Como 1907 has made Champions League history by becoming the first visiting team to score nine goals in a single match, dismantling Lens 9-1 on Wednesday. Under Cesc Fàbregas, the Italian side secured their third win in four matches, climbing to fourth place in the league phase standings.
The performance in France was a masterclass in clinical finishing, as reported by The Associated Press. While European football has seen high-scoring affairs in the past, Como’s ability to net nine goals on foreign soil is a unique milestone in the modern era of the competition. Previously, the most prolific away performance in the Champions League era was Bayern Munich’s 8-2 victory over Barcelona in the 2020 neutral-site quarterfinal in Lisbon.
A Historic Offensive Surge in France
The match saw a relentless offensive display that left Lens struggling to find any defensive structure. Tasos Douvikas was the spearhead of the attack, netting a hat-trick to extend his scoring streak to all four of Como’s matches in the tournament. He currently leads the Champions League with six goals. The scoring was rounded out by contributions from Lucas Da Cunha, Marc-Oliver Kempf, Mattia Liberali, Martin Baturina, and Matteo Papaccioli.
For Papaccioli, the night was particularly surreal. At just 18 years old, the youth team player has yet to make his debut in Serie A, yet he found himself on the scoresheet in one of the most significant European matches in the club’s history. This 9-1 result matches the largest margin of victory in the competition, echoing the 8-0 home triumphs previously achieved by Liverpool against Besiktas and Real Madrid against Malmö.
Nico Paz and the Tribute to Jesús de Miguel
Argentine midfielder Nico Paz, who also added his name to the scoresheet, chose to forgo a traditional celebration. Instead, he unveiled a shirt bearing the image of Jesús de Miguel, the Tenerife forward who tragically died following an on-field collision with an opposing goalkeeper. Paz, having spent time in the Tenerife youth system between 2014 and 2016, used the global stage to honor his former colleague’s memory.
Contextualizing the Record Against European History
While the modern Champions League era has not witnessed a visiting team reach nine goals, Razón notes that historical precedents exist from the earlier European Cup era of the 1960s and 70s. During those decades, teams like Feyenoord and Anderlecht recorded double-digit scores in preliminary rounds against amateur or semi-professional sides, such as their victories over KR Reykjavík and Haka, respectively.
Achieving such a scoreline against a side from Ligue 1—one of Europe’s established "Big Five" leagues—shows the rapid ascent of the Lombardy-based club. Founded in 1907, the team has spent much of its history in the lower tiers of Italian football, only securing their Serie A promotion in the 2024-2025 season. Their fourth-place finish in the 2025-2026 domestic campaign served as the springboard for this maiden voyage into the Champions League.
Fàbregas Reflects on a Defining Performance
“Today everything went our way. A great night for Como and our fans,” Fàbregas stated following the match.
According to data tracked by Razón, Paz has been involved in eight goals—three scored himself and five assisted—in just four Champions League appearances.
For now, the Como faithful can look toward the next fixture at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, knowing their team has already rewritten the record books of the world’s most prestigious club tournament.
