On Wednesday, Como will face RC Lens at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Matchday 4 of the Champions League league phase. Although the two clubs did not meet during the 2026 Como Cup, the summer tournament gave Como supporters an early opportunity to watch their future European opponents.

Invited to the second edition of the tournament organised by Como 1907, Lens reached the final and lifted the trophy after beating Villarreal 3-1 at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia. The French side scored six goals and conceded only once in regulation time across the competition.

The Como Cup was a summer friendly tournament and belongs to a very different context from the Champions League. Nevertheless, the performances in Como highlighted several qualities of Dino Toppmöller’s side: defensive organisation, attacking efficiency, squad depth and an ability to respond after falling behind.

Lens make an immediate impact

Lens began the Como Cup against Crystal Palace on 28 July. The group stage used an unusual 45-minute format, giving teams little time to recover from mistakes or slow starts.

Lens needed only three minutes to take the lead. Odsonne Édouard opened the scoring and completed his brace in the 20th minute. Three minutes later, Andrija Bulatović added the third with a long-range strike.

Crystal Palace 0-3 RC Lens
Goals: Édouard 3’, 20’; Bulatović 23’
MVP: Odsonne Édouard

As detailed in Como 1907’s official report from the opening day, Lens then drew 0-0 with Famalicão. The Portuguese side won the subsequent penalty shootout 8-7, but the result did not prevent Lens from reaching the final.

RC Lens 0-0 Famalicão, Famalicão won 8-7 on penalties

The emphatic victory over Crystal Palace ultimately proved decisive in the French club’s progression.

Como’s route through the tournament

In Group B, Como recovered from an early deficit to defeat Al-Ula 3-1. Andrés Cuenca scored the equaliser before Iván Azón and Alessandro Gabrielloni completed the comeback.

Como’s second match ended in a 1-1 draw with Villarreal. Mattia Liberali put the Biancoblù ahead with a left-footed finish, before Alberto Moleiro equalised for the Spanish side. Villarreal then prevailed in the penalty shootout and advanced to the final against Lens.

The scores, goalscorers and match details are available in Como’s official Day 2 match report.

Como subsequently faced Famalicão in the third-place match and won 3-2 through an Anastasios Douvikas brace and a goal from Assane Diao. Crystal Palace defeated Al-Ula 3-1 in the fifth-place match later that day. Como’s report from the final phase covers both fixtures.

Lens come from behind against Villarreal

The Como Cup final was played at the Sinigaglia on 1 August, with the decisive match taking place over the full 90 minutes.

Villarreal made the stronger start and took the lead through Ayoze Pérez after four minutes. Lens responded almost immediately. Matthieu Udol equalised in the eighth minute following a pass from Florian Thauvin.

The game remained level until half-time. At the beginning of the second half, Toppmöller introduced Rayan Fofana in place of Édouard. The change proved decisive.

Fofana won the penalty converted by Thauvin in the 61st minute, completing the Lens comeback. With Villarreal later reduced to ten players, Fofana finished a counterattack in the 90th minute to secure a 3-1 victory.

Villarreal 1-3 RC Lens
Goals: Pérez 4’; Udol 8’, Thauvin 61’ penalty, Fofana 90’

Como 1907’s official report on the final also records the trophy presentation by club president Mirwan Suwarso and Chief Brand Officer Rhuigi Villaseñor.

Édouard had driven the opening victory over Crystal Palace, while Thauvin and Fofana decided the final. Fofana made the difference from the bench, winning the penalty for the second goal before scoring the third himself.

From the Como Cup to the Champions League

Wednesday’s meeting will carry a completely different significance. The Como Cup formed part of the clubs’ summer preparation, while the match in France will offer important points in the Champions League league phase.

The tournament at the Sinigaglia nevertheless allowed Como supporters to watch a Lens side capable of comfortably overcoming Crystal Palace and coming from behind against Villarreal. The Spanish club had previously eliminated Como from the final on penalties.

The summer competition cannot predict what will happen at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis. It did, however, provide an early indication of Lens’ organisation, attacking quality and strength from the bench.

Only a few months after lifting the trophy at the Sinigaglia, Lens now cross paths with Como again. This time, the setting is northern France and the competition is the Champions League.