Como Equals Record With 9-1 Win Over Lens in Champions League

Italian club Como secured a historic 9-1 victory away against Lens, equaling the record for the most goals scored by a team in a single Champions League fixture. Under the management of Cesc Fabregas, the team put on a ruthless display in France to match Bayern Munich's previous tally against Dinamo Zagreb in 2024, lifting the European debutants up to fourth place in the league phase standings.

The rout began early when Greece forward Tasos Douvikas scored the first of his three goals from close range in the seventh minute. Nico Paz added a third shortly before halftime, and captain Lucas da Cunha extended the lead just two minutes into the second half. Marc-Oliver Kempf, substitute Mattia Liberali, Martin Baturina, and 18-year-old Matteo Papaccioli also found the back of the net to complete the staggering scoreline.

Lens managed a single response through Ruben Aguilar's volley from a corner, but otherwise offered little resistance against Como's relentless attack. The result also established a new record for the largest away victory in Champions League history, while making Como only the third team to win by an eight-goal margin in the competition's modern era.

Speaking ahead of the match, Fabregas emphasized his commitment to an attacking philosophy regardless of the venue. "You see some teams who play so well domestically, then in the Champions League they look scared and scrape a point," Fabregas said before kickoff, adding that his players must always maintain the style of football that earned them their place in the tournament.

Como's rapid ascent has captivated the football world. The club was playing in Serie D, the fourth tier of Italian football, as recently as the 2019-20 season. Following a takeover by a London-based media company owned by Indonesian billionaires Robert Budi Hartono and Michael Bambang Hartono, the team climbed rapidly through the professional ranks.

Former Manchester City player Nedum Onuoha praised the club's trajectory, noting that Como is currently performing alongside Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona as one of the most exciting teams in the tournament. Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock echoed those sentiments, highlighting that Fabregas has successfully recruited young, hungry players who mirror his own ambition and development on the touchline.

With four games played in their debut European campaign, Como has accumulated 19 goals, matching Queen's Park Rangers' 1976-77 record for the most goals scored in a team's first four matches in European competition. Fabregas's squad will now turn their attention back to domestic competition ahead of a crucial upcoming Serie A fixture against Inter.