There are statement victories, and then there are results that demand to be spoken about in hushed, disbelieving tones. Como’s 9–1 demolition of Lens in the Champions League on Tuesday night belongs firmly in the second category. It was not merely a win. It was a humiliation, a declaration, and a result that will be remembered for years—not just for its scoreline, but for what it might signify.
The match, played at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia on the shores of Lake Como, was over as a contest inside 25 minutes. Como were 4-0 up before Lens had registered a shot on target. By half-time it was 6-1. By full-time, the scoreboard read 9–1—the largest victory in the Champions League since 2019, and the most goals scored by an Italian side in a single European Cup match since Milan’s 8–0 win over Feyenoord in 1969.
The question is no longer whether Como are a good team. It is whether they are becoming something more: a genuine European powerhouse.
The Match: A Blitzkrieg Unlike Any Other
The warning signs were there from the first minute. Como pressed high, moved the ball with dizzying speed, and attacked in waves. Lens, a side that finished third in Ligue 1 last season and had conceded just four goals in their opening three Champions League matches, simply could not cope.
The goals came from everywhere. Mateo Retegui opened the scoring in the fourth minute, heading home a pinpoint cross from the right. Two minutes later, Nico Paz doubled the lead with a curling effort from the edge of the box. By the 15th minute, it was 3-0—a slick team move finished by the overlapping full-back. The fourth arrived on 24 minutes, a penalty converted by the captain after a reckless challenge.
Lens pulled one back through a rare defensive lapse, but it only seemed to annoy Como. They scored twice more before half-time, including a stunning solo effort from Paz that saw him beat four defenders before slotting home. The second half was a procession. Three more goals followed, the pick of them a 30-yard strike from substitute Gabriel Strefezza that arrowed into the top corner.
The statistics were as brutal as the scoreline. Como had 62% possession, 24 shots to Lens’s 6, and 11 shots on target to Lens’s 2. Their expected goals (xG) was 6.7—a figure that reflects both the quality and the quantity of their chances. Lens, by contrast, registered an xG of 0.8.
The Rise of Como: From Serie B to European Contenders
To understand how Como reached this point, you have to go back five years.
In 2021, Como were in Serie B, a club with a proud history but limited resources. Then came the takeover by the Djarum Group, the Indonesian conglomerate owned by the Hartono family, one of the wealthiest families in Southeast Asia. The investment was significant but not reckless. Como focused on smart recruitment, data-driven scouting, and a clear tactical identity.
The appointment of Cesc Fàbregas as head coach in 2024 was the turning point. The former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder, who had spent the final years of his playing career at Como, brought a philosophy of possession-based, high-pressing football that was both ambitious and adaptable. He also brought credibility—the kind of credibility that attracts talented young players and convinces them to buy into a project.
Promotion to Serie A followed in 2025. A mid-table finish in 2026 was enough to secure European qualification through the expanded Champions League format. And now, in 2026–27, Como are not just competing in Europe. They are dominating.
The Squad: A Blend of Experience and Youth
Como’s squad is a testament to the club’s recruitment strategy. It blends experienced professionals with some of the most exciting young talents in Europe.
Nico Paz is the crown jewel. The 22-year-old Argentine playmaker, signed from Real Madrid for €12 million in 2025, has been the breakout star of the Champions League this season. His performance against Lens—two goals, two assists, and a constant menace—was the kind of display that will have Europe’s biggest clubs circling. Como have already moved to extend his contract and increase his release clause.
Mateo Retegui provides the focal point up front. The Italian international, signed from Genoa in 2025, has scored 11 goals in his last 10 matches and offers the kind of physical presence that allows Como’s creative players to flourish.
The midfield is anchored by Maximo Perrone, a composed, intelligent deep-lying playmaker who dictates the tempo, and Lucas Da Cunha, a tireless box-to-box runner who covers every blade of grass. The defence, marshalled by the experienced Alberto Dossena, is well-organised and comfortable in possession.
And then there is Fàbregas himself. The coach has instilled a belief in his players that they can compete with anyone. “We don’t fear anyone,” he said after the match. “We respect every opponent, but we believe in our football. Tonight was a demonstration of what we can do when everything clicks.”
Is This a Flash in the Pan?
The obvious question is whether Como’s 9–1 win was an anomaly—a perfect storm of a brilliant performance and a catastrophic collapse from the opposition. Lens were poor. Their defending was shambolic, their midfield was overrun, and their body language suggested a team that had given up long before the final whistle.
But the result did not come out of nowhere. Como have been building towards this for years. They have a clear identity, a talented squad, a smart coach, and the financial backing to sustain their progress. They are not a one-season wonder. They are a club on an upward trajectory.
The Champions League’s new league phase has also levelled the playing field in unexpected ways. The removal of the traditional group stage has created a format where momentum and form matter more than reputation. Como have taken advantage of that. They have won four of their first five matches, including a 2–1 victory over Barcelona at Camp Nou. They sit second in the league phase, behind only Manchester City on goal difference.
The Comparisons: A New Atalanta?
The most natural comparison is with Atalanta, the Italian club that transformed itself from a mid-table Serie A side into a Champions League regular and a neutral’s favourite. Atalanta’s rise was built on smart recruitment, a bold tactical identity, and a willingness to attack even the biggest teams. Como share those qualities.
But there is a difference. Atalanta’s rise was gradual, built over a decade under Gian Piero Gasperini. Como’s rise has been faster, powered by significant investment and the pulling power of Fàbregas. They are ahead of schedule.
The other comparison is with Leicester City—the 2015-16 Premier League champions who defied the odds to win the title. But Como are not a fairytale. They are a well-funded, well-run club with a clear plan. Their rise is not a fluke. It is the result of deliberate strategy.
What Next?
Como’s next Champions League fixture is a trip to Manchester City in three weeks. It will be the sternest test of their credentials. If they can compete at the Etihad, the talk of a new powerhouse will become impossible to ignore.
Domestically, they sit fifth in Serie A, six points behind leaders Inter. A title challenge is unlikely, but a top-four finish and another season of Champions League football are realistic ambitions. The club’s owners have signalled their intention to invest further, with plans for a new stadium and a state-of-the-art training facility.
For now, the focus is on enjoying the moment. “We have to be realistic,” Fàbregas said. “We are not yet a team that can win the Champions League. But we are building something special. Tonight was a step—a big step—in that journey.”
Como’s 9–1 victory
over Lens was not just a result. It was a statement of intent. A club that was in Serie B five years ago has announced itself as a force in European football. The scoreline will be remembered for years. The question is whether it will be remembered as an anomaly or as the moment a new powerhouse was born.
The answer will be determined not by one night in November, but by what happens next. Como have the resources, the talent, and the ambition to sustain their rise. The 9–1 was a warning. European football would be wise to listen.
Do you think Como can sustain their rise and become a genuine European powerhouse, or is this a temporary peak for a club punching above its weight?
