# Nico Paz scores twice as Como lead Manchester United 3-0 in Champions League

Developing: Como were 3-0 up against a struggling United side in the second half of their first meeting, with Paz scoring in the second minute and again after the break.

By The Signal Edition | Sports / Soccer
Published: 2026-10-21T18:33:52Z
Updated: 2026-10-21T18:33:52Z
Canonical: https://www.thesignaledition.com/article/como-man-united-champions-league-nico-paz-41e9ka
Image: https://www.thesignaledition.com/media/b325eab87ce6c0965da90134bbdd5f02.jpg (File photo of the stands at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia in Como, Italy, home of Como 1907; credit: Fra Casa / Wikimedia Commons (CC0))

## Summary
- Como led Manchester United 3-0 in the second half of their Champions League matchday 3 game at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia on Wednesday.
- Nico Paz scored in the 2nd minute and again around the 57th; Anastasios Douvikas added the second goal at 49 minutes.
- The final result had not been confirmed in the sources checked when this was written.
- United entered the game winless in their previous five and under pressure on manager Michael Carrick.

## What has happened

Como led Manchester United 3-0 in the second half of their Champions League league-phase match in northern Italy on Wednesday, with Nico Paz scoring twice and creating the other goal, according to live coverage from several outlets. The match kicked off at 16:45 GMT at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia. [1](https://www.rtvslo.si/sport/nogomet/liga-prvakov-v-nogometu/como-manchester-united-3-0-zvecer-derbi-bayern-arsenal/797673) [3](https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/live/champions-league-scores-live-updates-highlights-bayern-munich-arsenal-real-madrid-manchester-united-180000134.html) [5](https://www.goal.com/en/news/como-manchester-united-uefa-champions-league-preview/blt6e2a84a27530b9e9)

Paz opened the scoring in the second minute, cutting in and curling a shot past United goalkeeper Senne Lammens, per NBC Sports. Slovenian broadcaster RTV Slovenija reported that Anastasios Douvikas made it 2-0 in the 49th minute from a Paz pass, and that Paz added a third in the 57th after a run down the right. [7](https://www.nbcsports.com/soccer/live/uefa-champions-league-live-como-man-united-bayern-munich-arsenal-updates-score-goals-highlights-stats-2026-october-21) [1](https://www.rtvslo.si/sport/nogomet/liga-prvakov-v-nogometu/como-manchester-united-3-0-zvecer-derbi-bayern-arsenal/797673)

Argentina's La Nacion said the third goal followed a serious mistake by United's Carlos Baleba, whom Paz robbed before finishing one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Yahoo Sports described the third goal as coming eight minutes after Douvikas's. [2](https://www.lanacion.com.ar/deportes/futbol/champions-league-en-vivo-nid21102026/) [3](https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/live/champions-league-scores-live-updates-highlights-bayern-munich-arsenal-real-madrid-manchester-united-180000134.html)

Coverage reviewed at the time of writing did not report a final whistle or any goals after 3-0, so the full-time result is not confirmed here. Reports differ by a minute or so on goal times. [2](https://www.lanacion.com.ar/deportes/futbol/champions-league-en-vivo-nid21102026/) [3](https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/live/champions-league-scores-live-updates-highlights-bayern-munich-arsenal-real-madrid-manchester-united-180000134.html)

## Paz's role

Paz scored two of the three goals and set up the other, per the live reports, which is the clearest match-based reason his name appears alongside the fixture in searches; no source states why searches rose. Como are in their first Champions League campaign, and Paz was their standout in an earlier Serie A win over Fiorentina, with a goal and an assist, according to Goal's match preview. [1](https://www.rtvslo.si/sport/nogomet/liga-prvakov-v-nogometu/como-manchester-united-3-0-zvecer-derbi-bayern-arsenal/797673) [2](https://www.lanacion.com.ar/deportes/futbol/champions-league-en-vivo-nid21102026/) [5](https://www.goal.com/en/news/como-manchester-united-uefa-champions-league-preview/blt6e2a84a27530b9e9)

## Early concession for United

Goal, citing Opta Joe, reported that United became the first English club to concede inside the opening two minutes in consecutive major European matches, after conceding in the first minute against Atletico Madrid the previous week and in the second minute here. [4](https://www.goal.com/en-za/news/manchester-united-history-como-strike-michael-carrick-two-minutes-european-games/blt49b9ce81f5632a21)

The same report said United have kept one clean sheet in their last 11 games in all competitions. Defender Matthijs de Ligt returned to the starting line-up for the first time since last November after back surgery, according to Goal. [4](https://www.goal.com/en-za/news/manchester-united-history-como-strike-michael-carrick-two-minutes-european-games/blt49b9ce81f5632a21)

Kobbie Mainoo, Luke Shaw, Marcus Rashford and Lisandro Martinez were not in United's starting line-up, per NBC Sports. Como were without Trevoh Chalobah and Moise Kean through injury. [7](https://www.nbcsports.com/soccer/live/uefa-champions-league-live-como-man-united-bayern-munich-arsenal-updates-score-goals-highlights-stats-2026-october-21)

## Standings and the managers

Before kick-off, Como were 17th and United 18th in the Champions League table, both on three points from two games, according to Goal's preview. The two clubs had never met in a competitive match. Como are coached by Cesc Fabregas and United by Michael Carrick. [5](https://www.goal.com/en/news/como-manchester-united-uefa-champions-league-preview/blt6e2a84a27530b9e9)

Carrick came in under pressure. Al Jazeera reported that United had won two of their first 10 games in all competitions this season, their worst start to an English top-flight campaign in 40 years, and had lost to Atletico Madrid in Europe last week. Carrick said he did not "need any reassurance" before the game. [6](https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/10/21/man-uniteds-carrick-doesnt-need-reassurance-despite-teams-horror-start)

Como had lost 3-2 to Feyenoord in their previous Champions League game and had beaten RB Leipzig 4-1 at home in their first, according to Goal. Their next fixtures and any post-match comments from Fabregas or Carrick were not available in the coverage checked. [5](https://www.goal.com/en/news/como-manchester-united-uefa-champions-league-preview/blt6e2a84a27530b9e9)

## Reporting sources
1. [RTV Slovenija: Como - Manchester United 3:0](https://www.rtvslo.si/sport/nogomet/liga-prvakov-v-nogometu/como-manchester-united-3-0-zvecer-derbi-bayern-arsenal/797673) (2026-10-21)
2. [La Nacion: Doblete de Nico Paz por la Champions League, en vivo](https://www.lanacion.com.ar/deportes/futbol/champions-league-en-vivo-nid21102026/) (2026-10-21)
3. [Yahoo Sports: Champions League scores, live updates: Bayern Munich, Arsenal; Real Madrid](https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/live/champions-league-scores-live-updates-highlights-bayern-munich-arsenal-real-madrid-manchester-united-180000134.html) (2026-10-21)
4. [Goal: Man Utd make unwanted history as Como strike early](https://www.goal.com/en-za/news/manchester-united-history-como-strike-michael-carrick-two-minutes-european-games/blt49b9ce81f5632a21) (2026-10-21)
5. [Goal: Como vs Manchester United Champions League preview](https://www.goal.com/en/news/como-manchester-united-uefa-champions-league-preview/blt6e2a84a27530b9e9) (2026-10-21)
6. [Al Jazeera: Man United's Carrick doesn't 'need reassurance' despite team's horror start](https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/10/21/man-uniteds-carrick-doesnt-need-reassurance-despite-teams-horror-start) (2026-10-21)
7. [NBC Sports: Como vs Man United live updates](https://www.nbcsports.com/soccer/live/uefa-champions-league-live-como-man-united-bayern-munich-arsenal-updates-score-goals-highlights-stats-2026-october-21) (2026-10-21)