Matchday 4 of the UEFA Champions League delivered its share of drama, but few stories captured the imagination quite like Como's extraordinary evening — a performance so electric it has observers asking whether this upstart side are the real deal.

The Italian club have already turned heads this campaign. Having upset Manchester United earlier in the competition, Como backed up that statement with a stunning nine-goal haul in their latest fixture, underscoring the kind of free-scoring, fearless football that has made them the talking point of the continent.

Upsetting Manchester United

Defeating Manchester United was no small feat. The Red Devils remain one of the most recognisable clubs on the planet, and toppling them signalled to European rivals that Como were not merely making up the numbers. That victory sent a clear message: this club intend to compete.

Nine goals and counting

Then came the nine-goal spectacle. Whether through clinical finishing, opposition fragility, or a combination of both, Como poured goals past their opponents in a manner that demanded attention across the continent. It is the kind of scoreline that stops scrolling fingers and demands a second look.

ESPN FC analysts Gab Marcotti, Rob Dawson, Mark Ogden, and Sam Marsden all weighed in on Como's rise, examining whether the club's performances represent a sustainable level or a remarkable but fleeting hot streak.

Are Como the real deal?

That is the central question now swirling around the club. Upsets happen in the Champions League — that is part of its enduring appeal — but sustaining that level across multiple matchdays is a different proposition entirely. Como's back-to-back statements of intent have at least earned them the right to be taken seriously.

As Matchday 4 is digested and attention turns to the knockout picture, Como sit as one of the competition's most intriguing stories. Whether they can maintain this trajectory will define how their debut campaign in Europe's premier club competition is ultimately remembered.