Sport
UCL: Nico Paz Scores Twice as Como Crush Man United
Nico Paz scores twice and provides an assist as Como thrash Man United 4-1 in the Champions League, piling pressure on Michael Carrick
Como delivered a stunning 4-1 victory over Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, as Argentine midfielder Nico Paz inspired the Italian side to a memorable win that intensified pressure on United manager Michael Carrick.
Also read: Foden inspires Man City in 5-1 AEK Athens win
Paz scored twice and provided an assist for Tasos Douvikas as Como dominated the encounter at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, exposing Manchester United’s defensive weaknesses and leaving the visitors with plenty to reconsider.
The defeat continued United’s disappointing European campaign, with the English side conceding early once again, just eight days after allowing Atletico Madrid to score in the opening minute of their previous major European outing.
Como took the lead after only 118 seconds, with Paz finding the net to put the hosts in control and leave United facing another difficult recovery.
The early goal also marked an unwanted milestone for Manchester United, who became the first English team to concede within the opening two minutes of consecutive major European matches.
The result underlined the contrasting fortunes of the two clubs. When Manchester United last won the Champions League in 2008, Como were playing in Italy’s fourth tier, Serie D. On Wednesday, however, the Italian side outperformed their illustrious visitors.
Paz was the standout performer, combining clinical finishing with intelligent movement and creativity to unsettle United’s defence throughout the match.
The Argentine scored twice and set up Douvikas for Como’s third goal, while Jacobo Ramon added a fourth with a powerful header to complete the hosts’ emphatic victory.
At one point, United appeared in danger of matching their heaviest-ever European defeat, a 5-0 loss to Sporting in 1964.
Carrick attempted to change the course of the game through a series of substitutions as his side struggled to contain Como’s attacking threat.
Captain Bruno Fernandes was replaced by Joshua Zirkzee midway through the second half, while Matheus Cunha and Andrey Santos were withdrawn at half-time.
United eventually found a consolation goal in stoppage time when Zirkzee beat the offside trap and calmly converted a cross from fellow substitute Amad Diallo.
However, the late strike did little to diminish Como’s achievement or ease the disappointment of the travelling Manchester United supporters.
The result is likely to intensify scrutiny of Carrick’s leadership, particularly as defensive lapses and inconsistent performances continue to undermine the team’s European ambitions.
Also read: Foden inspires Man City in 5-1 AEK Athens win
Manchester United must now respond quickly if they are to restore confidence and keep their Champions League campaign on track.
By Tai Emeka Obasi,
It is exceedingly terrible for clubs operating in a league as supremely elite as the English Premier League, EPL, to fraudulently cheat themselves to massive success.
Also read: Arteta Confirms: Myles Lewis-Skelly Stays at Arsenal
Rules are rules, and supposedly responsible club managements should comply with them in administering a game termed the beautiful game.
Manchester City is currently in the eye of the storm for all the wrong reasons.
A whopping 115 breaches were brought against the club, with reports now indicating that an independent commission found City guilty of 114 of them.
The club, however, maintains that the Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements still to be completed and subject to strict confidentiality.
Manchester City chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, has appealed to the fans to remain calm and faithful, insisting that the club will continue to defend its position and pursue the available legal process.
According to reports, Manchester City is expected to appeal the verdict. The sanctions have not yet been announced, and the possible consequences could include a heavy fine, points deduction, stripping of titles or even relegation.
From the available reporting, however, there is no basis for football fans to start celebrating the prospect of receiving Manchester City’s trophies.
Even if titles were eventually stripped, the relevant period under investigation is 2009 to 2018.
During that period, Manchester City won three Premier League titles, in 2011/12, 2013/14 and 2017/18, as well as three League Cups, in 2013/14, 2015/16 and 2017/18.
That immediately puts a different complexion on the matter.
For instance, Manchester United finished runners-up to City in the 2011/12 and 2017/18 Premier League seasons, while Liverpool finished second in 2013/14.
But whether those titles would actually be reassigned to the runners-up is another matter entirely.
There is no automatic rule that says a stripped title simply moves to the team that finished second. Any such outcome would depend on the eventual sanction imposed by the relevant authorities.
The same applies to Arsenal and the League Cup. Arsenal were beaten by City in the 2018 final, but that does not mean Arsenal would automatically inherit the trophy if City were sanctioned.
Expert opinion has suggested that the eventual punishment could include a substantial financial penalty and a huge points deduction, potentially severe enough to threaten City with relegation.
But until the sanction is formally determined, nobody can say with certainty what punishment Manchester City will receive.
For Gunners fans, therefore, we should lower our expectations from City’s debacle. Even if Manchester City are eventually found guilty after the appeal process and even if they are relegated, Arsenal will not stroll to this season’s title.
Our last match against Brighton and Hove Albion is a huge warning that our squad is not as complete as it is generally acclaimed to be.
Also read: Arteta Confirms: Myles Lewis-Skelly Stays at Arsenal
Like we did last season, Arsenal must win the title on the pitch, not wait for Manchester City to lose it in the courtroom.
That is the real lesson.
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