carlos Baleba napping in midfield and surged forward to sweep past the on-rushing Lammens and complete his brace.

Nico Paz wanted a hat-trick, forcing a save moments later from the edge of the box, while Amad Diallo couldn’t get clean contact on a Bruno Fernandes cross, then his strike was fingertipped over the bar by Jean Butez in the first real United chance after 65 minutes.

However, there was only ever one team in this game and Como made it 4-0 with a well-worked team move. Alex Valle sent Bruno Kaiki into acres of space down the left, floating in a cross for the free header of centre-back Jacobo Ramon from six yards.

Nico Paz continued to want that hat-trick, his low drive smothered by Lammens, with Amad Diallo’s free kick the only one really testing Butez.

In added time, ex-Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee hooked down a Diallo ball over the top and fired in on the bounce, to give the remaining Manchester United fans who hadn’t already walked out something to celebrate.

Como 4-1 Manchester United

Nico Paz 3, 57 (C), Douvikas 49 (C), Ramon 76 (C), Zirkzee 91 (M)

21-10-2026 17:45

MatchDay 3

Player statistic

1st half

2nd half

Match statistic

55 Possession % 45

11 Total shots 13

8 Shots on target 4

3 Shots off target 6

0 Blocked shots 3

1 Corners 4

2 Offsides 1

10 Fouls 11

Como

Man Utd

Starting lineups

1 Jean Butez Goalkeeper

3 Álex Valle Defender

4 Jacobo Ramón Defender

2 Marc-Oliver Kempf Defender

27 Yan Couto Defender 81'

6 Luis Milla Midfielder

20 Martin Baturina Midfielder 64'

5 Máximo Perrone Midfielder 80'

10 Nico Paz Midfielder 80'

9 Anastasios Douvikas Attacker

7 Lucas Da Cunha Attacker 69'

1 Senne Lammens Goalkeeper

2 Diogo Dalot Defender

5 Harry Maguire Defender

4 Matthijs de Ligt Defender 79'

3 Noussair Mazraoui Defender

17 Andrey Santos Midfielder 46'

8 Bruno Fernandes Midfielder 67'

7 Mason Mount Midfielder

18 Youri Tielemans Midfielder

19 Bryan Mbeumo Attacker 86'

10 Matheus Cunha Attacker 46'

Substitutes

97 Robert Sánchez Goalkeeper

30 Mattia Liberali Midfielder

12 Lorenzo Ginelli Goalkeeper

8 Maxence Caqueret Midfielder 64'

16 Kaiki Defender 69'

21 Samuele Ricci Midfielder 80'

13 Alberto Dossena Defender 80'

28 Ivan Smolcic Defender 81'

22 Tom Heaton Goalkeeper

12 Karl Darlow Goalkeeper

38 Jack Fletcher Midfielder

56 Jaydan Kamason Defender

27 Tynan Thompson Attacker

39 Tyler Fletcher Midfielder

57 Daniel Armer Defender

16 Amad Diallo Attacker 46'

20 Carlos Baleba Midfielder 46'

11 Joshua Zirkzee Attacker 67'

41 Harry Amass Defender 79'

31 Shea Lacey Attacker 86'