Como’s 4-1 win over Manchester United showcases remarkable rise

Como’s 4-1 Champions League win over Manchester United has underlined the Italian club’s remarkable rise from Serie D to the top level of European football, with Nico Paz scoring twice and setting up another goal. United, meanwhile, are winless in seven matches in all competitions for the first time since 2015, according to BBC Sport.

Como were playing in one of Italy’s semi-professional regional leagues when United last won the Champions League, in 2008. They returned to Serie D in 2017 and, after reaching Serie A, finished fourth in 2025-26 to qualify for Europe’s elite competition.

Paz, signed from Real Madrid in 2024, was central to Wednesday’s victory. The 22-year-old has been directly involved in nine goals in eight appearances since the start of September, BBC Sport reported. Former England manager Glenn Hoddle praised his creative play in comments to TNT Sports.

Coach Cesc Fàbregas, who joined Como as a player before taking charge of the team, called the United match a historic day for the club, city and supporters. He said the club had changed completely since he finished playing there, but urged his players to focus on what lay ahead rather than dwell on their rise.

Como’s rapid growth brings challenges beyond the pitch. Chief executive Mirwan Surwaso told Piers Morgan’s Football Uncensored podcast that the club’s accounts were in order amid scrutiny over Uefa financial rules. The BBC also noted that three-quarters of the 12,300-capacity Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia is uncovered, leaving much of the ground exposed to heavy rain.

The club’s owners, Indonesian billionaires Robert and Michael Hartono, completed their deal in 2019. According to Surwaso, they had initially been interested in a television project involving young Indonesian players; a Manchester United visit was not part of the plan.