Italian club Como delivered an astonishing performance on Wednesday night, routing French side Lens 9-1 away from home in the UEFA Champions League. The huge result at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis marked a sixth straight victory across all competitions for Cesc Fabregas’ team, according to Punch.
Greek forward Anastasios Douvikas led the scoring spree with a hat-trick. He opened the scoring just seven minutes into the match, turning in a cross after Máximo Perrone nodded down a corner delivery from Luis Milla. Douvikas struck again in the 32nd minute from close range following an Álex Valle cutback, before setting up Nico Paz to blast in a third five minutes ahead of the break. Paz celebrated his goal by displaying a shirt honouring Jesús de Miguel, a player who passed away earlier in the week after an on-pitch incident.
The visitors did not ease off in the second half. Lucas Da Cunha combined with Paz to slot in the fourth goal two minutes after the restart. Defender Marc-Oliver Kempf rose to head home Milla’s cross in the 53rd minute, and Douvikas wrapped up his treble four minutes later after rounding goalkeeper Robin Risser.
Mattia Liberali drove in a seventh from an angle on 62 minutes. Although Ruben Aguilar got Lens on the scoresheet with a volleyed finish from a corner three minutes later, Como quickly struck back. Martin Baturina shook off his marker to score in a one-on-one situation.
Eighteen-year-old Matteo Papaccioli sealed the 9-1 victory in stoppage time on his senior debut. The strike was initially ruled out for offside before a VAR check confirmed the goal.
The massive away triumph significantly boosts Como's European run. They had previously picked up 4-1 home victories over RB Leipzig and Manchester United, alongside an away defeat against Feyenoord.
