El Villarreal's early surge fades as Lens clinches Como Cup' triumph

Under the floodlights of the Giussepe Singaglia stadium in Como, Italy, El Villarreal surged ahead in the opening minutes of the Como Cup final, only to see Lens overturn the advantage and claim a 3‑1 victory on Saturday, 01 August 2026.

In the first four minutes of the pre‑season test, the side coached by Iñigo Pérez took the lead when Ayoze Pérez finished a superb pass from Gerard Moreno. The early strike was recorded as 0‑1 Min 3 and set the tone for a match that began with El Villarreal dominating possession. The report even noted the phrase LensVILLARREAL CFEFE as part of the initial duel description.

The advantage lasted merely four more minutes; Udol restored parity at Min 8 by slipping through the advanced defensive line described as ‘grogueta’. That equaliser marked the end of El Villarreal’s first‑half dominance and hinted at the resilience of the French side.

After the halftime break, Iñigo Pérez refreshed his squad, but Villarreal quickly lost the momentum they had built. The French side seized the initiative, and the balance of play shifted decisively in Lens’s favour.

The turning point arrived when Florian Thauvin converted a penalty after a foul on Pau Navarro, putting Lens ahead at Min 60. The referee Simone Sozza (Italy) later showed a yellow card to Bulatovic of Lens and issued a double yellow to Cardona of Villarreal at minute 83, followed by a direct red to Pau Navarro at minute 94.

Lens sealed the win with a calm finish: Rayan Fofana scored the fourth goal at Min 91 after a one‑on‑one with Luiz Júnior. Villarreal’s hopes of an equaliser through Mikautadze vanished after Cardona’s expulsion, confirming the French comeback.

The match, updated 01/08/2026 22:34 CEST, offered both clubs a valuable pre‑season gauge. While El Villarreal demonstrated early attacking flair, Lens’s greater push in the final stages highlighted the importance of sustained intensity in cup finals.