Cesc Fàbregas guides the Italian newcomers to a record-equalling victory in France, with Anastasios Douvikas scoring a hat-trick as Como climb to fourth place in the Champions League standings.
Como delivered one of the most extraordinary results in Champions League history on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, crushing French club Lens 9-1 at Stade Bollaert-Delelis. The Italian newcomers scored six times in the second half, producing a record-equalling eight-goal winning margin and moving into fourth place in the competition’s league-phase standings.
Anastasios Douvikas led the demolition with a hat-trick, while Nico Paz, Lucas Da Cunha, Marc-Oliver Kempf, Mattia Liberali, Martin Baturina and Matteo Papaccioli also scored. Lens managed one consolation goal through Ruben Aguilar, but the French side had no answer to Como’s relentless attacking display.
The result gave Como nine points from their opening four Champions League matches, placing them behind only Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Arsenal. It also strengthened the growing reputation of manager Cesc Fàbregas, whose ambitious approach has transformed the club into one of European football’s most entertaining teams.
Como Deliver a Historic Night in France
Como wasted little time establishing control against Lens. Douvikas opened the scoring in the seventh minute and doubled his tally in the 32nd, putting the visitors firmly in command.
Paz added a third goal five minutes before halftime, giving Como a 3-0 advantage at the interval. What followed was an even more remarkable demonstration of attacking football.
Da Cunha scored shortly after the restart, before Kempf extended the advantage in the 53rd minute. Douvikas completed his hat-trick four minutes later, taking Como’s total to six goals with more than half an hour remaining.
Liberali added another in the 62nd minute, while Aguilar briefly interrupted the scoring with a goal for Lens in the 65th. Baturina responded four minutes later, and Papaccioli completed the rout in stoppage time.
The nine-goal performance placed Como alongside some of the most memorable attacking displays in Champions League history. According to talkSPORT, the Italian club became only the second team to score nine goals in a match during the modern Champions League era.
Bayern Munich previously scored nine in a 9-2 victory over Dinamo Zagreb in September 2024. Como’s eight-goal winning margin also matched the Champions League record established by Liverpool against Beşiktaş in 2007 and Real Madrid against Malmö in 2015.
Perhaps even more impressively, Como became the first team in the modern Champions League era to score nine goals away from home. The achievement was particularly striking for a club making its debut in the competition.
Fàbregas Builds an Exciting Attacking Team
Como’s rise has been closely associated with Fàbregas, the former Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea midfielder who arrived at the club as a player in 2022. Following his retirement, he moved into coaching and became a central figure in the team’s development.
The Spaniard helped guide Como back to Serie A in 2024, ending a 21-year absence from Italy’s top division. The team finished 10th in its first season back before continuing its rapid progress toward European competition.
Fàbregas has established a recognizable playing style built around possession, aggressive pressing and quick attacking movements. His players are encouraged to take risks with the ball while maintaining enough organization to recover possession when attacks break down.
The approach requires considerable discipline and technical ability. Como’s midfielders regularly move into advanced positions, while defenders are expected to contribute to attacks rather than simply protect their own penalty area.
Against Lens, that philosophy produced an extraordinary attacking performance. Como repeatedly exploited spaces in the French defense and maintained their intensity despite establishing a commanding lead.
The result also demonstrated the squad’s depth. Goals came from several different positions, suggesting that the team’s attacking threat extends well beyond its most recognizable players.
Nico Paz Becomes the Centerpiece of Como’s Project
One of the most important figures in Como’s development is Argentine midfielder Nico Paz. The former Real Madrid prospect joined the Italian club in 2024 and has emerged as one of Serie A’s most promising creative players.
Paz played a decisive role in Como’s Champions League victory over Manchester United on October 21, scoring twice and providing an assist in a 4-1 win. His goal against Lens added another important contribution to his European campaign.
His development has also attracted attention because of his unusual contractual arrangement with Real Madrid. After originally moving to Como for approximately €6 million, Paz became the subject of a new agreement involving the two clubs in June 2026.
Real Madrid and Como announced that Paz would remain in Italy for the 2026-27 season at the player’s request. Reports indicate that Como committed approximately €60 million to retain him, while Madrid secured a new option to reacquire his rights for €80 million in 2027.
The agreement reflects the importance Como places on keeping talented players as its ambitions grow. Paz provides creativity, technical control and an attacking threat that are essential to Fàbregas’ tactical system.
His performances have also strengthened his standing in Argentine football. Although comparisons with Lionel Messi illustrate the expectations surrounding his development, Paz is establishing his own identity through his performances in Italy and Europe.
A Long-Term Project Backed by Ambitious Ownership
Como’s transformation has been supported by substantial investment and a clear sporting strategy. The club is owned by the Indonesian Hartono family, whose financial backing has helped it improve its facilities, recruitment and competitive position.
Club president Mirwan Suwarso has supported Fàbregas’ approach and helped establish a long-term vision centered on developing talented players. The club has increasingly combined younger prospects with experienced footballers capable of contributing immediately.
Financial investment has been important, but Como’s progress cannot be explained by spending alone. The coaching staff has developed an effective playing system that allows individuals with different backgrounds and levels of experience to perform together.
Fàbregas has also attracted interest from more established European clubs. Inter Milan explored the possibility of appointing him following Simone Inzaghi’s departure in 2025, but the Spaniard remained committed to Como.
His decision to stay has provided continuity during a period of rapid growth. It has also allowed the club to build around a consistent tactical identity rather than repeatedly changing its direction.
Como’s home ground, Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, offers another distinctive element of the club’s identity. Located beside Lake Como, the compact stadium provides an intimate atmosphere that contrasts with the enormous arenas used by many Champions League opponents.
Champions League Qualification Hopes Strengthen
Como’s European campaign began with a 4-1 home victory over RB Leipzig on September 10. The Italian side then suffered a 3-2 defeat at Feyenoord before recovering with another 4-1 victory against Manchester United.
The emphatic win over Lens gave Como three victories from four matches and a remarkable total of 19 goals scored. Their goal difference of plus 13 placed them among the competition’s strongest performers after Matchday 4.
The league-phase format requires each club to play eight matches against different opponents. The top eight teams advance directly to the round of 16, while clubs finishing between ninth and 24th enter the knockout phase play-offs.
Como’s position after four matches puts them in an encouraging situation, although qualification is not yet guaranteed. Their remaining schedule includes encounters with AEK Athens, Real Betis, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona.
The next fixture comes against AEK Athens at home on November 24. A fourth victory would bring Como closer to a place in the knockout rounds and reinforce their position among the leading teams in the competition.
For Fàbregas, the achievement is another major milestone in a coaching career that has progressed rapidly since his retirement as a player. His team has moved from Serie A newcomers to genuine Champions League contenders in a remarkably short period.
The victory in France provides the clearest demonstration yet of that progress. With nine goals, an eight-goal winning margin and a place among Europe’s leading teams, Como have established themselves as a serious opponent for the remainder of the competition.
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Source https://web.archive.org/web/20161029151020/http://www.panoramio.com/photo/90234770 Author Mister No CC3