Champions League debutants Como produced the result of the European week on Wednesday, dismantling Manchester United 4-1 at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia behind a performance from Nico Paz that will be talked about for years.

The 22-year-old Argentine needed just two minutes, curling a brilliant left-footed strike into the far corner. Four minutes after half-time he threaded a pass for Anastasios Douvikas to make it 2-0, and on 57 minutes he robbed Carlos Baleba, surged more than 30 metres and finished past Senne Lammens for his second. In doing so he became the first Argentine since Lionel Messi to score multiple goals against Manchester United.

Jacobo Ramon headed in a fourth on 76 minutes. Joshua Zirkzee’s stoppage-time consolation changed nothing. Como completed 594 passes, the most by any team against United in a Champions League match since Barcelona in 2019, and Cesc Fabregas admitted he had asked his players to slow down at 4-0.

United were missing nine players, with Matthijs de Ligt making his first start in 325 days, but the numbers are damning: seven games without a win in all competitions, three points from three European games, and two wins in 11 this season for Michael Carrick. Bournemouth visit Old Trafford on Sunday, and the pressure is now enormous.