Lens vs Como: Como arrive with 5 wins from 5 and 13 goals scored

Five games, five wins, 13 goals scored and 3 conceded. That's Como's record over their last 5, across Serie A and the Champions League. At the other end, Lens have won 2 and lost 3 in the same stretch, scoring 5 and conceding 8. That's where we start.

The table

In the 36-team league phase, Como are 9th with 6 points from 3 games: 2 wins, 1 defeat, 10 goals scored and 5 conceded. Lens are 27th with 3 points, also from 3 games: 1 win, 2 defeats, 3 goals scored and 7 conceded. Three points separate them on paper, but goal difference tells you more. Como are at +5, Lens at -4.

Como's form

The Lariani's run spans the Champions League and Serie A. In Europe, Como beat Manchester United 4-1 at home. In the league they won 3-1 in Florence, 2-0 against Sassuolo, 3-1 in Turin and 1-0 against Venezia, the most recent of the five. That's four games out of five with at least 2 goals scored. Como score consistently, and that's the number that weighs most on this tie.

Lens's form

Lens have been up and down. In Ligue 1 they lost 1-0 at Lille last time out, beat Paris FC 2-1 at home and won 3-1 at Troyes. The two European games in their last 5, though, are two defeats without a goal: 0-3 away to Club Brugge and 0-2 at home to Sporting CP. The latter is the only home European game in their last 5, and it's not an encouraging sign for anyone counting on the crowd. Lens won at home against Paris FC, but in Europe the result was a defeat.

The absentees

Neither side is at full strength, and Como have more names on the list. For Lens, Edouard (groin problem), Ganiou and Nawrocki (knee injury) and Sima (muscle problem) are out. Chavez is out for tactical reasons and Jourdren is not in the squad. Como have 8: Kean (leg injury), Addai (muscle problem), Diao (thigh injury), Chalobah and Rodriguez (injured). Goldaniga, Kambwala and Lahdo are not in the squad. It's a long list, but Como have scored 13 goals in 5 games.

How to read it

The picture is clear. Como arrive with more points, a better goal difference and an unbeaten run over their last 5. Lens have an attack that has scored 3 goals in 3 Champions League games and a defence that has conceded 7. The French side's only argument is home advantage, but their last European outing in front of their own fans was the 0-2 against Sporting. If you're looking for a weak spot for Como, look at the defence: 5 goals conceded in 3 Champions League games is not a small number, and Lens have shown they can score 2 or 3 goals in the league.

What to watch

Three things. First: whether Lens can fix their European output in attack, after two games in a row without scoring in the European matches among their last 5. Second: how Como cope with a long absentee list of 8 names. Third: whether the table, with Lens 27th and Como 9th, changes after this round. For the side on 3 points, a win could turn their campaign around. For the side on 6, it means a place in the top group.