The result places the Italian club in elite company, as they become only the third team to secure an eight-goal winning margin since the competition's rebranding in 1992. Previously, only Liverpool, who defeated Besiktas 8-0 in 2007, and Real Madrid, who matched that scoreline against Malmo in 2015, had achieved such a feat. Furthermore, Como’s nine-goal haul makes them only the second side to net nine times in a single Champions League fixture, following Bayern Munich’s 9-2 win over Dinamo Zagreb earlier in 2024.
A Masterclass in Attacking Football
The visitors set the tone early when Greek international
The second half saw Como accelerate their offensive output. Paz turned provider for Lucas Da Cunha to make it 4-0, while Marc-Oliver Kempf added a fifth with a header. Douvikas then completed his hat-trick to further extend the lead. Although substitute Mattia Liberali added a seventh, Lens managed a brief moment of respite when Ruben Aguilar scored a fine volley. However, the respite was short-lived as Martin Baturina and Matteo Papaccioli added further goals to round off the 9-1 scoreline.
Context and Reaction
Reflecting on the performance, Cesc Fabregas remained measured, telling UEFA.com that there were only positives to take from the evening and that everything had gone according to plan. For Lens, the night marked a difficult milestone, representing their third consecutive defeat in the competition and the heaviest loss ever suffered by a French club in the Champions League. Coach Yannick Cahuzac described the defeat as a moment of humiliation for his side.
The victory moves Como to nine points from four matches, placing them fourth in the overall standings. The club, which qualified for the Champions League for the first time after a fourth-place finish in Serie A last season, continues an impressive campaign that has already included home victories over RB Leipzig and Manchester United.
