Como 9-1 Lens: How Cesc Fabregas Made Champions League History
Como equalled the biggest win in Champions League history on Wednesday, thrashing Lens 9-1 in France. Cesc Fabregas’ side scored nine goals, matched Liverpool and Real Madrid’s record margin, and announced themselves as the most exciting story of this season’s competition.
Nobody expected this. Not from Como. Not from a club that was in Italy’s fourth tier just seven years ago. Not from a team playing in their first-ever Champions League campaign.
But Fabregas has built something special. And on Wednesday night at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis, it all came together in the most spectacular way possible.
The Record That Was Equalled
Como’s 9-1 win equalled the biggest margin of victory in Champions League history. The previous records were Liverpool‘s 8-0 win over Besiktas in 2007 and Real Madrid‘s 8-0 win over Malmo in 2015 .
But Como went further. They became only the second team in the modern competition to score nine goals in a single match, following Bayern Munich’s 9-2 win over Dinamo Zagreb in 2024 .
And they set a new record: the biggest away win in Champions League history. No away team had ever scored nine goals in the competition before .
The Goals
Anastasios Douvikas was the star. The Greek striker scored a hat-trick, taking his tally to six goals in four Champions League matches this season. He is now the competition’s top scorer, ahead of Erling Haaland .
Nico Paz, the Argentine midfielder linked with Real Madrid, added a goal and two assists. Lucas Da Cunha, Marc-Oliver Kempf, Mattia Liberali, Martin Baturina, and 18-year-old debutant Matteo Papaccioli also scored .
Lens’ only reply came from Ruben Aguilar’s volley in the 65th minute. By then, Como were already 7-0 up. It was the heaviest defeat ever suffered by a French club in the Champions League .
Fabregas: From Changing in a Bar to Making History
The story behind this Como team is almost as remarkable as the result.
When Fabregas arrived at Como as a player four years ago, the club was in Serie B. They changed in a bar. “We had massages in the back room of a bar,” Fabregas said. “Everyone used to leave at 12 or 12:30, there was nobody around” .
Como were declared bankrupt twice this century. They were in Italy’s amateur fourth tier as recently as 2018-19. Fabregas took a minority stake in 2022 and became head coach in November 2023. They were promoted to Serie A in 2024 after 21 years away. Last season, they finished fourth and qualified for the Champions League for the first time .
The Campaign So Far
They opened their campaign with a 4-1 win over RB Leipzig at home, before losing 3-2 to Feyenoord away. Then came the 4-1 demolition of Manchester United at home, and now the 9-1 thrashing of Lens . Four matches, three wins, one loss, and a goal difference of +13. They are fourth in the league phase, behind PSG, Real Madrid, and Arsenal .
After the Lens win, Fabregas was calm. “There’s nothing but positives for us to take this evening,” he said. “Everything went right for us” .
That is not arrogance. That is the satisfaction of a man who has built something and watched it work.
My Take: This Is What Football Is Supposed to Be
Everyone will talk about the record. They will talk about the nine goals. They will talk about Douvikas’ hat-trick.
But the real story is Fabregas.
He was one of the most gifted midfielders of his generation. He played for Arsenal, Barcelona, and Chelsea. He won everything. He could have taken an easy job at a big club, with a big budget and big expectations.
Instead, he went to Como. He took a minority stake. He became a coach. He built a team from nothing. And he did it playing the kind of football he was known for: possession, movement, courage, and attacking intent.
Fabregas did not inherit this Como team. He created it. And on Wednesday night, it produced a performance that will be remembered for years.
What Happens Next
Como face Inter Milan in Serie A next. Fabregas rested key players against Lens, suggesting he has one eye on that match. With nine points from four Champions League games, Como are in pole position for automatic qualification to the last 16 .
Lens, meanwhile, are 33rd in the league phase with three points from four matches. Their coach, Yannick Cahuzac, called the defeat “humiliating” .
For Como, the dream continues. For Fabregas, the project is working. And for the rest of Europe, a warning has been sent: this team is not here to make up the numbers.
FAQs
What was the score of Lens vs Como?
Lens 1-9 Como, in the Champions League league phase on November 4, 2026 .
Did Como break a Champions League record?
Yes. They equalled the biggest winning margin (8 goals) and became the first away team to score nine goals in the competition .
Who scored Como’s goals?
Anastasios Douvikas scored a hat-trick. Nico Paz, Lucas Da Cunha, Marc-Oliver Kempf, Mattia Liberali, Martin Baturina, and Matteo Papaccioli scored the others .
Who is Como’s manager?
Cesc Fabregas, the former Arsenal, Barcelona, and Chelsea midfielder.
Where are Como in the Champions League table?
Fourth, with nine points from four matches.
Data from:
UEFA.com. (2026, November 4). Champions League highlights and round-up: Como equal biggest-ever win. https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/02ab-21fe508a035b-5eed0199e0b2-1000–champions-league-highlights-and-round-up-como-equal-bigges/
The Athletic. (2026, November 4). Como equal Champions League record win with 9-1 victory against Lens. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7754339/2026/11/04/como-champions-league-record-lens/
BBC Sport. (2026, November 4). Lens 1-9 Como: Cesc Fabregas’ side equal record. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/cqr7yp1k8l39t
The Indian Express. (2026, November 5). Cesc Fabregas’s Como went from changing in a bar to humbling Lens. https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/cesc-fabregass-como-went-from-changing-in-a-bar-to-humbling-lens-10951802/
