Players from Italian side Como defeated French club Lens 9-1 in the fourth matchday of the Champions League league phase, played on Wednesday at the Bollaert-Delelis stadium. It is the biggest away victory by any club in the history of the Champions League, as well as the heaviest European defeat for a French club in this competition.
Como were already leading 3-0 at half-time, and scored another six goals in the second half. The hero of the match was Greek striker Tasos Douvikas, who hit the net three times for Lens — in the 7th, 32nd and 57th minutes. Nico Paz, Lucas Da Cunha, Marc-Oliver Kempf, Mattia Liberali, Martin Baturina and Matteo Papaccioli each scored one goal. Baturina came on as a substitute for Nico Paz in the 58th minute, and scored to make it 8-1 in the 69th minute. The final score was set by 18-year-old Papaccioli in stoppage time. The only goal for the French team was scored by Ruben Aguilar in the 67th minute.
Como are only the third club in Champions League history to win by eight goals. Liverpool beat Beşiktaş 8-0 in 2007, and Real Madrid defeated Malmö 8-0 in 2015, but both clubs achieved those results at home. Como equalled the record away, becoming the first club to score nine goals on the road in the Champions League. Prior to this match, only Bayern München had managed to score nine goals in a single Champions League game — in September 2024, when they beat Zagreb's Dinamo 9-2 at home. Como have now equalled that feat, but with an even larger goal difference.
Como manager Cesc Fabregas told Sky Sport Italia: "It was a happy evening, everything went our way, and the players deserve congratulations. It is a big evening for Como, our fans and the young players who are just starting their careers." He also admitted he was not happy about conceding a goal in the 65th minute, while leading 7-0. "I am angry about the goal conceded because something changed in our defence after three substitutions," he said. Regarding the consolation goal by Aguilar, with whom he played at Monaco, he added: "We played together for three years at Monaco, he scored a great goal."
Fabregas emphasised that this victory must not change his team's approach. "We must stay grounded, be humble and keep working. We must learn from matches like this, and not think we are some kind of phenomenon," he said.
Como are playing their first season in the Champions League. After four matches played, they have three wins and nine points, placing them fourth in the league table. The 9-1 victory in France has become the biggest result in the club's European history to date.
