Champions League Newcomers Fabregas’ Como Destroy Lens Away In Nine-Goal Rout, Liverpool Fall, Arsenal Survive But Win, Madrid, Man City Scrape Victories (FIND BELOW RESULTS OF UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MATCHES PLAYED ON WEDNESDAY, 4 NOVEMBER)
*Betis’ 100% Winning Record Ends
*Porto Hammer Napoli
Como produced a stunning away performance as they put nine goals past a hapless Lens side to match the record for most scored by a team in a Champions League game.
The Italian side equalled Bayern Munich’s tally against Dinamo Zagreb in 2024 as a remarkable debut European campaign for Cesc Fabregas’ team continued in France.
While the Italians have a share of the record for most goals in the Champions League era, Feyenoord hold the European Cup mark having beaten Icelandic side KR 12-2 in September 1969.
Having thumped RB Leipzig and Manchester United either side of a narrow defeat by Feyenoord, Como’s most staggering result yet lifted them up to fourth in the league phase table.
Tasos Douvikas struck twice from close range to put the visitors in control, before Tenerife-born Nico Paz smashed in the third goal and displayed a T-shirt paying tribute to Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel, who died after a suffering a serious injury during an on-pitch collision.
With Lens already well beaten, Como were ruthless and captain Lucas da Cunha made it four less than two minutes into the second half.
Marc-Oliver Kempf headed in the fifth on 53 minutes, before Paz played in Douvikas to calmly slot home to complete his hat-trick.
Substitute Mattia Liberali ran clear to stab in the seventh after 62 minutes and with so long left, the prospect of matching or even going past Bayern’s record seemed extremely plausible.
Lens, though, managed to pull one back through Ruben Aguilar’s smart volley from a corner.
But Como kept going and Martin Baturina burst through an increasingly disinterested defence to make it eight with more than 20 minutes remaining.
With time running out, they claimed the ninth goal in stoppage time when 18-year-old Matteo Papaccioli was played in and finished calmly.
The goal was initially ruled out for offside but a video assistant referee (VAR) check showed he had timed his run to perfection to spark yet more celebrations on a scarcely believable night for his side.
Como did, though, enjoy the biggest away win in Champions League history.
Arsenal Survive Slavia Bombardment, But Win
Viktor Gyokeres scored and provided an assist as Arsenal continued their unbeaten start in the league phase of the Champions League with a win over Slavia Prague.
Manager Mikel Arteta made six changes to the team that beat Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday, with Gyokeres leading the line in place of Kai Havertz.
The Swedish striker played a huge part in the opening goal when he hooked the ball behind the Slavia Prague defence for Noni Madueke to race on to and finish confidently in the ninth minute.
Gyokeres added the second himself before half-time after he exchanged passes with Mikel Merino and curled an excellent finish in off the post.
Slavia Prague improved after the break, and almost immediately David Raya had to produce a good save to deny Oskar Kubiak who shot from the edge of the box.
Gabriel Magalhaes had to clear the ball off the line after a Mojmir Chytil header following a corner, and the home side eventually pulled one back when Wiktor Nowak scored from close range in the 90th minute.
The Gunners, who had a 100% record in this stage of the competition during the last campaign, are unbeaten after their opening four games this season and are third in the table behind Paris St-Germain (PSG) and Real Madrid.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Viktor Gyokeres (3rd left) scored and assisted as Arsenal beat Slavia Prague.
RESULTS OF UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MATCHES PLAYED ON WEDNESDAY, 4 NOVEMBER:
*AEK Athens – Real Madrid 2-3
*Fenerbahce – Liverpool 3-2
*Dortmund – Betis 2-1
*FC Porto – Napoli 4-1
*Lens – Como 1-9
*PSV – Club Brugge KV 1-2
*RB Leipzig – Manchester City 2-3
*Slavia Prague – Arsenal 1-2
*Viking – Sabah FC 4-1.
