Como sets record with nine goals in Champions League blowout

Como scored nine goals in a 9-1 victory over Lens in France on Wednesday, becoming only the second team in Champions League history to reach that mark in a single game. The result capped a night where six of nine matches in the competition ended with at least five combined goals.

The surge in offensive output is evident in the league data. Through four matchdays of the current season, teams are averaging 2.02 goals per match. That total marks an increase from 1.69 goals per match in the 2025-26 season and 1.63 in the 2024-25 campaign. The trend extends to domestic leagues, with Serie A reporting a 23.9 percent rise in scoring and the Eredivisie up 20.1 percent.

Anastasios Douvikas led the Italian attack with a hat trick, converting all three of his shots. Cesc Fabregas' side attempted 18 shots worth 4.3 expected goals. Nico Paz also found the net, dedicating his goal to the late Spanish forward Jesus de Miguel. Como has now scored 19 goals in four Champions League matches, securing three wins in the process.

Manchester United delivered a dramatic turnaround at Old Trafford two days prior. Trailing Roma 2-0 after a first half that included fans throwing tennis balls onto the pitch, the Red Devils recovered to win the match. Bruno Fernandes scored from a retaken penalty after missing his initial attempt. Matheus Cunha struck twice to seal the victory and end a nine-match winless streak for the club.

The win relieved pressure on manager Michael Carrick. United had previously conceded 18 goals from 16.6 expected goals while scoring only six from chances worth 9.9 expected goals during the winless run. Roma’s defense was a factor in their struggles, having led in all four of their league phase matches but accumulating only four points.

Paris Saint-Germain continued their dominant start to the season with a 6-0 away win over Villarreal. The champions took a 4-0 lead within the first 17 minutes. They were missing key players Khvicha Kvaratshkelia, Ousmane Dembele, Marquinhos, and Nuno Mendes, but 17-year-old fullback David Boly was among the scorers. PSG has won its first four matches by a combined score of 20-5.

Other high-scoring results included Fenerbahce, who came from behind to beat Liverpool. Manchester City and Real Madrid also won away matches against RB Leipzig and AEK Athens, respectively, with both games ending 3-2. The Premier League remains the exception to the European scoring trend, with goals down 2 percent so far this season.

Como’s current form includes victories over Manchester United, RB Leipzig, and Napoli. The team has lost only two of its first 14 games in all competitions. Injured striker Moise Kean has played just 158 minutes during this stretch. United’s schedule tightens next week with a visit from Aston Villa on Sunday. Opta calculates a 9.5 percent chance for United to finish in the top seven of the Premier League.