According to a report by BBC Sports on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, Manchester United suffered a disappointing 4-1 defeat to Como in the UEFA Champions League, further complicating their qualification hopes and affecting their position in the league-phase standings.

Manchester United approached their third Champions League fixture looking to bounce back from their previous 2-0 loss to Atletico Madrid. However, Michael Carrick's side failed to deliver the desired response, allowing Como to claim a convincing victory at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia.

Como made an early statement when Nico Paz found the back of the net in the second minute. Manchester United struggled to regain control of the contest, and their situation worsened after the interval when Anastasios Douvikas extended the Italian side's lead. Paz then completed his brace in the 57th minute before Jacobo Ramon scored in the 76th minute to seal Como's 4-1 triumph.

The result leaves Manchester United with three points from their opening three matches. They began their European campaign with a 4-0 victory over Sabah but subsequently suffered defeats against Atletico Madrid and Como. Their latest setback means they have now lost two consecutive Champions League fixtures.

Como, on the other hand, increased their points tally to six from three matches. The Italian club had previously beaten RB Leipzig 4-1 before suffering a narrow 3-2 defeat to Feyenoord. Their impressive performance against Manchester United has improved their position and strengthened their chances of progressing to the next stage.

Elsewhere, Paris Saint-Germain recorded an important 4-2 victory over Barcelona, while Liverpool defeated Villarreal 4-3 in another high-scoring encounter. Manchester City also enjoyed a comfortable evening, securing a 5-1 win against AEK Athens.

The UEFA Champions League league phase consists of 36 teams competing in a single standings table. The eight teams that finish highest qualify automatically for the round of 16, while those placed between ninth and 24th must compete in the knockout play-offs. Clubs finishing from 25th to 36th will be eliminated from the competition.

Manchester United's position has therefore become a major concern following their heavy loss to Como. The team's defensive weaknesses and inability to respond effectively after conceding early goals will require serious attention from Carrick and his coaching staff.

With five league-phase matches remaining, Manchester United still have opportunities to improve their standing and fight for qualification. However, they must produce better performances, reduce their defensive mistakes and collect maximum points in their upcoming European fixtures to avoid putting their Champions League campaign in further jeopardy.

Manchester United's position after the defeat

Manchester United have three points from three matches, having recorded one victory and two defeats. Their goal difference has dropped to minus two after conceding four goals against Como.

Como have accumulated six points from their opening three fixtures and currently boast a positive goal difference of two.

Although Manchester United still have five matches left in the league phase, the pressure is increasing. Their next fixtures will be crucial in determining whether they can recover from these consecutive defeats and secure a place in the Champions League knockout rounds.