Lens will look to avoid a third consecutive league phase defeat in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) when they face a Como side chasing a sixth consecutive win in all competitions.
Match News and Current Form
An 86th-minute goal condemned Lens to a 1-0 loss against Lille in Ligue 1 last Friday, a result which has seen them alternate between victory and defeat across seven competitive matches (W3, L4). The hosts will hope that trend continues with a win here after they tasted defeat in their last two UCL games, and they may need to get off to a flawless start here having led at half-time only once in their 21 UCL proper matches. Lens are expected to draw advantage from a return home, where they have won 16 of their last 22 home European games (D4, L2), albeit with one of the two losses coming against Sporting on matchday two.
Como’s ideal start last weekend saw them score a first-half goal in a 1-0 win against Venezia to remain in Serie A’s top four. The UCL debutants have shown few nerves on Europe’s biggest stage, scoring within the first 20 minutes in each of their three league phase games and recording a pair of 4-1 victories along the way (L1). By accumulating ten goals across these three matches, the Lariani have already created history by scoring the most goals for an Italian side in their first three European Cup games since 1955, and that trend is likely to continue, with the visitors having netted 14 goals across their last six competitive away trips.
Head-to-Head History
Como have never played against French opposition, while Lens will be facing an Italian side for the first time since November 2006 (W1, L1).
Hot Stats and Streaks
Eight of Lens’ last 12 competitive matches saw both teams score.
Lens have conceded the match-opening goal in 11 of their last 12 UCL games.
Six of Como’s last eight wins in all competitions were by a 2+ goal margin.
All ten of Como’s UCL goals this term have come from open play, the joint-most across the competition after three matchdays.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Florian Thauvin has created 15 chances in the UCL this season, the most by any player after three matches, while his two career goals in this competition came beyond the hour mark to make the score 2-2 each time. Martin Baturina scored Como’s first goal with five of his last seven club goals, four of which served as the match-opener including against Leipzig on matchday one.
Lens got through the weekend unscathed, but Ismaëlo Ganiou and Odsonne Édouard recently joined their long-term absence list. Jayden Addai missed Como’s last match.
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Betting Analysis
Knowing that Lens struggle before half-time, we’re expecting Como to score first for a fourth time in this league phase.
Author: Sridhar Bhamidi