Como scored nine goals in a 9-1 Champions League rout of Lens on Wednesday, setting a record for most goals on the road by any team in the competition’s history and moving up to fourth place in the league phase table.
The Serie A side, coached by former Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea star Cesc Fabregas, produced a scoring display that even a free-scoring team like Como found hard to believe.
“It has been a great night for Como, for all our fans, and for many of the young players who are just starting their careers,” Fabregas said after the game. “But we have to keep our feet on the ground, stay humble, and keep working hard. This is something we must always learn.”
Douvikas and Paz Lead the Way
Tasos Douvikas became just the third Greek international to score a Champions League hat trick. Argentine star Nico Paz pulled the strings with two assists and a sublime goal that made it 3-0 in the 40th minute.
Lucas Da Cunha, Marc-Oliver Kempf, Mattia Liberali, Martin Baturina and Matteo Papaccioli also scored for Como. Lens, who sit ninth in Ligue 1, had no answer.
Douvikas’s hat trick was the first by a Como player in European competition. That milestone is no surprise, since this is the first season the club from Italy’s luxury resort town has played in the Champions League, Europa League or Conference League.
Records Tumble
Como’s nine goals tie the record for goals scored in a single game, a mark Bayern Munich holds whether at home or away. The team’s total across four Champions League matches now stands at 19, one behind the tally of two-time defending champions Paris Saint-Germain so far.
The eight-goal margin of victory also set a record. It ties the mark Liverpool set with an 8-0 win over Besiktas in 2007 and that Real Madrid matched with an 8-0 win over Malmo in 2015.
Fabregas urged his players to stay grounded despite the historic result. “We must learn this now so we don’t buy into our own hype or think that the job is already done,” he said. “We have to learn to say: ‘Okay, it was a good day, let’s move forward and try to keep putting in good performances.'”
Looking Ahead in Serie A
Como are fourth in Serie A with 23 points after 10 games, five behind leaders Lazio. They face second-place Inter on Sunday.