Serie A Daily Report - 2026-11-04: Como crush Lens 9-1 in record Champions League away victory

Como won 9-1 at Lens on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, recording the biggest away victory in Champions League history. Tasos Douvikas scored a hat-trick, while Nico Paz, Lucas Da Cunha, Marc-Oliver Kempf, Mattia Liberali, Martin Baturina and teenage debutant Matteo Papaccioli also found the net. The result gave Cesc Fabregas’ side three victories from four matches in their debut European campaign and lifted them to fourth in the league-phase standings. Como’s nine goals surpassed the previous best away total, while the margin matched the competition’s largest winning advantage.

Fabregas described the result as “a great night for Como and our fans”, but urged his players to remain humble as Champions League ambitions grow. Douvikas has now scored in all four of Como’s matches in the competition and leads the scoring chart with six goals. Paz’s goal carried an additional emotional significance: the Argentine held up a shirt honouring Jesús de Miguel, the Tenerife forward who died after an on-field collision. Como’s performance further underlined the scale of their progress after last season’s fourth-place Serie A finish secured qualification.

Inter beat Feyenoord 3-0 in Rotterdam on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, responding immediately to their first Serie A defeat of the season. Yann Bisseck opened the scoring in the eighth minute before Francesco Pio Esposito doubled the advantage, with Piotr Zielinski completing the victory nine minutes after half-time. The result came after Inter had lost 3-1 to AC Milan in the Derby della Madonnina and restored momentum in their Champions League campaign. It also represented the club’s 87th victory in the competition, moving them level with Milan for the joint-second highest total by an Italian side.

Cristian Chivu said consistency would be central to what Inter are trying to build this season. The victory also extended Inter’s unbeaten record in 14 Champions League meetings with Dutch clubs to 11 wins and three draws, while becoming their biggest European victory over Dutch opposition. Inter’s next Serie A outing will be against Como, whose extraordinary European form has made that fixture especially prominent. Chivu’s challenge is to carry the response in Rotterdam into domestic football, where the Milan defeat had ended an unbeaten start.

Roma lost 3-2 to Manchester United at Old Trafford on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, after taking a two-goal lead inside the opening 20 minutes. Matias Soulé struck first before Donyell Malen converted a penalty, but Bruno Fernandes reduced the deficit from the spot after the break. Matheus Cunha then scored twice, including the 83rd-minute winner, to complete United’s comeback. The defeat ended Roma’s bid to build on their strong start in the Champions League league phase and handed their hosts a first victory in ten matches.

Roma’s advantage disappeared after United increased the pressure following half-time, with Leonardo Balerdi’s failed clearance allowing Cunha to level. The Brazilian was later sent off after receiving two yellow cards in quick succession, but Roma could not exploit the numerical advantage before the final whistle. The result was particularly damaging because Roma had looked in control during the opening period, yet left Manchester with no points after conceding three times in the second half. Their European campaign now faces greater pressure in the remaining league-phase fixtures.

Maurizio Sarri ordered Atalanta into a training retreat on Monday, 2 November 2026, after the club’s 3-0 home defeat by struggling Parma. The decision came ahead of Atalanta’s Conference League meeting with Kairat Almaty, as Sarri sought to address the problems exposed by the damaging Serie A loss. Atalanta had conceded three times without reply, prompting an immediate response from the manager rather than a change in tactical approach. Sarri said the retreat was intended to help the squad spend more time together and strengthen relationships away from normal football routines.

Sarri insisted tactics were not the central issue and said the retreat was designed to bring the players closer together. He described the situation as familiar from his coaching career and argued that staying true to his principles was important while the team worked through its difficulties. The immediate European fixture gives Atalanta an opportunity to respond, but the Parma result has increased the significance of their next domestic matches. Sarri’s emphasis on personal bonds suggests he sees collective confidence and unity as priorities after a heavy home defeat.

Napoli were due to face Porto in the Champions League on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, with Massimiliano Allegri warning that the team’s difficulties could not become excuses. The Partenopei had lost to Arsenal and Villarreal before beating Bodø/Glimt 4-3 for their first victory in the competition. Porto presented a difficult away assignment despite having lost their opening three European matches, while maintaining a perfect domestic record. Allegri also confirmed that Noa Lang was being rested after suffering strong cramp on Sunday and playing four consecutive matches.

The manager said he had spoken with Kevin De Bruyne while keeping his precise role for the Porto match unclear. Napoli travelled after a 2-0 defeat by Juventus on Sunday, a result that added to the pressure surrounding a European campaign that had begun poorly. Allegri’s message was that objective problems existed but had to be managed rather than used as justification. A positive result in Portugal would give Napoli a second successive Champions League victory and provide a platform for recovery after their uneven opening to the season.

Monza striker Gustavo Varela has reportedly attracted interest from Barcelona, Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea after scoring nine goals in his first nine Serie A appearances. The 21-year-old joined Monza from Benfica this season and has quickly become one of the league’s most prominent young forwards. Barcelona’s interest was reported by Diario Sport, citing Portuguese outlet A Bola, while reports elsewhere said the three Premier League clubs were monitoring his progress. Varela has also scored twice in the cup, adding to the attention surrounding his rapid start in Italy.

Barcelona’s reported interest has not yet resulted in a formal offer, while the Premier League clubs are understood to be tracking the striker rather than having agreed a deal. His scoring record has made Monza’s ability to retain him an increasingly important question, particularly with the season still at an early stage. Any future move would depend on the continuation of his form and the level of interest from competing clubs, but Varela’s emergence has already placed Monza at the centre of a developing transfer story.

Bologna announced on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, that CSTS Enterprises had become the club’s official regional partner in Asia. The New York-based sports, entertainment, media and travel technology group will work with Bologna across brand visibility, digital engagement, matchday hospitality and commercial activation. The agreement is intended to connect the Serie A club with Asian supporters, audiences and business networks, adding an international commercial dimension to Bologna’s existing operations.

The partnership places particular emphasis on travel, hospitality and fan engagement, areas in which CSTS operates across sports and entertainment. Bologna’s history and identity will form part of the activation strategy as the club seeks to strengthen its profile beyond Italy. While the announcement focused on commercial cooperation rather than sporting matters, the agreement reflects the growing importance of overseas audiences and regional partners to Serie A clubs. Its practical impact will be measured through the campaigns, hospitality opportunities and digital activity developed during the partnership.