De Ligt returns as Manchester United lose 4-1 to Como

Manchester United lost 4-1 away to Como in the Champions League on Wednesday as Matthijs de Ligt returned to the starting line-up after a long-running back injury. Substitute Joshua Zirkzee scored United’s only goal in stoppage time.

De Ligt had not played since 30 November. He had been named among the substitutes for United’s previous two matches but did not come on; against Como, he started amid several absences in the English side.

Como took the lead in the second minute when Nico Paz found space and scored. Anastasios Douvikas made it 2-0 after half-time, before Paz and Jacobo Ramón added further goals. Zirkzee’s late strike made the final score 4-1.

It was United’s second defeat in this season’s Champions League, following a 2-0 loss away to Atlético Madrid the previous week. They opened the campaign with a 4-0 win over Azerbaijan’s Sabah FC.

United have also struggled in the Premier League. The report put them 13th with seven points from seven matches, with one league win this season, at the end of August.