Manchester United travel to northern Italy on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, to face Como 1907 in Matchday 3 of the UEFA Champions League league phase, with kickoff at 12:45 p.m. ET (6:45 p.m. local time) at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia. This Champions League league phase clash takes place at Guiseppe Sinigaglia Stadium in Como, Italy and kicks off on Wednesday, October 21 at 6:45 p.m. local time. It is the first-ever competitive meeting between the two clubs.
Carrick Searches for a Response on Lake Como
Manager Michael Carrick has a massive chance to make a statement of intent as Manchester United travel to beautiful Lake Como for an early Champions League match on Wednesday. The trip could hardly come at a tougher moment for the Red Devils.
Manchester United's winless run extended to six matches after a 1-1 draw at Leeds United, with Bryan Mbeumo's opener cancelled out by Dominic Calvert-Lewin, leaving the Red Devils languishing in 13th place with just seven points from seven Premier League games. The slump has also spilled into the dressing room: Lisandro Martínez was formally punished by the club after his explosive criticism of technical director Jason Wilcox and the hierarchy following the Champions League defeat to Atlético Madrid, though manager Michael Carrick insists the squad has moved on from the incident.
That defeat in Spain was particularly bruising. Manchester United's difficult run continued with a 2-0 defeat to Atlético de Madrid in the Champions League, leaving Michael Carrick's side five games without a win. A red card compounded the night, and the headlines afterward made clear how exposed the manager now is heading into the Champions League trip to Lake Como.
Fabregas and Como's Surprise Package
On the other side, Cesc Fabregas has built something unexpected in Lombardy. Como have been one of Italy's most fascinating stories the last two years, qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in club history this season and in the hunt again as they sit fifth in the Serie A table through seven matches. They won their opening Champions League game against RB Leipzig in flying fashion back in September, but fell to Dutch side Feyenoord last week.
Fabregas will be boosted by the return of key creative pieces. Martin Baturina returns to Como's starting XI, joining Nico Paz and Anastasios Douvikas for a home Champions League match against Manchester United. Up front, options are limited: Kean is injured, so Douvikas is Fabregas's only option at centre-forward.
Confirmed Lineups
Both clubs released their starting elevens ahead of kickoff. Como line up in a 4-2-3-1: Jean Butez (GK); Marc Oliver Kempf, Jacobo Ramón, Álex Valle, Yan Couto; Luis Milla, Máximo Perrone; Martin Baturina, Nico Paz, Lucas da Cunha; Tasos Douvikas.
Manchester United also go with a 4-2-3-1: Senne Lammens (GK); Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui; Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos; Mason Mount, Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha; Bryan Mbeumo. Manchester United also set up in a 4-2-3-1, with Bryan Mbeumo as the lone forward. Bruno Fernandes starts in the number 10 position, flanked by Mason Mount and Matheus Cunha, while Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos form the double pivot.
Where It Fits in the Table
Both sides have earned three points in the opening two Champions League games with one win and one loss, meaning three points on Wednesday would be significant for either club's push toward the knockout phase places. Elsewhere this round, Liverpool's trip produced late drama in the LASK clash, while Barcelona delivered one of the results of the week against Galatasaray, detailed in our piece on Lamine Yamal's two assists.
Where to Watch Como vs. Manchester United in the US
US viewers have several confirmed options for the match. In the United States the match will be shown live on Prime Video USA, Paramount+, TUDN USA, UniMás, Univision NOW and ViX. Paramount+ remains the most widely cited primary option among US broadcasters for this fixture.
What's at Stake
For Carrick, every match now carries weight given the scrutiny on his position after the Atlético result and the Martínez fallout. For Como, a result against a Premier League giant would be another landmark moment in a debut European campaign that has already drawn attention across Italy. The broader context for both clubs — United's issues in the Premier League table and Como's rapid rise under Fabregas — means Wednesday's outcome could shape the mood around both clubs heading into the next international break.