Como’s 4-1 Champions League victory over Manchester United on the third matchday was shaped by Nico Paz, whose two goals and assist turned a major European night into a statement performance for Cesc Fàbregas’s side.
The 22-year-old Argentine played a decisive part in each of Como’s opening three goals, delivering an individual display that drew lavish praise from Roberto Martínez, the former Portugal coach who is now a UEFA technical observer. Martínez likened Paz’s influence on the contest to that of Diego Maradona, saying the midfielder had carried his team through the occasion like a true star.
“Two goals and an assist in the first three goals is what stars do,” Martínez said. “It was like watching Maradona, that kind of player who takes responsibility for the whole team.”
For Como, the scale of Paz’s contribution mattered as much as the quality. Against Manchester United, the former Real Madrid academy player showed he could meet the pressure of a high-profile Champions League fixture. Martínez noted that elite games demand footballers capable of matching both expectation and the significance of the moment.
Paz’s first goal particularly impressed the UEFA observer. Having left Real Madrid for Italy in 2024, the Argentine has quickly become central to Fàbregas’s project, and Martínez highlighted his composure, balance and command of the ball. “I love Nico’s precision,” he said. “He is a wonderful player with excellent balance and he wants the ball under control. You could see what he intended to do, the space available to him, and the finish was perfect.”
His second goal underlined a different side of his game. After Como recovered possession, Paz drove almost 25 metres with the ball before reaching the penalty area and scoring. Martínez also pointed to the forward’s willingness to press, an essential demand in Fàbregas’s system, describing the final effort as clinical.
On a night when Como overwhelmed one of England’s biggest clubs, Paz supplied the cutting edge and the personality. The result will travel well beyond Italy: in the league phase of the Champions League, a 4-1 win over Manchester United changes not only the table, but the way the continent looks at a young side and its emerging Argentine leader.
