Champions League debutant Como humiliated three-time champions Manchester United with a 4-1 win in matchday 3 action at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on Wednesday night.
This is the greatest night in their history, with a Nico Paz brace and goals from Tasos Douvikas and Jacobo Ramon, giving them six points from their first three games.
The Lariani maintained their 100 percent home record as they continue making history with their first-ever European adventure after beating RB Leipzig on the same ground.
They lost Matchday Two 3-2 away to Feyenoord and quickly returned to winning ways, adding to the misery of the Red Devils that are already in crisis, sitting 13th in the Premier League, managing three draws in their last six competitive games, including a 2-0 Champions League loss to Atletico Madrid.
The visitors got their first chance when Diogo Dalot’s shot went off target from a promising position, failing to punish the Alex Valle slip.
The hosts then needed just another two minutes to break the deadlock. Nico Paz opened his Champions League goal account inside the area after a touch as Harry Maguire backed off, bending a magnificent left-foot finish into the far top corner.
Maguire had a chance to correct his error by leveling the tie, but he couldn’t keep his header on target after a corner.
He then nearly got the ball in with a sliding tackle on Martin Baturina inside the penalty area, as his slide-rule pass released Tasos Douvikas to force a tricky Senne Lammens save at the near post.
The offside flag saved United, as Como would’ve had a penalty before half-time when Lammens tripped Douvikas, who was offside on the rebound after the goalie parried the Baturina scorcher.
United looked a bit livelier after bringing on forward Amad Diallo at half-time, but the hosts deservedly doubled their lead.
Baturina released Nico Paz, whose slide-rule pass released Douvikas to sweep past the on-rushing Lammens with the inside of the right boot from 15 yards. The Greece international has now scored three goals in as many Champions League games.
Como nearly made it three moments later, as Lucas Da Cunha gathered from Baturina, cut inside Maguire and bent the left-foot finish just past the far top corner.
They eventually got the third through Nico Paz, who caught half-time substitute Carlos Baleba napping in midfield and surged forward to sweep past the on-rushing Lammens and complete his brace.
Nico Paz then forced a save from the edge of the box moments later, while Amad Diallo couldn’t get clean contact on a Bruno Fernandes cross. He then got a fingertip save from Jean Butez, and United’s first real chance in 65 minutes.
Como further took the game beyond their visitors with a well-worked team move. Alex Valle sent Bruno Kaiki down the left, and he had acres of space to float in a cross for center-back Jacobo Ramon to head a free-kick from six yards.
Nico Paz was denied a hat-trick when Lammens smothered his low drive, and Amad Diallo’s free kick was the only one that really tested Butez.
United eventually reduced the deficit in added time, as striker Joshua Zirkzee hooked down a Diallo ball over the top and fired on the bounce, giving the remaining fans who hadn’t already walked out something to celebrate.
