What happened
Tasos Douvikas starts against Manchester United. Cesc Fàbregas gave us that much on Tuesday, even while keeping his goalkeeper choice to himself. After the striker’s goal in Florence, it is a welcome bit of certainty before a night when Como have rather less room to shuffle the pack.
Como host United at the Sinigaglia on Wednesday, October 21, at 18:45 CEST in the Champions League. The occasion is big enough without the bad news from training: Jesús Rodríguez has picked up an injury that Fàbregas expects to keep him out for around two months.
Team news: a shorter list of options
Rodríguez joins Assane Diao, Moise Kean and Trevoh Chalobah among Como’s absentees. In his press-conference comments reported by Gazzetta, Fàbregas put Chalobah’s absence at roughly two weeks, said Diao would return after the international break and left open the possibility of Kean being available against Sassuolo on Saturday. Those are recovery estimates, not guaranteed return dates.
Fàbregas told Sky he has only 15 players for this match, pointing to the restrictions on filling out Como’s European squad through List B. He also said the club was examining whether Rodríguez could be replaced on the UEFA list. No replacement has been confirmed here.
That makes the bench part of the story before a ball has been kicked. If Como need a different kind of attacker late on, the usual alternatives are fewer. The starting side will have to carry more of the work.
Lineup watch: Douvikas in, goalkeeper undecided
Fàbregas confirmed Douvikas would play but declined to choose publicly between Jean Butez and Sánchez. He described competition for the goalkeeper’s place and said Butez would continue to play plenty. The full starting XI remains unconfirmed.
Our preference is to give Douvikas runners close enough to use him. Against Fiorentina, Paz’s pass and the striker’s finish through De Gea’s legs turned an awkward 2–1 lead into a much healthier 3–1. A forward occupying the center gives Paz someone to find when he breaks free.
The Como view
Paz’s header in Florence is the other detail worth taking into this game. Valle supplied the cross; Nico arrived to finish it. We want the player who creates the opening and the player who gets into the box, sometimes in the same move.
Paz spoke on Tuesday about needing to move more and attack space as opponents learn his game. That gives us something specific to watch: when he passes, does he go again? If a defender follows him, can another Como player use the space? If nobody follows, can we find him closer to goal?
There is a trade-off. Push players forward to support Douvikas and someone still has to protect the space behind them. Fiorentina pulled a goal back and later hit the post; the win should not make those moments disappear from the conversation. With Chalobah missing, the balance matters even more.
Kickoff and how to follow
Wednesday, October 21: 18:45 in Como and Paris; 17:45 in Dublin and London; 12:45 in New York. Our matchday page converts the kickoff to your chosen time zone.
In Italy, Sky Sport and NOW carry the match. Elsewhere, check the Champions League listing with the authorized broadcaster in your country; an Italian subscription is not a worldwide viewing option.
Bottom line
The name on the other shirt deserves respect. It should not decide how brave Como are with the ball. Douvikas gives us a target; Paz gives us a way to reach him. Can we get enough support around them without leaving the defense exposed?