Como Teach Manchester United a Lesson in Europe

Few clubs in Europe have travelled a road as steep as Como. Not long ago the Lombardy side were competing in Serie D, the fourth tier of Italian football. Now they are in the Champions League, and they have added a striking chapter to that story by teaching Manchester United a lesson in Europe.

Two names sit at the centre of the club's rise. Nico Paz, the Argentine playmaker, has given the side creativity in the middle of the park. Cesc Fabregas, the former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder now in charge on the touchline, has brought a clear identity and a calm, possession-minded approach that has made Como a difficult side to play against.

For Manchester United, the result is an uncomfortable one. A club of their history and resources is not used to being out-thought by a side that was playing at a fraction of this level only a few years ago. It is a reminder that the Champions League has room for ambitious projects, and that money alone does not guarantee a comfortable night.

For Como, the message is clear. The club has moved from a regional stage to one of the biggest competitions in the world without losing the sense of purpose that got it there. Every big night like this one adds weight to the argument that their progress is built on real footing rather than a passing moment.