Como thrash Lens 9-1 to set Italian record in Champions League history
Synopsis
Como's 9-1 demolition of Lens is not just a scoreline — it is a statement. Fabregas's side became only the second team in Champions League history to score nine goals in a match, joining Bayern Munich, and set an Italian club record in the process. With three wins from four in their debut CL campaign, Como are no longer underdogs.
Key Takeaways
Como beat Lens 9-1 away on 5 November 2026 , the largest winning margin by an Italian club in Champions League history.
Anastasios Douvikas scored a hat-trick; Nico Paz and Mattia Liberali each contributed a goal and two assists.
Como became only the second team since 1992 to score nine in a CL match, after Bayern Munich's 9-2 over Dinamo Zagreb in 2024 .
The eight-goal winning margin equals those of Liverpool (vs Besiktas, 2007) and Real Madrid (vs Malmo, 2015).
It is the first time a team has scored nine away in European competition since Feyenoord against Olympiakos in 1971 .
Como now have three wins from four in their maiden Champions League campaign.
Como produced one of the most breathtaking performances in UEFA Champions League history on 5 November 2026, demolishing Lens 9-1 away from home to register the largest winning margin ever recorded by an Italian club in the competition. The result, delivered under manager Cesc Fabregas, also made Como only the second team to score nine goals in a single Champions League fixture since the tournament adopted its modern format in 1992.
Record-Breaking Scoreline
Anastasios Douvikas led the charge with a hat-trick, opening the scoring in the 7th minute and doubling his tally in the 32nd. Nico Paz added a third before the break, leaving Lens with an insurmountable deficit at half-time. The visitors continued to press after the restart, with Lucas Da Cunha making it 4-0 in the 47th minute and Marc-Oliver Kempf extending the lead six minutes later.
Substitute Mattia Liberali struck in the 62nd minute, before Ruben Aguilar pulled one back for Lens in the 65th to offer the home supporters a brief respite. Martin Baturina restored Como's six-goal cushion four minutes later, and debutant Matteo Papaccioli completed the extraordinary scoreline in stoppage time. Paz and Liberali were particularly influential, each contributing a goal and two assists.
Where Como Stand in History
The only previous side to score nine in a single Champions League game was Bayern Munich, who thrashed Dinamo Zagreb 9-2 during the league phase in 2024. Como's eight-goal winning margin also places them alongside Liverpool, who beat Besiktas 8-0 in 2007, and Real Madrid, who defeated Malmo 8-0 in 2015. Additionally, Como became the first team since Feyenoord — who scored nine against Olympiakos in 1971 — to net nine times away from home in Europe's premier club competition.
Como's Maiden Champions League Campaign
The victory marked Como's third win in four matches during their debut Champions League campaign, consolidating their position in the competition's standings. Fabregas's side had previously recorded convincing 4-1 home victories over RB Leipzig and Manchester United, announcing themselves as one of the tournament's most watchable outfits. This latest result signals that Como are no longer simply surprise participants — they are genuine contenders.
What Comes Next
With momentum firmly behind them and an astonishing goal difference building, Como will be one of the most closely watched sides as the Champions League progresses. The performance will inevitably invite scrutiny of Lens's defensive frailties, but Fabregas's tactical system and attacking depth deserve equal attention. Few teams in the competition's modern era have announced themselves quite so emphatically.
Point of View
Including from a debutant in stoppage time. Mainstream coverage will focus on the records, but the more significant story is structural: a club that only returned to Serie A in 2024 is now outscoring traditional European giants in the continent's biggest club competition. For Lens, the result raises urgent questions about defensive organisation. For the Champions League itself, Como are fast becoming its most compelling subplot.
NationPress
5 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Como's 9-1 win over Lens make Champions League history?
Como's 9-1 victory on 5 November 2026 is the largest winning margin ever recorded by an Italian club in the Champions League, and only the second time a team has scored nine goals in a single match in the competition's modern era since 1992. The first was Bayern Munich's 9-2 against Dinamo Zagreb in 2024.
Who scored for Como against Lens?
Anastasios Douvikas netted a hat-trick, while goals also came from Nico Paz, Lucas Da Cunha, Marc-Oliver Kempf, Mattia Liberali, Martin Baturina, and debutant Matteo Papaccioli. Ruben Aguilar scored Lens's consolation goal in the 65th minute.
Where does Como's win rank among the biggest Champions League victories?
Como's eight-goal winning margin places them alongside Liverpool, who beat Besiktas 8-0 in 2007, and Real Madrid, who defeated Malmo 8-0 in 2015. Bayern Munich's 9-2 over Dinamo Zagreb in 2024 remains the only match with a higher goal total in the modern era.
How is Como performing overall in the 2026 Champions League?
Como have won three of their four matches in their debut Champions League campaign. Prior to the Lens result, they had beaten RB Leipzig and Manchester United 4-1 at home, establishing themselves as one of the competition's most attacking sides.
Who is managing Como in the Champions League?
Como are managed by former Spain and Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who has guided the club from their Serie A return in 2024 to their first-ever Champions League campaign, with remarkable results so far.
