Lens 1-9 Como: Nico Paz Hat-Trick Inspires Emphatic Champions League Away Rout

Como produced one of the most startling away performances of the UEFA Champions League season, dismantling RC Lens 9-1 at Stade Bollaert-Delelis on 5 November 2026. Nico Paz led the charge with a hat-trick, while Assane Diao and Patrick Cutrone each scored twice as the Italian side turned a difficult away trip into a statement victory.

The result instantly became the headline scoreline of the league phase. Lens, backed by their traditionally passionate home support, were undone by a combination of ruthless Como pressing, clinical finishing and a first-half red card that left the French side exposed. By the time the final whistle arrived, the contest had long since turned into a damage-limitation exercise for the hosts.

Match overview: Como seize control early

Como needed only six minutes to open the scoring. Paz collected the ball between Lens’s midfield and defensive lines, shifted onto his left foot and curled a low effort beyond Brice Samba. The away side’s intensity set the tone: Lens were given no time to settle, and their attempts to play out from the back repeatedly ran into a compact and aggressive Como press.

The second goal arrived in the 18th minute when Diao raced onto a diagonal pass and finished confidently at the near post. Lens’s evening then suffered a major blow in the 27th minute when Jonathan Gradit was sent off for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity. The home side had already been second-best; playing a man down against Como’s quick combinations made the task almost impossible.

Key moments

• 6’ – 0-1: Nico Paz opens the scoring with a precise curling finish from the edge of the box.
• 18’ – 0-2: Assane Diao converts a swift counter-attack after a Lens turnover.
• 27’ – Red card: Jonathan Gradit is dismissed, leaving Lens with ten men.
• 34’ – 0-3: Patrick Cutrone turns in a low cross as Como punish the extra space.
• 41’ – 1-3: Florian Sotoca gives Lens a brief lift with a composed finish inside the area.
• 45+2’ – 1-4: Paz restores Como’s three-goal cushion with a first-time strike before half-time.
• 52’ – 1-5: Diao grabs his second after another incisive move down the right.
• 63’ – 1-6: Maximo Perrone adds a sixth with a driven effort from midfield.
• 71’ – 1-7: Paz completes his hat-trick, finishing calmly after being played through on goal.
• 79’ – 1-8: Gabriel Strefezza curls in a superb effort from the edge of the penalty area.
• 88’ – 1-9: Cutrone scores his second to complete the rout.

Tactical story: pressing, space and ruthless transitions

Como’s plan was clear from the opening minutes: press high, force Lens into hurried passes and attack the space behind an aggressive back line. Paz drifted intelligently between the lines, making him difficult for Lens’s midfield to track, while Diao’s pace stretched the home defence on both flanks. Once Gradit was sent off, the match became an exercise in controlled domination.

Lens attempted to stay compact and use Sotoca as an outlet, but their midfield was overrun. The home side’s brief response after Sotoca’s goal suggested they might at least make the scoreline respectable, yet Como’s immediate fourth goal before half-time killed any momentum. In the second half, Como moved the ball quickly from side to side, drawing Lens out of shape before delivering the final pass.

Standout players

Nico Paz was the orchestrator and finisher, delivering a performance that will be remembered for its composure in the final third. His hat-trick included a curling opener, a first-time strike and a one-on-one finish, and he constantly found pockets of space that Lens could not close.

Assane Diao added two goals and several dangerous runs, while Patrick Cutrone punished Lens’s defensive uncertainty with a brace. Maximo Perrone controlled the tempo from midfield and capped his display with a goal. For Lens, Florian Sotoca took his consolation goal well, and Brice Samba made several saves that prevented an even heavier defeat.

Season impact: a statement win and a night to forget

For Como, the result is far more than three points. A nine-goal away victory in the Champions League league phase strengthens their position and sends a warning to rivals about their attacking potential. The scale of the win could also prove important for goal difference if the battle for knockout-stage places remains tight.

Lens, meanwhile, must regroup quickly. A home defeat of this