Nico Paz Stars with Two Goals and Assist as Como Routs Manchester United

Como delivered a stunning performance in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday evening, securing a resounding 4-0 victory over Manchester United at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia. Argentine midfielder Nico Paz led the charge with a stellar individual display, opening the scoring inside the first two minutes and later adding another goal alongside a crucial assist.

The match began in dramatic fashion when Paz collected the ball near the edge of the penalty area following a buildup involving Yan Couto and captain Lucas Da Cunha. With his first shot of the game, the 22-year-old bent a precise left-footed effort past goalkeeper Senne Lammens into the far corner of the net. This marked his first-ever Champions League goal for Como, having previously scored in the competition during his time with Real Madrid.

Como capitalized on their momentum early in the second half. Following a defensive recovery, a quick sequence of passes involving Martin Baturina allowed Paz to orchestrate another attack. The midfielder slipped a clever pass to Anastasios Douvikas, who chipped the ball over Lammens to extend the lead to 2-0 just minutes after the interval.

Paz completed his brace in the 57th minute by capitalizing on a defensive miscue from Carlos Baleba. Driving into the area at high speed, the Argentine calmly finished with an open foot to make it 3-0. The rout was capped off in the 75th minute when Kaiki Bruno delivered a cross that found Spanish central defender Jacobo Bruno in space at the penalty spot for the final 4-0 scoreline.

The dominant display follows earlier mixed results for Como in the league phase, which included a 4-1 victory over RB Leipzig and a 3-2 defeat against Feyenoord. Paz, who represented Argentina internationally and chose the Albiceleste over Spain, has now accumulated three goals and four assists across 10 club appearances this season, quickly establishing himself as a pivotal playmaker under manager Cesc Fàbregas.

Reflecting on recent comparisons to legendary Argentine strikers Gabriel Batistuta and Hernán Crespo following a headed goal against Fiorentina in Serie A, Paz credited his father instead. "Because of the header I scored in Florence, I read that I was compared to Crespo and Batistuta. I, on the other hand, think of my father, Pablo. He was very strong in the air," he remarked ahead of the match, noting that he continues to work hard on improving his movement and expanding his overall game.

The victory adds to a challenging stretch for Manchester United under coach Michael Carrick, who was without defender Lisandro Martínez due to injury. For Como, the statement win in Europe highlights the remarkable sporting ascent of the Lombardy club, drawing praise from football figures worldwide, including Lionel Messi, whose young son was recently spotted wearing a Como jersey.