On the lakeside in Como, a Brazilian football chant provided the soundtrack to a European night few inside the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia will forget. After each of Como’s goals in Wednesday’s 4-1 Champions League league-phase victory over Manchester United, “Vai no Cavalinho” rang out over the stadium as Cesc Fàbregas’ side delivered one of the competition’s most striking results.
A Brazilian refrain on an Italian night
The song, performed by Gasparzinho, has travelled far beyond Brazil since becoming a regular celebration track among Italian supporters. Como adopted it for a landmark evening in the third round of the 2026-27 Champions League league phase, with the home crowd joining in after the goals against United.
- “Vai no Cavalinho” was originally recorded in 2012, written by Sammy Coelho and Big Big and sung by Gasparzinho.
- The track received a new version in 2024, produced by DJ Pedro Sampaio.
- It subsequently became familiar in Italian football grounds, where fans have used it after goals, wins and title celebrations.
- Arezzo, winners of Serie C last season, drew attention by sharing footage of players and supporters singing the tune during their championship celebrations.
- Como then made it part of their own matchday celebration as they beat Manchester United by three goals.
Como underline their rise
The result was another vivid marker of Como’s emergence from an ambitious Italian project into one of the continent’s more intriguing clubs. Under former Spain midfielder Fàbregas, the Lombardy team have become a notable presence in both Italian and European football, and the victory over United gave their supporters a rare Champions League occasion to celebrate.
For Manchester United, the heavy defeat further exposed the uncertainty surrounding the club. In Como, however, the emphasis was on the home side’s four goals, a packed stadium and a Brazilian pop refrain that turned a major European win into a distinctly local celebration.
