Castro ready to enter before Gasperini's change of heart; coach explains Dybala decision

Pierluigi Gollini marked his return to Serie A action after two years with a clean sheet, prompting a message on social media reflecting on the team's collective effort. In his post, Gollini wrote: "This match is the fruit of the work we put in every day, the sacrifices and the desire to be ready for the team. This is us, a group of real substance that knows how to play, suffer and fight. Because when your moment comes, everyone's work becomes your strength. Focus on Wednesday for another battle." The goalkeeper's performance drew immediate support from his Roma teammates. Rodrigo Mora commented "Well done," while Lorenzo Pellegrini wrote "Great Gollo." Mario Hermoso, Emanuele Lulli and Marten de Roon also joined in the praise, as did Konstantinos Koulierakis.

Roma drew 0–0 at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia stadium, maintaining third place in the table behind Inter and Lazio. The match was decided by the dismissal of Donyell Malen in the second half following a challenge on Kacik, which the referee judged as a straight red card. After the game, Gasperini and Como manager Fabregas offered starkly different readings of the incident. Gasperini said: "There is a repeated foul on Malen. To say he played violently is hard to sustain. He had a surge after being held and also touched the ball." Fabregas countered: "That's his personal opinion and I respect it. For me there was a clear red for Wesley on Diao, N'Dicka never would have arrived." Both managers lingered outside the Sinigaglia stadium after the final whistle to discuss the matter at length. Pierluigi Gollini emerged as a positive for Roma with an attentive and clean performance. He said: "My performance today is a reward: everything I have had in my career I have earned through daily work. I want to say to Mile to stay calm, recover fully: we are all waiting for him." Lorenzo Pellegrini marked a significant milestone by reaching 350 appearances in all competitions for Roma. The captain is now just one appearance away from matching Damiano Tommasi's 351 total, placing him 12th on Roma's all-time appearance list. The club celebrated the landmark on its official channels with the message "350 times our colours."

Donyell Malen received his first career red card in Roma's match against Como after a tackle on Kaiki. The Dutch forward protested that a foul had not been called on him moments earlier, but the dismissal stood and was not overturned. He will miss Roma's next fixture against Genoa on Saturday but will be available for the match against Napoli. The suspension stands at one match for serious foul play. Luca Marelli, speaking on DAZN, confirmed the one-game ban and analysed the incident: "It will be one match's suspension for serious foul play. There are all the elements for a red card—the knee is close, there is great speed and the studs are exposed. The fact that Malen did not fully catch Kaiki cannot be a justification; in fact we should be grateful that the Como player was not fully hit by Malen's challenge. There is no doubt about the red card; the referee and VAR made the decision very quickly." Under the laws of the game, "a tackle or challenge that endangers an opponent's safety or is committed with disproportionate force or brutality must be punished as serious foul play. Any player who, when challenging for the ball, strikes an opponent from the front, side or behind using one or both legs with disproportionate force or in a manner that endangers an opponent's safety, is guilty of serious foul play." Malen will return to lead Roma's attack on Wednesday in the fixture against Real Madrid.

Roma earned a valuable point at Como despite being affected by a refereeing error, with Gasperini keeping his side compact and organized. For more than 85 minutes, the coach kept Paulo Dybala on the pitch as the focal point of the attack. Shortly after Donyell Malen was sent off, Santiago Castro removed his bib, ready to enter the match in what appeared to be Dybala's replacement. Gasperini changed his mind. "He was attracting the ball, helping us breathe," Gasperini explained after the match. "It was him who convinced me to keep him on." Dybala's ability to win possession cleanly and help Roma escape the press proved crucial at that moment, and the coach recognized the tactical need. Castro will have his opportunity coming up against Genoa, partly due to Malen's absence.

Roma earned a hard-fought point on the road at Como, holding a 0–0 draw on 11 October despite playing most of the second half with ten men after Donyell Malen's dismissal. The Dutch winger was sent off early in the second half by referee Fabbri, a decision the raters found excessive given the overall nature of the play, though Malen was noted as somewhat reckless in the challenge. The result counted toward the sixth matchday of the Serie A season. Pierluigi Gollini deputised in goal and drew particular praise for his work on distribution and his alertness to Como's limited chances, keeping the bench-warmer tag away from Mile Svilar. At centre-back, Gianluca Mancini and Evan N'Dicka formed an imposing partnership; Mancini earned a 7 rating for his battling quality and composure in the tackle despite rare lapses, while N'Dicka dominated a physical duel with Como's Douvikas. Mario Hermoso supported the backline with careful defending before Leonardo Balerdi replaced him in the 60th minute. Marten de Roon covered ground reliably in midfield, earning a 7 for consistency with Gasperini's system. Paulo Dybala was handed a 6, his performance marred by a glaring early miss that could have altered the match entirely. Lorenzo Pellegrini made his return to the pitch and was credited with important work and technical quality, including a shot that struck the post from the edge of the area, though his fitness remained not yet sharp. He gave way to Matías Soulé at the 46th minute. Manu Koné was not at his sharpest, rated 6, while defender Nahuel Molina (5.5) struggled with precision; Devyne Rensch entered in the 81st minute and impressed on arrival. Gasperini himself earned a 6.5, praised for keeping Roma organised and tactically sharp after numerical disadvantage forced him to abandon attacking ambitions and deploy personnel with calculated precision through his substitutions. With parity in numbers, Roma had appeared the superior side and more threatening side before the dismissal.

Gian Piero Gasperini defended Roma's 0–0 draw at Como and praised Paulo Dybala's performance after Donyell Malen's dismissal left the team playing more than 30 minutes with ten men. Gasperini said: "Credo che Dybala sia stato straordinario anche una volta in 10 nel secondo tempo a ripulire delle situazioni che non erano facili in inferiorità. Lui come i suoi compagni hanno fatto una gara di grande spessore. Non ricordo palloni persi, forte nello spunto peccato per l'occasione del primo tempo in cui poteva fare gol. Anche oggi prestazione straordinaria." The coach kept Dybala on the pitch rather than introducing Santiago Castro, saying the forward "gave us breathing room" and was "continuous for all 90 minutes." Gasperini disputed the severity of Malen's red card, criticizing the use of frame-by-frame analysis to adjudicate fouls. He argued there was "a foul repeated on him" beforehand and said: "Non c'è di sicuro l'intenzionalità… Questo è stato un episodio che ha imbruttito la partita, così lo è diventato un po' meno." When shown a still image of the incident, Gasperini became animated: "Fermando il fotogramma è facile! Il calcio è fatto di azioni così si può giustificare tutto Non c'è nessuna voglia e di fare male da parte di Malen, è ora di smetterla con i fotogrammi perché falsificano la realtà! Adesso si vede un calcio più vero, non torniamo indietro von questi fotogrammi assurdi." Gasperini also praised goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini, saying he "was good with his feet, attentive and precise," adding that "he is a goalkeeper who will know how to replace Svilar very well." Looking ahead, Gasperini acknowledged the difficulty of Roma's next fixture: "Il Real è una squadra di campioni incredibili, sia in campo che in panchina. Affrontiamo una delle squadre più forti in Europa." He reflected on José Mourinho's legacy at the club but noted his current squad is "another type of team" and that "the lads are giving me lots of satisfaction."

Roma drew 0–0 at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia stadium, maintaining third place in the table behind Inter and Lazio. The match was decided by the dismissal of Donyell Malen in the second half following a challenge on Kacik, which the referee judged as a straight red card. After the game, Gasperini and Como manager Fabregas offered starkly different readings of the incident. Gasperini said: "There is a repeated foul on Malen. To say he played violently is hard to sustain. He had a surge after being held and also touched the ball." Fabregas countered: "That's his personal opinion and I respect it. For me there was a clear red for Wesley on Diao, N'Dicka never would have arrived." Both managers lingered outside the Sinigaglia stadium after the final whistle to discuss the matter at length. Pierluigi Gollini emerged as a positive for Roma with an attentive and clean performance. He said: "My performance today is a reward: everything I have had in my career I have earned through daily work. I want to say to Mile to stay calm, recover fully: we are all waiting for him." Lorenzo Pellegrini marked a significant milestone by reaching 350 appearances in all competitions for Roma. The captain is now just one appearance away from matching Damiano Tommasi's 351 total, placing him 12th on Roma's all-time appearance list. The club celebrated the landmark on its official channels with the message "350 times our colours."

Donyell Malen received his first career red card in Roma's match against Como after a tackle on Kaiki. The Dutch forward protested that a foul had not been called on him moments earlier, but the dismissal stood and was not overturned. He will miss Roma's next fixture against Genoa on Saturday but will be available for the match against Napoli. The suspension stands at one match for serious foul play. Luca Marelli, speaking on DAZN, confirmed the one-game ban and analysed the incident: "It will be one match's suspension for serious foul play. There are all the elements for a red card—the knee is close, there is great speed and the studs are exposed. The fact that Malen did not fully catch Kaiki cannot be a justification; in fact we should be grateful that the Como player was not fully hit by Malen's challenge. There is no doubt about the red card; the referee and VAR made the decision very quickly." Under the laws of the game, "a tackle or challenge that endangers an opponent's safety or is committed with disproportionate force or brutality must be punished as serious foul play. Any player who, when challenging for the ball, strikes an opponent from the front, side or behind using one or both legs with disproportionate force or in a manner that endangers an opponent's safety, is guilty of serious foul play." Malen will return to lead Roma's attack on Wednesday in the fixture against Real Madrid.

Roma drew 0–0 with Como at Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia in a match defined by Donyell Malen's expulsion. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini disputed the red card, saying: "It is difficult to argue that Malen's foul was violent. Football is not made of individual frames." Como manager Fabregas offered a contrasting view: "Gasperini's opinion is personal. It is complicated to speak at the end of a match—everyone has their own idea. For me the expulsion of Wesley on Diao was clearer." Following the final whistle, Gasperini and Fabregas were filmed by DAZN outside the stadium engaged in an animated discussion in an external area of the Sinigaglia. The Spanish manager gestured with his hands while Gasperini listened attentively as the two exchanged their views on the key incidents.

Roma earned a valuable point at Como despite being affected by a refereeing error, with Gasperini keeping his side compact and organized. For more than 85 minutes, the coach kept Paulo Dybala on the pitch as the focal point of the attack. Shortly after Donyell Malen was sent off, Santiago Castro removed his bib, ready to enter the match in what appeared to be Dybala's replacement. Gasperini changed his mind. "He was attracting the ball, helping us breathe," Gasperini explained after the match. "It was him who convinced me to keep him on." Dybala's ability to win possession cleanly and help Roma escape the press proved crucial at that moment, and the coach recognized the tactical need. Castro will have his opportunity coming up against Genoa, partly due to Malen's absence.

Gian Piero Gasperini defended Roma's 0–0 draw at Como and praised Paulo Dybala's performance after Donyell Malen's dismissal left the team playing more than 30 minutes with ten men. Gasperini said: "Credo che Dybala sia stato straordinario anche una volta in 10 nel secondo tempo a ripulire delle situazioni che non erano facili in inferiorità. Lui come i suoi compagni hanno fatto una gara di grande spessore. Non ricordo palloni persi, forte nello spunto peccato per l'occasione del primo tempo in cui poteva fare gol. Anche oggi prestazione straordinaria." The coach kept Dybala on the pitch rather than introducing Santiago Castro, saying the forward "gave us breathing room" and was "continuous for all 90 minutes." Gasperini disputed the severity of Malen's red card, criticizing the use of frame-by-frame analysis to adjudicate fouls. He argued there was "a foul repeated on him" beforehand and said: "Non c'è di sicuro l'intenzionalità… Questo è stato un episodio che ha imbruttito la partita, così lo è diventato un po' meno." When shown a still image of the incident, Gasperini became animated: "Fermando il fotogramma è facile! Il calcio è fatto di azioni così si può giustificare tutto Non c'è nessuna voglia e di fare male da parte di Malen, è ora di smetterla con i fotogrammi perché falsificano la realtà! Adesso si vede un calcio più vero, non torniamo indietro von questi fotogrammi assurdi." Gasperini also praised goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini, saying he "was good with his feet, attentive and precise," adding that "he is a goalkeeper who will know how to replace Svilar very well." Looking ahead, Gasperini acknowledged the difficulty of Roma's next fixture: "Il Real è una squadra di campioni incredibili, sia in campo che in panchina. Affrontiamo una delle squadre più forti in Europa." He reflected on José Mourinho's legacy at the club but noted his current squad is "another type of team" and that "the lads are giving me lots of satisfaction."

Gian Piero Gasperini held his post-match press conference following Roma's 0–0 draw at Como in Serie A matchday six, where Donyell Malen was sent off in the first half. Gasperini defended his forward's dismissal, saying: "Saying that Malen plays violent football is hard to sustain. He had momentum after being held back and also touched the ball. What is ugly is the jump, but there is no intent on Malen's part. Certainly it was an episode that marred the match. It was a beautiful game and it became less so. Football is not made of stills but of actions, otherwise you can justify everything. There is no will nor determination to hurt from Malen. It's time to stop with the stills—they distort reality. We have suffered this for years, finally this year we see truer football. Please, let's not go backwards." Despite playing two-thirds of the match in numerical inferiority, Roma held firm defensively. Gasperini praised Paulo Dybala's performance in the second half after Malen's exit: "I believe Dybala was extraordinary once we went down to 10 in the second half, cleaning up difficult situations. I believe he, like his teammates, played a match of great substance. I don't recall him losing balls, a shame only for that situation in the first half when he could have scored. But today too it was an extraordinary performance." On his team selection, Gasperini explained he considered bringing Santiago Castro on for Dybala after Malen's dismissal but changed his mind: "Once Malen came off that was the ideal solution on the pitch. Dybala convinced me as we went along, he started to gather several balls, give us the chance to breathe and get out. There were a few situations where a counterattack could almost have started. He was the one slightly more penalized because he had to move between Como's two centre-backs but he did it with great intelligence and true quality as a footballer who knows the game." Gasperini also credited goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini's contribution: "Gollini was undoubtedly strong, also in distribution with both feet and hands. The squad put him in this situation, he was attentive and precise. The squad put him in the best conditions. He is a goalkeeper who will know how to replace Svilar very well." Looking ahead to Roma's next fixture against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League, Gasperini acknowledged the scale of the challenge: "Real Madrid is a squad of incredible champions, both on the pitch and on the bench. We face one of the best teams in absolute terms, among the strongest in Europe, which made an extraordinary market. Mourinho left a memory and extraordinary affection at Roma, but now our squad is another type—very different from the one that played with Mourinho, which is giving me great satisfaction."