What happened
Nico Paz bent a low shot into the far corner in the second minute to take Como 1-0 up on Manchester United at half-time in Wednesday's UEFA Champions League match at Como.
Why it matters
United, missing nine first-team players, remain winless in six league games and Michael Carrick is left chasing a Champions League win he badly needs in Como.
Remember this
Como 1-0 United: Paz strikes and de Ligt's 11-month comeback does not save the visitors.
More context & who is affected
Nico Paz had barely two minutes to strike when he bent a left-footed shot past Tom Heaton and put Como 1-0 up against Manchester United at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia on Wednesday evening, capping Cesc Fabregas' long-planned Champions League home debut.
Manchester United arrived in a depleted state, missing nine first-team players between injury and Leny Yoro's suspension. Michael Carrick nevertheless brought back Matthijs de Ligt for the first time in 11 months, dropping Lisandro Martinez. "It's fantastic to have Matthijs back," Carrick told TNT Sports.
Como, meanwhile, are still chasing a second consecutive home Champions League win - the last Italian side to do it was Lazio in 1999-00. United remain winless across six league matches and are chasing their third Champions League victory of the season.
- Score at half-time
- Como 1-0 Man Utd Sportstar's live blog carried Como leading at half-time.Sportstar (The Hindu)
- Opening goal
- Paz 2' Left-footed strike into the far corner by Nico Paz.TNT Sports
- De Ligt return
- 11 months First appearance since back surgery in late 2025.TNT Sports
- United absences
- 9 players Eight injured plus Leny Yoro suspended.Sportstar (The Hindu)
The nine United could not name
Injury list: Victor Sesko, Joshua Zirkzee, Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount, Alejandro Garnacho, Harry Maguire, Ben Sheaf, Lisandro Martinez. Suspension: Leny Yoro.
Manchester United Supporters · Football Fans
Manchester United fans leave Como trailing at half-time, extending a six-game winless league run and piling pressure on Michael Carrick's Champions League campaign.
Football Fans · Serie A Followers
Matthijs de Ligt's return to the Man Utd starting XI after 11 months off with a back injury is the biggest individual headline of the fixture.
Football Fans
Cesc Fabregas, Como's new manager, is being judged by how his side respond after 24 career meetings against the Red Devils during his own playing days.
Story updates 1
Key developments (1)
Follow-up events appended to this developing story
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Mbeumo's missed chances deepen Manchester United's attack crisis
Mbeumo's missed chances in CL and PL matches highlight Manchester United's attack crisis.
Source: Manchester Evening News
Reporting fromSportstar (The Hindu) ↗TNT Sports ↗
Sources & verification2 sources · 4 claims
These are the records behind this briefing. Linked reporting is not the same as independent confirmation.
- Sportstar (The Hindu)ReportingPublished Oct 21, 2026 · Accessed Oct 21, 2026
- TNT SportsReportingPublished Oct 21, 2026 · Accessed Oct 21, 2026
Claims and linked sources
Nico Paz struck in the second minute to put Como 1-0 ahead of Manchester United at Como in the UEFA Champions League.
Matthijs de Ligt started for Manchester United for the first time in 11 months after back surgery, displacing Lisandro Martinez.
Manchester United were without nine first-team players: eight injured and Leny Yoro suspended.
Como are chasing the second consecutive Italian home Champions League win since Lazio achieved it in 1999-00.
