Como Make Champions League History With Stunning 9-1 Win Over Lens
Como produced one of the most remarkable performances of their European campaign, overwhelming Lens 9-1 in a Champions League match that showcased the Italian side’s attacking quality, tactical confidence and growing ambition. Cesc Fàbregas’s team controlled the contest from the opening minutes, turning a difficult away fixture into a historic night and strengthening their position in the race for direct qualification to the last 16.
The result was notable not only for its extraordinary scoreline but also for the way Como achieved it. The visitors pressed with purpose, moved the ball quickly and repeatedly found space behind Lens’s defence. By the time the final whistle sounded, seven different Como players had scored, while Tasos Douvikas had completed a hat-trick. It was an emphatic statement from a club making its Champions League debut—and a reminder that Como’s footballing project is developing at remarkable speed.
Douvikas Leads Como’s Goal Rush
Douvikas set the tone early, opening the scoring in the seventh minute. The striker’s first goal gave Como an immediate advantage and rewarded the visitors’ positive start. Rather than retreating to protect their lead, Fàbregas’s players continued to attack, forcing Lens to defend deep and making it difficult for the French side to build momentum.
Douvikas struck again in the 32nd minute, extending Como’s control and putting the hosts under increasing pressure. Nico Paz then added a third in the 40th minute, giving the visitors a commanding lead before half-time. The first-half display was built on more than clinical finishing: Como’s movement between the lines and willingness to exploit open areas repeatedly disrupted Lens’s defensive shape.
Douvikas completed his hat-trick after the break, becoming one of the central figures in a night full of milestones. His achievement also placed him alongside Alessandro Del Piero in a notable piece of Champions League history: Douvikas scored in each of Como’s first four matches in the competition on their debut campaign. That consistency gives the Italian side a reliable focal point in attack and adds another dimension to their European challenge.
Second-Half Onslaught Seals the Result
Como showed no interest in slowing down after the interval. Da Cunha made it 4-0 in the 47th minute, and defender Kempf followed six minutes later to push the scoreline further out of Lens’s reach. The goals reflected the visitors’ broad attacking threat, with contributions coming from across the pitch rather than from one isolated source.
Substitute Liberali added another in the 62nd minute, underlining the strength of Como’s options from the bench. He also supplied two assists, matching Nico Paz’s contribution in that department. Paz was named man of the match after combining a goal with two assists, influencing the contest through his creativity, awareness and ability to find teammates in dangerous positions.
Lens briefly gave their home supporters something to celebrate when Aguilar scored in the 65th minute. The response, however, did little to change the flow of the match. Como remained composed and continued to create chances, with Baturina scoring in the 69th minute before debutant Papaccioli completed the extraordinary tally in the 91st.
The final score—Lens 1, Como 9—captured the gulf between the sides on the night. The scorers were Douvikas in the seventh and 32nd minutes, Nico Paz in the 40th, Da Cunha in the 47th, Kempf in the 53rd, Liberali in the 62nd, Baturina in the 69th and Papaccioli in stoppage time for Como, with Aguilar providing Lens’s lone goal.
Fàbregas’s Footballing Plan Pays Off
Fàbregas’s influence was evident in Como’s balance between aggression and control. The team attacked with speed but did not rely solely on direct play; instead, it used coordinated movement and quick combinations to stretch Lens and open passing lanes. When possession was lost, Como worked to recover the ball quickly, limiting the hosts’ opportunities to build attacks of their own.
That combination of intensity and organisation helped turn a potentially challenging European away match into a one-sided contest. The performance also highlighted the value of squad depth. Liberali made a major impact after coming on, while Papaccioli marked his debut with a goal. Those contributions will be encouraging for Fàbregas as the schedule becomes more demanding.
Como’s ability to make changes without losing attacking threat may prove especially important in the coming weeks. A long Champions League campaign requires more than a strong starting eleven, and this result offered evidence that the club can draw on several players to influence matches.
Champions League Qualification Race and Serie A Test Ahead
The victory gives Como a significant boost in the Champions League standings as they pursue direct qualification for the last 16. A result of this scale can improve confidence as well as goal difference, although the team will still need to maintain its form across the remaining fixtures. European qualification is decided over a full campaign, and Como’s challenge now is to follow this landmark performance with consistent results.
There is little time to dwell on the celebration. Como are due to face Inter in their next Serie A fixture, a major domestic test against one of Italy’s leading sides. The demanding schedule makes the Lens performance even more impressive: Fàbregas was able to rest some of his key players ahead of that important league meeting while still seeing his team deliver an unforgettable result.
Lens vs Como Prediction: What the Result Could Mean
Any prediction about Como’s next Champions League match will now have to account for the confidence generated by this win. The team has demonstrated that it can score from several positions, create chances through both starters and substitutes, and impose its style away from home. Douvikas’s finishing and the creative work of Paz and Liberali give Como a particularly dangerous attacking combination.
Still, a 9-1 scoreline should not be treated as a guarantee of future dominance. Opponents will study how Lens were exposed, and tougher matches may offer fewer clear openings. Como will need to preserve the same defensive concentration and avoid allowing a spectacular result to create unrealistic expectations. The strongest prediction is that Fàbregas’s side has earned greater respect—and that its remaining fixtures will provide a clearer measure of how far this ambitious team can go.
For now, the night belongs to Como. A hat-trick, a debut goal, a man-of-the-match display from Nico Paz and nine goals away from home combined to create a historic Champions League performance. More than a memorable score, the victory was a compelling demonstration of Como’s identity: brave, organised and capable of making European football take notice.
