According to a report by BBC Sport on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, Nico Paz delivered an outstanding performance to inspire Como to a convincing 4-1 victory over Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League, earning the Player of the Match award after scoring twice and providing an assist.

The Argentine attacking midfielder played a crucial role in Como’s impressive win against Michael Carrick’s side at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, showcasing his creativity, technical ability and clinical finishing.

Paz opened the scoring in the second minute with a brilliant left-footed strike from the edge of the penalty area. After receiving a pass from Lucas da Cunha, the former Real Madrid youngster created space for himself before curling the ball beyond Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens.

The early goal put United under immediate pressure, allowing Como to take control of the match. Carrick’s players struggled to respond, with their midfield finding it difficult to control the game and their defence unable to cope with the hosts’ attacking movement.

Paz continued to cause problems for United throughout the first half, using his intelligent positioning and technical quality to create opportunities. His influence became even more significant after the break as Como pushed to extend their lead.

In the 49th minute, the 22-year-old delivered an excellent pass to Anastasios Douvikas, who finished confidently to make it 2-0. The assist highlighted Paz’s vision and ability to break through the opposition’s defensive lines with accurate passing.

Just eight minutes later, Paz scored his second goal of the night after capitalising on a misplaced pass from Manchester United midfielder Carlos Baleba. He drove towards goal before calmly beating Lammens to give Como a commanding 3-0 advantage.

His second strike further exposed United’s defensive weaknesses, while his combination of composure, creativity and movement proved difficult for the visitors to contain.

Como added a fourth goal in the 76th minute when Jacobo Ramon headed home a cross from Kaiki Bruno, putting the result beyond doubt and rewarding the home side for their dominant performance.

Manchester United managed to score a consolation goal in the 90th minute through Joshua Zirkzee, who converted after receiving a pass from substitute Amad Diallo. However, the late strike had little impact on the final result as Como secured an emphatic 4-1 victory.

Paz was the standout performer, contributing two goals and an assist while consistently troubling United’s midfield and defence. His display further demonstrated why he is attracting attention as one of the promising young attacking talents in European football.

Having developed at Real Madrid before continuing his career at Como, the Argentine has continued to impress with his performances and attacking potential.

His decisive contribution against Manchester United marked another important moment in his development, while Como celebrated a memorable European victory that further highlighted their growing competitiveness on the continental stage.