“A collective torture”, “a historic beating”, “sunk like never before”, the sinking of RC Lens in the Champions League goes around Europe

A nightmare, a journey to the end of hell... RC Lens, which hosted the Champions League trophy this Wednesday, hoped to experience an evening of celebration before being swept away by an Italian tornado which blew away everything: will, pride, pride, history, records... Como won 9-1 in a stunned Bollaert stadium.

Sandrine Arrestier recounts in La Voix du Nord this “Racing as smooth as ever”: “At game time, at least, in an evening in hell, Bollaert had fun, the time to chant the well-felt passes from Côme de “Olé”… But the whistles had fallen loudly, from half-time, from the entire stadium, on a pitch invaded by a single team (…) Much more than Sporting (0-2) and Bruges (3-0), Côme displayed crazy technical quality, a feast for the eyes in fact. We'll have to get used to it, Racing is not invited to that table. It is far too limited, still too much in search of its balance, weighed down by the absences and the performance of its recruits to hope to annoy such a collective. » Before concluding: “Outclassed individually, collectively and tactically, Racing was powerless and did not even have its bravery to oppose. No, Lens is not at the level and finds itself, with a beginner coach, facing its torments at the end of one of the worst evenings in its history. »

“There is no one to save in this collective torture”

In L’Équipe, which headlines “Ridiculous” on the front page, Régis Testelin decides: “RC Lens conceded nine goals at home to Como and we still pinch ourselves to believe it because it’s so big. There is no one to save in this collective torment which could push the club into crisis and call into question many of its managerial choices. »

In Italy, La Gazzetta dello Sport rejoices: “After having whistled their own team, the supporters begin to chant “olé” at each pass from Como. It's a bit to tease their own players, but also a way of paying tribute to their opponents, who transformed this evening at Bollaert into a resounding opera premiere (...) Como at the level of the great European clubs: after its masterpiece in Lens, the club can now dream of going further than the play-offs thanks to this 9-1 victory in France, which enters the annals of Italian football as the largest victory of all time in the Champions League, Como occupies now fourth place behind PSG, Real and Arsenal. »

“Como, as exciting as PSG and Barça”

Corriere dello Sport gives the story of an: “incredible evening for an incredible team, which continues to write pages of history. Como crushes Lens 9-1 at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis on the fourth day of the Champions League group stage. The hero of the evening is Douvikas, author of a hat-trick. Nico Paz, Da Cunha, Kempf, Liberali, Baturina and newcomer Papaccioli also found the net. On the French side, only Ruben Aguilar scored, with a goal as beautiful as it was useless. »

In Belgium, the Last Hour remembers: “In terms of statistics, this 1-9 will go down in the history of the two teams and the Champions League. Indeed, Como had not experienced such success since... 83 years and a 0-14 victory against ASD Vis Nova Giussano in an Italian division 3 match in December 1942. Another era, another football. For Lens, this is purely and simply the biggest defeat in its history. Lensois have never conceded more than seven goals in a single match. Before the nightmare experienced this Wednesday evening, the Sang et Or's biggest defeat dates back to May 10, 2013, in Ligue 2, against Guingamp (7-0). »

In Spain, Marca assures: “Como is making history. » Mundo Deportivo headlines: “A historic beating inflicted by Como on Lens: nine goals scored! », to accompany the recital of Cesc Fabregas’ team.

In England, the BBC concludes: “It is Feyenoord who hold the European Cup record, having beaten Icelandic club KR 12-2 in September 1969. However, it was Como who won the biggest away victory in the history of the Champions League (…) Como's rise was remarkable, with the club still playing in Serie D, the fourth division of Italian football, during the season 2018-2019. Como, as exciting as PSG and Barça…”