Cesc Fabregas says Como’s nine-goal Champions League win is a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ result

Cesc Fabregas says Como have written their names into Champions League history after their 9-1 victory against Lens, but admitted he was frustrated by the goal his side conceded.

The result made Como the first Italian club to score nine goals in a single Champions League match and established the biggest away winning margin in the competition’s history.

Seven different players scored Como’s nine goals. Tasos Douvikas claimed a hat-trick, while Nico Paz, Lucas da Cunha, Marc-Oliver Kempf, Mattia Liberali, Martin Baturina and debutant Matteo Papaccioli were also on the scoresheet.

Papaccioli scored with his first touch in his first official appearance for the club.

After four rounds of the league phase, Como sit fourth with nine points, behind Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Arsenal. The match was their first appearance in the competition and followed two emphatic 4-1 victories against RB Leipzig and Manchester United.

“We have written ourselves into the history books,” Fabregas told Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport. “It was an unforgettable night for our supporters and the club. Everything went our way, but we have to continue in the same manner because we have another very important match on Sunday.”

Como are also fourth in Serie A and now face a demanding trip to San Siro to play reigning champions Inter on 8 November 2026. Lens are scheduled to play Marseille in Ligue 1 on the same date.

Fabregas acknowledged that his players deserved to enjoy their achievement but warned them to focus immediately on the next fixture.

“It is right for us to enjoy this moment because the group deserves it, but football moves at an incredibly fast pace,” he said. “I have already told the players that we must turn the page on the Lens match and think only about Inter.

“It will be an extremely difficult game at their stadium and a huge physical and mental challenge. We do not have much time, but we have to prepare as well as possible. The aim is to go to Milan and show our true identity.

“This will be our ninth match between international breaks. We have to try to finish it well, and then turn the page again.”

Reflecting on the margin of victory in France, Fabregas said the result should not obscure the fact that Como remain at the beginning of their European campaign.

“Nobody could have expected a 9-1 scoreline,” he said. “It is not a result that usually happens in football and it comes around once in a lifetime. I am proud of my players and the numbers are truly excellent, but we are still at the start of our Champions League journey and have played only four matches.”

Fabregas said Como performed well overall, despite a poor spell at the start of the second half.

“We played a good match against Lens, even though the first five minutes of the second half were a little superficial,” he added. “We defended and attacked well, although the goal we conceded made me angry.

“Things changed slightly at the back when we made three substitutions, but my former team-mate Aguilar scored that wonderful goal.”