05.11.2026 11:40
The match in the UEFA Champions League in which Como defeated Lens 9-1 away resonated widely in the world press. While the Italian team's historic victory was praised, the heavy defeat suffered by the French representative was criticized in harsh terms. The French newspaper Le Figaro, with the words "You are not dreaming, the score is not a mistake," highlighted the astonishment created by the 10-goal match.
In the 4th week of the UEFA Champions League, Italy's representative Como recorded a historic victory away against Lens in France. Como under Cesc Fabregas defeated its opponent 9-1, achieving one of the most remarkable results in European football. After the match, striking headlines were published in the press of Italy, France, England, Spain, Germany, and Portugal.
A HISTORIC 9-GOAL VICTORY FROM COMO
Como's goals were scored by Anastasios Douvikas (3), Nico Paz, Lucas Da Cunha, Oliver Kempf, Mattia Liberali, Martin Baturina, and Matteo Papaccioli. Lens's only goal came from Ruben Aguilar. The Italian representative also repeated the Champions League record for the biggest victory margin with its eight-goal winning margin.
ITALIAN PRESS BROUGHT COMO TO THE HEADLINES
Italy's leading news agency ANSA announced the historic match with the headline "Como made history, Lens were crushed by a 9-1 score." The agency described Como's performance as a source of pride for Italian football.
La Gazzetta dello Sport, meanwhile, used the headline "Como, you are so beautiful! Nine goals at Lens, a record." The newspaper emphasized that Fabregas's students rewrote the history of Italian football.
Corriere della Sera likened Como to a joyful war machine, while Tuttosport drew attention to the historic victory with the headline "Comosutra."
"YOU ARE NOT DREAMING, THE SCORE IS NOT A MISTAKE"
In the French press, Lens's heavy defeat received extensive coverage. Le Figaro announced the match to its readers with the headline "Lens suffered a historic-scale rout against Como."
The newspaper used the following statements in its assessment after the match:
"A nightmare. A real nightmare. Just a few days after their disappointing defeat (1-0) against Lille in the Northern derby, Lens had the chance to redeem themselves at home against Como. A missed opportunity. A complete fiasco. Florian Thauvin and his teammates were humiliated at the Bollaert on Wednesday (1-9). You are not dreaming, the score is not a mistake…"
THE FRENCH PRESS TORE ITS OWN TEAM APART
L'Equipe described Lens's defeat as "a historic humiliation." The newspaper wrote that the French representative suffered the heaviest defeat by a French club in Champions League history. RMC Sport used the headline "Lens's extremely shameful collapse in the Champions League." The French broadcaster stated that the match was a major blow for the country's football. Le Monde also recalled that in Lens's 120-year history, they had experienced a similar heavy defeat only once, against Marseille in 1940.
ENGLISH AND SPANISH PRESS ALSO SHOCKED
The British newspaper The Sun highlighted Como's performance with the headline "Fabregas's sensational Italians scored NINE goals in the Champions League."
The Spanish newspaper Marca used the headline "Como made history." The report drew attention to the significance of the club, which was competing in Italy's third tier six seasons ago, achieving such success in the Champions League.
"WHAT HAPPENED AT LENS?"
Portugal's A Bola newspaper announced the match with the headline "What happened at Lens?! How did they win 9-1 and stun Europe?" The German magazine Kicker also stated that Como had recorded a historic victory and wrote that the Italian representative had gone down in Champions League history. While Como's 9-1 triumph drew great praise in the European press, Lens's heavy defeat became one of the most discussed results in French football.