When Manchester United lifted the last of their three Champions League trophies in 2008, Como were a Serie D club, playing in one of nine semi-professional regional leagues. On Wednesday, at a rainy but picturesque Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on the banks of Lake Como, the Serie A side showed how far they have come. Their 4-1 thrashing of the English side, with progressive coach Cesc Fabregas in the dugout, suggested the European newcomers have leapfrogged the Old Trafford outfit and then some. United are now winless in their past seven games in all competitions for the first time since 2015.
At the heart of Fabregas' team is the brilliant Nico Paz, signed from Real Madrid in 2024, who scored twice and set up another. Since the start of September, the 22-year-old Tenerife-born Argentina international has been directly involved in more goals in all competitions than any other Serie A player. His display took him to nine goal involvements in eight appearances, four goals and five assists. He is also the youngest Argentine to be involved in three goals in one Champions League game since Lionel Messi against Bayern Munich in April 2009.
For Como, this is the most high-profile victory since their project began. One member of staff said it was without doubt the biggest night in the club's history. The town's population of just over 83,000 means 90% of residents could fit in the San Siro, and a new club shop now sells branded merchandise. Only a few years ago, that would have been unthinkable in Serie D. Fabregas steered the squad to fourth place in 2025-26, and in five seasons from his arrival as a player, Como had gone from Serie B to the Champions League.
Questions remain. Some wonder how Como can comply with Uefa's financial rules, which European football's governing body does not intend to amend despite the club's rapid rise. Club officials say their books are in order. Three quarters of the 12,300-capacity stadium is uncovered and was exposed to heavy rain during the fixture. For Fabregas, the challenge is balancing celebration of the journey with ensuring his players do not rest on their laurels.
Source: BBC Sport Football · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing