Como set a Champions League record by scoring nine goals in a single match, defeating RC Lens 9-1 on November 4, 2026.
Como obliterated RC Lens 9-1 at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Friday night, a result that stands as a record, Virgilio reported. The Italian club, playing in its inaugural European campaign, secured the record on the road, amplifying the significance of the achievement.
The match was a masterclass in attacking football from the first whistle. Striker Georgios Douvikas put Como ahead in the seventh minute and added a second in the 32nd. Nico Paz found the net in the 40th, with his goal dedicated to Jesús de Miguel, a Tenerife player who recently passed away. The second half saw an outpouring of goals, with Da Cunha opening the scoring just after the break, followed by defender Marc Oliver Kempf’s first-ever Champions League goal. Douvikas completed his hat-trick, while Mattia Liberali and substitute Martin Baturina also scored. Lens pulled one back through Aguilar, but Matteo Papaccioli, a homegrown 18-year-old making his European debut, sealed the historic score in the 91st minute, according to the official Como 1907 match report.
Fabregas’s Midas Touch at Como
The record-setting performance is the latest chapter in the remarkable transformation engineered by manager Cesc Fabregas. Virgilio detailed Fabregas’s journey in Italy, which began with him taking charge of Como’s youth team in the summer of 2023 before being promoted to the senior side in November of that year to replace Moreno Longo. Since then, he has molded the team in his image, implementing a philosophy of constant ball possession and attacking intent.
After the Lens victory, he told his players, “Let’s enjoy it and then turn the page,” the outlet reported. This pragmatism was evident in the immediate aftermath of the game. The team landed back in Italy at 4 a.m. and did not train the following day, prioritizing rest for their upcoming Serie A fixture against Inter at San Siro, a match Como has never won.
A Champions League Offensive Powerhouse
The 9-1 victory was not an anomaly but the culmination of an offensive explosion throughout Como’s Champions League campaign. In their first four matches, the team has scored 19 goals, just one fewer than PSG, the tournament’s most prolific scorers, Virgilio stated. Their tally includes four goals against both RB Leipzig and Manchester United, and two in a loss to Feyenoord.
La Gazzetta dello Sport provided the current standings in the Champions League Phase, confirming that Como sits in fourth place with nine points. They trail PSG, Real Madrid, and Arsenal, but hold a superior goal difference over Barcelona.
Fabregas Demands Improvement After Win
Despite the historic nature of the victory, Fabregas remained focused on the areas for improvement. “After the substitutions, we changed our way of playing on the field. We should not have conceded Lens’s goal,” Fabregas said, illustrating his demanding standards even in the face of a record-breaking performance.
His response shows the mix of emotion and professionalism that defines his management style, as described by La Gazzetta dello Sport. While the world celebrated his team’s “spaziale” display, Fabregas acted as a “fire extinguisher,” dousing the hype and keeping his players grounded. This approach, the outlet noted, is key to the “alchemy” he has created with the squad, which extends beyond a simple professional relationship and fosters a deep collective commitment.
Nine goals against RC Lens, a new Champions League away-win record and a night that will stay with Como 1907. 💙#Como1907 #UCL #RCLComo pic.twitter.com/XBeWAU7iSn
What Happens Next for Como
With the match against Lens complete, Como’s immediate focus shifts to a critical domestic test. They will face Inter Milan at the San Siro on Sunday, a team they have never managed to defeat, La Gazzetta dello Sport confirmed. Fabregas has already instructed his players to put the European exploits behind them and concentrate solely on the challenge ahead.
Looking further into the Champions League group stage, Como’s schedule presents two more blockbuster encounters. They are set to play Barcelona and PSG in late January, La Gazzetta dello Sport reported.
Goalscorers in Como's Record Win
- What is the significance of Como’s 9-1 victory?
- The win set a record for the most goals scored in a single UEFA Champions League match, a historic achievement for the club in its debut European campaign.
- Who scored for Como against Lens?
- Georgios Douvikas scored a hat-trick. Nico Paz, Da Cunha, Marc Oliver Kempf, Mattia Liberali, Martin Baturina, and debutant Matteo Papaccioli also scored for Como.
- What is Como’s current position in the Champions League?
- Como is fourth in the League Phase standings with nine points, behind PSG, Real Madrid, and Arsenal, but ahead of Barcelona on goal difference.
- What did Cesc Fabregas say after the match?
- Despite the record win, Fabregas was critical of his team, saying, “After the substitutions, we changed our way of playing on the field. We should not have conceded Lens’s goal.”
Earlier coverage: Como 1907 Sets Champions League Record with Historic 9-1 Victory Over RC Lens
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