Como vs Manchester United: Yoro Banned as Winless United Visit Fabregas's UCL Debutants

by Geoffrey Ejiga | by Geoffrey Ejiga

image Como vs Manchester United: Yoro Banned as Winless United Visit Fabregas's UCL Debutants
Como host Manchester United at Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia on Wednesday in Champions League Matchday 3. Michael Carrick's side have not won in six matches across all competitions and sit 13th in the Premier League with just seven points from seven matches. Leny Yoro is suspended after his red card against Atletico Madrid, while Benjamin Sesko, Manuel Ugarte and Patrick Dorgu are all ruled out through injury. Meanwhile, Cesc Fabregas's Como are playing in the Champions League for the first time and sit fifth in Serie A with 14 points from seven matches.
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First Competitive Meeting Between the Clubs

This is the first time the two clubs have met in competitive football. It is also Como's first match against English opposition in European competition.

In truth, Manchester United have a strong recent record against Italian sides, winning 10 of their last 16 European matches against Serie A clubs and losing just two.

Their European pedigree stretches back decades, though they have never faced an opponent with quite the same story as this season's Como.

Fabregas's side are making their Champions League debut this season after finishing fourth in Serie A last term, the highest league finish in the club's history.

The former Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea midfielder retired at Como in 2023 before joining the coaching staff and eventually taking charge. Leading the club from Serie B to the Champions League in three years is a story with few parallels in recent European football.

And tonight, a questionable Carrick goes up against that anomaly, so ensure to read our Como vs Manchester United prediction.

Como Fifth in Serie A as United's Winless Run Hits Six

Como have three points from two Champions League matches. They beat RB Leipzig 4-1 at Sinigaglia on Matchday 1, with Martin Baturina, Anastasios Douvikas, Assane Diao and Maximo Perrone all scoring.

A 3-2 defeat at Feyenoord on Matchday 2 followed, with Diao and Douvikas both on the scoresheet again before the Dutch side came from behind.

In Serie A, Fabregas's side are fifth with 14 points from seven matches, having scored 12 and conceded seven. Wins at Napoli, Genoa and Fiorentina have shown they can compete on the road, while a 2-1 win over Parma at Sinigaglia confirmed their strength at home. Their only league defeat came at Frosinone in September.

On the other hand, Manchester United have not won since they beat Sabah 4-0 on Matchday 1, a run of six matches without a victory.

Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes, Benjamin Sesko and Lisandro Martinez all scored that night in what remains their best performance of the season.

Their Matchday 2 trip to Atletico Madrid ended in a 2-0 defeat. And to rub salt in the wound, Yoro was sent off in the 74th minute for bringing down Jonathan David as the last defender.

Even Starker League Performance

In the Premier League where the Red Devils finished 3rd last season, Carrick's side are 13th with seven points from seven matches:

  • They’ve won only one league game all season, a 5-2 victory over Ipswich Town in August.
  • Since then Man United have drawn with Everton, Fulham, Tottenham and Leeds, and
  • Lost to Hull City and Manchester City.

Mbeumo opened the scoring against Leeds on Sunday but the visitors conceded an equaliser shortly after half-time and had to settle for a point. Fernandes and Mbeumo lead the scoring charts with four goals each across all competitions.

Carrick, who won the Champions League as a Manchester United player in 2008, was given the permanent job in May after leading the club to a third-place finish last season. The start to this campaign has put him under renewed pressure.

Carrick Without Yoro, Sesko and Ugarte at Sinigaglia

Yoro's dismissal at the Metropolitano means he is suspended for the trip to Como. His absence compounds a growing injury list.

Sesko is already ruled out with a shin problem, while Ugarte harbours a knee injury and Dorgu is out with a hamstring issue. What’s more, Lisandro Martinez is a major doubt after coming off at half-time against Leeds on Sunday with a thigh problem.

If Martinez is unavailable, United face a centre-back shortage, with Harry Maguire likely to start and Matthijs de Ligt or Ayden Heaven as potential partners.

Como will also be without Diao, who scored in both Champions League matches before suffering a thigh injury at Feyenoord. Fabregas said the winger felt he could no longer run and expressed hope that they had caught the injury in time.

Meanwhile, Trevoh Chalobah faces a fitness test after picking up a muscular problem against Fiorentina, and Moise Kean is being assessed with a shin issue.