Champions League: Roma's eight group-phase opponents assessed

Roma drew 0–0 against Como on 11 October despite playing more than two-thirds of the match with ten men after Donyell Malen's red card. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini defended the dismissal in his post-match remarks and highlighted his side's resilience and tactical discipline in difficult circumstances. Gasperini singled out Paulo Dybala for praise, saying: "I believe Dybala was extraordinary even with ten men, cleaning up difficult situations while numerically inferior. Like his teammates, I think he put in a match of great substance. I don't recall balls lost and indeed he seems strong again in his bursts. A shame in the first-half situation where he could have scored. But today too was an extraordinary performance." When asked if he had considered substituting Dybala after the red card, Gasperini explained: "He convinced me as we went on, began to take hold of several balls and give us breathing room, help us come out. At one point there was a situation of possible counter-attack and danger. It was continuous for all 90 minutes. He was the most penalised, had to dance between Como's two centre-backs but did it with great intelligence and quality, as a player who knows football." Gasperini felt the point was justified given the circumstances. "In the first half we had some excellent situations to score and a couple of important ones for Como, but we gave the sensation we could go ahead. Then obviously if you play two-thirds of a match numerically inferior, against a strong side like Como, there is regret. I don't know how the match would have ended 11 against 11, but we were confident of having excellent chances. So we were forced to defend and did it with lucidity and order. A draw, in these conditions, is fine anyway." On Pierluigi Gollini's performance, Gasperini said: "Gollini was undoubtedly good, also in distribution with his feet and hands. The team put him in that situation, he was attentive and precise. The team put him in the best conditions. He is a goalkeeper who will know how to substitute Svilar very well." Regarding Malen's expulsion, Gasperini was critical of the decision: "There is a repeated foul on Malen. To say Malen commits violent play is difficult to sustain. He had a surge after being held and also touched the ball. What is ugly is the jump, but there is no intent from Malen. Certainly it was an episode that marred the match." He continued: "If you stop the still frame it is obvious, otherwise no. If we return to the frame we return to what has been damage for our Serie A in recent years. We see the live action. I continue to be happy to see these new rules, including those on simulation. For God's sake, let's not go backwards." Roma now face Real Madrid on Wednesday in their next fixture.

Pietro Vierchowod, who spent five seasons at Como and won Serie A with Roma in 1982–83, has divided loyalties ahead of the two clubs' meeting but offered a sharp analysis of both teams to La Repubblica. He praised Roma's defensive discipline under Gasperini. "The Roma surprised me," he said. "The whole squad defends and the whole squad attacks. Gasperini understood that if you don't concede goals you force others to expose themselves." Como, by contrast, he sees as vulnerable on the counter-attack, particularly at home, though he acknowledged their attacking play is effective. When asked which defender he would have fitted best with in Como's current setup, Vierchowod — himself a quick defender — said he would have enjoyed working with either Como manager Fabregas or Roma's Gasperini. He expressed admiration for Italian defenders Calafiori and Scalvini but lamented the scarcity of quick defenders in the modern game. "Even though I was sometimes behind, I recovered the position," he noted. Of the forwards, he singled out Roma's Malen as an appealing marking challenge, comparing him to the rapid attackers he faced in his playing days: Muraro and Careca. Como's Douvikas, he added, excels at ball-protection and movement, reminiscent of Graziani. Vierchowod expressed emotion at seeing both clubs in the Champions League — Roma after a lengthy absence and Como on their European debut. "The idea that Manchester United and PSG will arrive on the lake is incredible," he said, referring to Como's location. On the result, he remained neutral: "I hope for a draw, I cannot choose. And I want few goals, because watching defences go haywire hurts me too much. A 1–1 would be ideal. A 4–4 is not football but a pile of errors."

Roma's gruelling 27-day run of eight matches across Serie A and the Champions League begins today at Como's Stadio Sinigaglia. Gian Piero Gasperini will finalise his team selection close to kickoff, managing fatigue from international duty and energy ahead of the imminent Champions League fixture against Real Madrid. The main tactical question centres on the attacking midfield role behind the strike pairing of Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. Lorenzo Pellegrini holds a slight edge in the three-way contest with Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora for the trequartista position. The move would mark his first start in almost six months, his last appearance dating to 18 April against Pisa. Gasperini confirmed Pellegrini's recovery in yesterday's press conference, saying: "The break has helped him greatly, he is well now and ready to play". In defence, Evan N'Dicka is favoured to complete the back line alongside the established starters, with Leonardo Balerdi—who returned to Trigoria only two days ago following Argentina's international commitments—in reserve. Konstantinos Koulierakis remains sidelined by a knock sustained with Greece but will rejoin the squad from tomorrow. Nahuel Molina and Wesley will continue on the right and left flanks respectively. In midfield, with Bryan Cristante absent through injury, Marten De Roon will anchor the engine room alongside Manu Koné, providing substance and shape to Roma's play.