Balerdi on Gasperini's praise, World Cup heartbreak and difficult Marseille exit

Roma are two goals up at Old Trafford after 20 minutes of the Champions League league-phase match against Manchester United, but Gian Piero Gasperini has been dealt another injury blow. Devyne Rensch collapsed to the ground in the 20th minute with a muscle problem and was unable to continue. Emanuele Lulli came on in his place. The setback adds to Gasperini's growing list of injured players. Roma have made a strong start, and the loss of Rensch comes at a time when the squad is already stretched. His condition will be assessed in the coming days. The Dutch defender was forced off early in the first half after going down with what appeared to be a muscular problem. Roma's opening 20 minutes were described as extraordinary, with the Giallorossi already ahead by two goals before the injury took its toll.

Roma head to Old Trafford to face Manchester United, coached by Carrick, in the fourth matchday of the Champions League league phase, with Gasperini forced into a change in goal. Pierluigi Gollini has withdrawn at the last hour, so Devis Vásquez starts. Leonardo Balerdi comes in at centre-back instead of Evan N'Dicka, and Devyne Rensch is the right wing-back. Nahuel Molina and Emanuele Lulli are on the bench. The midfield and attack are unchanged, with Rodrigo Mora starting from the first minute. Manchester United line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Lammens in goal, Yoro, Maguire, Heaven and Dalot in defence, Mainoo and Baleba in midfield, Cunha, Fernandes and Diallo behind Mbeumo. Roma play a 3-4-2-1, with Vásquez; Mancini, Balerdi and Hermoso at the back; Rensch, Cristante, de Roon and Wesley in midfield; Soulé and Mora in support of Malen up front. United's bench includes Darlow, Heaton, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Mount, Tielemans, Santos, Lacey, Fletcher, Amass and Zirkzee. Roma's bench features De Marzi, Koulierakis, N'Dicka, Pisilli, Ghilardi, Molina, Lulli, Di Nunzio and Castro.

Devis Vásquez is set to start in goal for Roma at Old Trafford against Manchester United in the Champions League after Pierluigi Gollini pulled out at the last minute. The Colombian goalkeeper, born in Barranquilla on 12 May 1998, is 195 cm tall and weighs 93 kg, and he will make his first official appearance in a Roma shirt in a demanding European fixture. With Mile Svilar and Gollini both sidelined, the opportunity comes suddenly and carries great responsibility. Vásquez came through the youth ranks in Colombia at Cortuluá, Patriotas Boyacá and La Equidad. He broke through in Paraguay with Guaraní, where he was a regular starter with 34 appearances and made his Copa Libertadores debut. AC Milan signed him outright in January 2023. He then went on loan to Sheffield Wednesday, where he made 10 Championship appearances, and later to Ascoli in Serie B. His breakthrough in Serie A came with Empoli in 2024/25, when he played 32 matches and kept six clean sheets. He showed strong reflexes, quick reactions on the ground and a particular ability to save penalties. Roma signed him outright in summer 2025. After a short six-month loan at Beşiktaş in the first part of 2026, he returned to the squad of Gian Piero Gasperini to complete the goalkeeping department. For the Colombian, the Old Trafford fixture marks the moment he has been waiting for: his official debut in the giallorossi shirt in one of football's most celebrated stadiums.

Roma threw away a commanding first-half lead at Old Trafford, collapsing after the interval to lose 3-2 to Manchester United and making their Champions League path considerably harder. Roma had looked superb in the first half, with Mora's inspiration producing a double burst of goals in 16 minutes: Soulé opened the scoring at 11', then Malen converted a penalty won by Soulé at 17'. It was the first time any side had scored at Old Trafford in such a short spell in European competition. Malen's penalty was his fourth goal in the Champions League. The 2-0 lead, built on dominant marking and strong midfield duels with Cristante and De Roon, should have seen Roma close out the tie. Instead, Bruno Fernandes levelled from a penalty early in the second half, after a retake was ordered because Cristante had entered the box before the whistle. Vasquez saved the original spot-kick, but the Portuguese forward scored from the repeat. Carrick's side then pushed forward, and Cunha scored twice in three minutes, at 83' and 86', to complete the turnaround. Mbeumo had also hit both posts with a single shot in the spell that followed Bruno Fernandes's goal. Gasperini had made changes that were meant to strengthen the side. He brought on Mora and sent in Pisilli, and the match then shifted. Baleba suffered a serious muscular injury for United, and Tielemans came on to change the game. Malen, exhausted, was replaced by Castro, and Balerdi's error gave Cunha the chance for the equaliser. The Roma coach had already chosen Vasquez over Gollini in goal, a surprise decision that was only partly rewarded. The result is the third comeback Roma have conceded in the Champions League, following two defeats and a draw. The article notes that Roma have been unable to cope with physical intensity and lacked enough quality on the bench given the absences. Roma remain a side still learning in Europe, and Gasperini needs time, patience and stronger players to move forward.

Roma led Manchester United at Old Trafford through goals from Soulé and Malen, but collapsed in the second half and lost the match. Soulé gave Roma the lead around the tenth minute with a left-footed strike, and Malen doubled it from the spot before the break. United then won a penalty in the second half. Vásquez saved the initial spot-kick, but the referee ordered a retake because Cristante had his knee on the line when he cleared the rebound. Bruno Fernandes stepped up again and scored, and Roma's concentration went with it. Balerdi's slip allowed the equaliser, and another error led to United's third goal. Roma had dominated the first half, with Soulé and Malen putting them 2-0 up. The second half turned on the disputed penalty. Roma appeared to tire after that, and a thin bench did not help. Gasperini's side had been pushed back, and the closing stages followed a familiar pattern for the club in recent weeks. The ratings were: Vásquez 6, Mancini 5.5, Balerdi 4.5, Hermoso 6, Cristante 6, De Roon 5.5, Wesley 5.5, Mora 6.5, Soulé 6.5, Malen 6 and Gasperini 5.5. Ghilardi, who came on for Mancini in the 74th minute, was rated 5.5, and N'Dicka, on for Hermoso in the 75th, was rated 5.5. Lulli, on for Rensch after 22 minutes, was rated 5.5. Rensch was not rated after playing barely twenty minutes. Pisilli, on from the 45th minute, was rated 5, while Castro, who came on for Malen in the 77th minute, was rated 5.5. Vásquez saved the first penalty but could do nothing about the retake. Mancini was booked for the penalty concession and was reportedly unhappy with the decision. Mora's pass for Soulé and his contribution to the penalty earned him the highest rating of the night, despite a couple of light touches. Balerdi was the most heavily criticised. His rating reflected a double-edged performance: some anticipations raised the pressure, but he steered well for long periods before the late errors. Cristante was praised for his control in the first half and was described as losing some sharpness after the break. The match report ends with the group stage in mind, though the source does not state a next fixture. Roma's bench and fatigue remain the central talking points.

Roma suffered another damaging Champions League defeat, losing 3-2 at Old Trafford to Manchester United after leading by two goals. Gian Piero Gasperini's side dominated the first half, with Matías Soulé opening the scoring and Donyell Malen converting a penalty. The lead looked set to give Roma a magical evening, but they collapsed mentally in the second half and allowed the Red Devils back into the game. United's comeback began with a missed penalty that was ordered to be retaken, and Bruno Fernandes converted the second attempt. Roma's problems deepened when Leonardo Balerdi made a clamorous error that gave Cunha the equaliser for 2-2. Three minutes later Cunha scored again to make it 3-2, sending the Old Trafford crowd into ecstasy. The result, following a similar collapse against Real Madrid, makes Roma's path through the Champions League considerably harder. The match ratings gave Cunha 7.5 for turning the game around, Soulé 7 for his goal, which was not enough to save the result, and Balerdi 5 for his decisive error.