Como vs Man Utd

Como are favourites at home to Manchester United in the Champions League, and nobody should be surprised any more. Fabregas’s side went to Florence on Sunday and won 3-1, and their only European defeat so far was a 3-2 loss at Feyenoord in which they scored twice away from home. United arrive off a flat 1-1 at Leeds and a season that keeps promising more than it delivers, but they still carry enough forward quality to score against a side that leaves space.

The case for the tip

Como score and Como concede. That is the pattern across their last three: 3-1 at Fiorentina, 3-2 defeat at Feyenoord, and a league phase built on attacking the opponent rather than containing them. United, for all their drift, have found the net in every league game this month and will see a Como back line that gave Fiorentina a goal and Feyenoord three. Both teams scoring is the most repeatable outcome this fixture offers, and the market has it at 1.72, which is shorter than it deserves given how both sides are set up.

The trap to avoid

Backing United at 3.15 because of the name. Como are the better-coached team right now and the home side in a stadium that is tight and loud. The reverse trap is Como to win at 2.33: it is live, but a United side under pressure often turns up for exactly this kind of night and a draw is a very normal result. The goals are the certainty; the winner is not.

Verdict

Both teams to score at 1.72. One unit.