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CESC FABREGAS’ Como have HUMILIATED Lens in the Champions League!
The sensational Italians now move to fourth in the table with the win, only behind PSG, Real Madrid and Arsenal after scoring 13 goals in their last two European games.
Greek striker Anastasios Douvikas scored a sublime hat-trick and provided one assist to earn man of the match, while Nico Paz also netted and grabbed two assists.
Follow all the action with our LIVE blog below…
An utterly wild Champions League encounter comes to an end as Como demolish Lens 9-1 away at Stade Bollaert-Delelis.
Holding a 3-0 advantage at half-time, the visitors ran riot after the break to become just the second side in the competition’s history to net nine times in a single match.
Douvikas bagged a hat-trick to take his Champions League tally to six for the season, with seven other Como scorers joining him on the scoresheet.
Paz, Da Cunha and Liberali delivered inspired displays as Lens were left completely powerless.
The hosts mustered a mere 0.77 xG, whereas Como racked up a staggering 4.27 xG from 18 shots, looking dangerous every time they attacked.
The heavy defeat drops Lens to 33rd in the league phase table, while Como climb to fourth.
Next up in the competition, Lens travel to RB Leipzig and Como host AEK Athens.
Thanks for joining us for this live text commentary!
The dangerous Liberali has been a nightmare for the Lens defence since his 58th-minute introduction off the bench, racking up a goal and two assists.
GOAL!
A NINTH FOR COMO!
9-1!
Liberali acts as provider, swivelling to thread a sublime pass through the Lens defence and put Papacciolo clean through.
The 18-year-old calmly buries his one-on-one chance, and though the offside flag initially halts his celebrations, the call is overturned, the goal stands and the teenager wheels away in ecstasy.
Three minutes of added time stand between Lens and the end of this nightmare.
Fair play to the Lens supporters, most of them have stuck it out despite the humiliating circumstances.
COMO SHOULD HAVE NINE!
Baturina dinks a tempting ball to the back post for the arriving Couto, but he smashes his first-time volley well over the bar from a tight angle.
Hazard squeezes into a narrow gap between a pair of Como defenders, but can only loop a tricky header onto the roof of the net.
It is fair to say Hazard has been on the periphery all evening.
Things have turned a bit scrappy on the pitch.
Como have eased off the gas, missing that ruthless attacking fluidity they showed earlier.
For Lens, the message is clear: they simply cannot afford to concede again.
That staggering scoreline tells the story as Como operate on a completely different level, leaving Lens entirely helpless against their opponents’ attacking threat.
YELLOW CARD!
Cuisance goes into the book for hauling Baturina back as he looks to latch onto possession.
SUB: Smolcic replaces Kempf as Fabregas withdraws another of his goalscorers.
SUB: Bulatovic replaces Haidara in a further change.
SUBS: Lens make a double change to inject fresh legs into their beleaguered outfielders, with Kadile replacing Thauvin as his evening comes to an end.
Introduced just before the hour mark, Liberali has added a goal and an assist to his tally since the break.
What an inspired change, and Fabregas has got everything spot on tonight.
GOAL!
COMO NET THEIR FIFTH OF THE SECOND HALF TO MAKE IT 8-1!
Lens’ defence is nowhere to be seen as Liberali sends Baturina through on goal.
Baturina races clear and slots a close-range finish into the bottom corner, keeping up Como’s free-scoring form.
Lens finally manage to stem the relentless pressure coming their way.
Aguilar’s volley is a rare, tiny bright spot in a grim game for the French outfit.
With Douvikas, Paz and Da Cunha all off the pitch, you’d expect Como’s goal threat to finally quieten down.
Thauvin offers an attacking spark for his side, yet it has the appearance of far too little, too late.
GOAL!
LENS HAVE A CONSOLATION!
7-1!
Thauvin floats a corner over to Aguilar, stationed just inside the box, and he unleashes a brilliant downward volley into the far bottom corner.
It is magnificent technique, handing the Lens fans something to shout about.
GOAL!
Lens’ defence is all at sea as an unchallenged pass from Ramon deep inside Como’s half completely rips open the entire home backline, freeing Liberali to charge through on goal and score.
GOAL!
COMO ARE UNSTOPPABLE!
7-0!
Liberali, introduced just moments ago, charges down the right flank onto a deep ball from Ramon before steering an outside-of-the-foot shot into the near bottom corner.
The keeper should be doing better, and Lens’ misery deepens.
Como go close!
Baturina directs a flick into Caqueret’s path, but Risser is just first to it.
Perrone snaps up the loose ball, though his shot is crucially blocked by the Lens goalkeeper.
SUB: Papaccioli replaces hat-trick hero Douvikas after a thoroughly productive outing.
SUB: Having netted Como’s fourth goal, Da Cunha makes way for Liberali.
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