Lens U19 edged Como U19 2-1 in a tense UEFA Youth League league-phase match on Wednesday night, with a late goal deciding a contest that swung back and forth after an bright opening from the French side.

The result gives Lens U19 a valuable three points and strengthens their position in the standings, while Como U19 were left to rue a strong second-half spell that brought them level but not quite enough to take a share of the spoils. In a competition where goal difference and momentum can matter just as much as points, the home side’s ability to find a winner late in the game felt significant.

Match overview

Lens set the tone from the first whistle. The home side pressed aggressively, forced Como into hurried clearances and looked to attack through the half-spaces whenever their midfield won the ball back. That pressure produced the opening goal in the 18th minute, when a quick combination on the right released Ilyes Bouras, who finished low across the goalkeeper.

Como grew into the game after the half-hour mark. The Italian side began to find more space in midfield, switched play more effectively and asked questions of Lens’s back line. Their persistence paid off in the 57th minute when Matteo Riva arrived at the back post to convert a well-worked move down the left.

For a while, the momentum looked to be with Como. They kept the ball better, pushed their full-backs higher and forced Lens deeper. But the home side responded with character, and the match was decided in the 82nd minute when Yanis Boudjema latched onto a loose ball at the edge of the box and drove a composed finish into the bottom corner.

Key moments

• 18’ – Lens take the lead: Bouras finishes a flowing move after a high turnover.
• 34’ – Como threaten: A curled effort from the edge of the area forces a smart save from the Lens goalkeeper.
• 57’ – Como equalise: Riva converts from close range after a sustained spell of possession.
• 82’ – Lens win it: Boudjema’s low strike beats the goalkeeper and restores the home side’s advantage.
• 90+3’ – Late pressure: Como send bodies forward, but Lens defend their box with composure.

Tactical story

Lens’s success came from controlled aggression. Their midfield pressed in coordinated bursts rather than chasing individually, and that structure allowed them to win the ball in areas where Como were exposed. The home side also used width well, stretching Como before attacking the central spaces that opened up.

Como’s response was impressive for long periods. They adjusted their build-up, used their midfield rotations to escape the first line of pressure and created better chances after the break. The equaliser was deserved. However, the visitors’ willingness to commit numbers forward left space behind them in the closing stages, and Lens punished that with the winning goal.

Standout players

Ilyes Bouras was central to Lens’s best moments, combining energy with composure in the final third. His opening goal settled the home side, and he continued to link play intelligently as the match became more open. Yanis Boudjema deserves credit for the timing and quality of the winner, while Lens’s goalkeeper made an important save at 1-1 to keep the score level.

For Como, Matteo Riva was the most persistent attacking threat. His movement in the box produced the equaliser, and he remained a problem for Lens’s centre-backs until the final whistle.

Season impact

The win keeps Lens U19 in the thick of the UEFA Youth League standings and gives them a platform to build on in the coming matchdays. For Como U19, the defeat is a reminder of how fine the margins can be in youth European competition: they matched Lens for long spells but were undone by one late moment.

Both sides will take lessons from the game. Lens will want to manage leads more comfortably, while Como will focus on turning strong possession spells into clearer chances. The result adds another layer of intrigue to the league phase and underlines why the UEFA Youth League remains such a compelling stage for emerging talent.