Como 0–0 Roma: Player ratings from a defensive stalemate

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.

Donyell Malen's dismissal in Roma's draw at Como has become a focal point of debate, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini arguing that referee Fabbri should have blown for a foul before the contact that led to the red card. Gasperini said: "Basta con i fotogrammi" (enough with the stills), emphasizing a straightforward point: had Fabbri whistled for a foul first, nothing would have happened. The decision proved costly, denying Roma the chance to return from Como with three points. Malen faces a one-match ban, possibly two. The dismissal has invited comparison to a second-round match between Como and Parma, where Caqueret committed what the article describes as a far graver foul but received only a yellow card from Colli. The inconsistency highlights what appears to be a disparity in officiating standards. Como manager Fabregas made no public comment on that incident. Roma delivered a spirited performance despite the numerical disadvantage, competing on level terms and holding firm to the final whistle. The focus now shifts to their next fixture: a meeting with Real Madrid.

Pierluigi Gollini spoke after Como's 0–0 draw with Roma on 11 October, reflecting on his first Serie A appearance in two years. The goalkeeper said he had approached the fixture with focused intensity, aware of the long absence from top-flight football. He praised Mile Svilar's professionalism and their relationship, saying: "I told Mile to stay calm and recover; we are all waiting for him. He is a great professional, we have an excellent relationship." Svilar had encouraged him before the match, telling him: "It is your moment, enjoy it." Gollini's return marks a significant moment for Roma's goalkeeping department. The 29-year-old has built a career worthy of respect, and he framed his opportunity as a reward for years of dedicated work. He acknowledged that doubts were natural after such a lengthy absence from Serie A competition, but insisted his mental preparation had been thorough and his confidence high during the week leading into the fixture. On his performance, Gollini credited mental clarity for his distribution and composure. "When you are in good shape mentally, everything follows," he said. "I felt good in the match. I felt fluid too, despite it being such a long time. Mental state makes the difference." He was questioned about a possible contact between Wesley and Como's Diao but had not seen the incident clearly from his position on the pitch. Regarding his positioning, he reflected: "Of course there would be doubts after two years without playing a Serie A match. I played the match in my head this week. During the match I felt good. This helped me."

Pierluigi Gollini spoke after Como's 0–0 draw with Roma on 11 October, reflecting on his first Serie A appearance in two years. The goalkeeper said he had approached the fixture with focused intensity, aware of the long absence from top-flight football. He praised Mile Svilar's professionalism and their relationship, saying: "I told Mile to stay calm and recover; we are all waiting for him. He is a great professional, we have an excellent relationship." Svilar had encouraged him before the match, telling him: "It is your moment, enjoy it." Gollini's return marks a significant moment for Roma's goalkeeping department. The 29-year-old has built a career worthy of respect, and he framed his opportunity as a reward for years of dedicated work. He acknowledged that doubts were natural after such a lengthy absence from Serie A competition, but insisted his mental preparation had been thorough and his confidence high during the week leading into the fixture. On his performance, Gollini credited mental clarity for his distribution and composure. "When you are in good shape mentally, everything follows," he said. "I felt good in the match. I felt fluid too, despite it being such a long time. Mental state makes the difference." He was questioned about a possible contact between Wesley and Como's Diao but had not seen the incident clearly from his position on the pitch. Regarding his positioning, he reflected: "Of course there would be doubts after two years without playing a Serie A match. I played the match in my head this week. During the match I felt good. This helped me."

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."

Pierluigi Gollini spoke after Como's 0–0 draw with Roma on 11 October, reflecting on his first Serie A appearance in two years. The goalkeeper said he had approached the fixture with focused intensity, aware of the long absence from top-flight football. He praised Mile Svilar's professionalism and their relationship, saying: "I told Mile to stay calm and recover; we are all waiting for him. He is a great professional, we have an excellent relationship." Svilar had encouraged him before the match, telling him: "It is your moment, enjoy it." Gollini's return marks a significant moment for Roma's goalkeeping department. The 29-year-old has built a career worthy of respect, and he framed his opportunity as a reward for years of dedicated work. He acknowledged that doubts were natural after such a lengthy absence from Serie A competition, but insisted his mental preparation had been thorough and his confidence high during the week leading into the fixture. On his performance, Gollini credited mental clarity for his distribution and composure. "When you are in good shape mentally, everything follows," he said. "I felt good in the match. I felt fluid too, despite it being such a long time. Mental state makes the difference." He was questioned about a possible contact between Wesley and Como's Diao but had not seen the incident clearly from his position on the pitch. Regarding his positioning, he reflected: "Of course there would be doubts after two years without playing a Serie A match. I played the match in my head this week. During the match I felt good. This helped me."

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 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.

Roma held Como to a draw despite playing most of the second half with ten men following Donyell Malen's red card, demonstrating the mental fortitude Gian Piero Gasperini demanded in a match that tested the squad's character. Pierluigi Gollini kept a clean sheet on his seasonal debut, while Marten de Roon marshalled the midfield with authority after Bryan Cristante's absence. The result—a point earned rather than lost—came at the cost of Malen's dismissal, which altered the tactical balance but unified Roma's resolve in the closing stages. The match unfolded as a tactical study between two sides that largely cancelled each other out for long stretches. Como pressed with intent, particularly through Nico Paz, but Roma's defensive line held firm. Gianluca Mancini recovered from an early lapse in concentration to anchor the back four alongside Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso, each marshalling their zones methodically. When Hermoso departed in the 59th minute, Leonardo Balerdi seamlessly continued the work. Gasperini's substitutions tightened Roma's shape as Como intensified their assault; the manager made tactical withdrawals to reinforce the rear guard and limit the damage once numerical disadvantage took hold. Wesley battled constantly against Diao on the flank, Nahuel Molina invested considerable energy in both directions, and Paulo Dybala demonstrated leadership by rolling up his sleeves after Malen's dismissal to shoulder the burden. Gollini was tested early—he produced a strong save on Nico Paz within seconds but erred on timing with a second attempt, though he recovered to deny Caqueret. Dybala arrived at Como intent on unsettling the hosts and delivered a crucial ball recovery that unlocked the home defence and set up a Lorenzo Pellegrini shot. Pellegrini himself took ten minutes to settle into the flow but soon began advancing play in Roma's traditional fashion. Manu Koné struggled with accuracy and picked up an avoidable yellow card, while Matías Soulé entered at half-time but collected a caution himself during defensive duties. Malen's dismissal stemmed from a fierce recovery that Gasperini felt may have warranted an earlier stoppage for a preceding foul. The manager himself was far from serene on the touchline, frequently remonstrating with refereeing decisions in a match neither official found straightforward. Roma travel to face José Mourinho's side next week.

Roma emerged from the Sinigaglia with a hard-fought 0–0 draw against Como, but the result came at a cost: Donyell Malen was sent off in the 53rd minute for a late challenge on Kaiki, forcing the visitors to defend the entire second half with ten men. The point keeps Gian Piero Gasperini's side in the upper reaches of the Serie A table, two points behind Inter. Roma fielded an unusually depleted lineup after the international break. Mile Svilar was sidelined by a stress fracture of the foot, with Pierluigi Gollini stepping in. At the back, Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso formed the three-man defence, flanked by Wesley and Nahuel Molina. Bryan Cristante's absence meant Marten de Roon partnered Manu Koné in midfield. Paulo Dybala and Malen led the attack, with Lorenzo Pellegrini making his seasonal debut in support—a role he would abandon after 46 minutes when Matías Soulé replaced him. Roma created the clearer early chances. Dybala missed a golden opportunity in the opening minutes, shooting centrally when completely unmarked in front of Como's keeper Butez after a Mancini assist and Malen flick. Pellegrini struck the post with a first-time effort from the edge of the area ten minutes later. Malen then headed well but fired into the side netting from a tight angle. Neither side retreated an inch despite a slippery pitch, with both teams applying relentless man-to-man pressing. The first half ended scoreless after an intense display by both teams. The turning point arrived early in the second period. Fabbri showed Malen a direct red card for a late intervention on Kaiki in the 53rd minute. Como pressed their numerical advantage immediately; Perrone wasted a fine chance by shooting over the bar following Diao's run down the flank, and Douvikas's powerful effort struck the post. Gian Piero Gasperini replaced Hermoso with Leonardo Balerdi before the hour mark and later withdrew Molina for Devyne Rensch, prioritising defensive stability over attack. Gollini made decisive saves to deny Nico Paz on two occasions. The match was further disrupted when referee Fabbri suffered a knee problem at the 68th minute; fourth official Sozza took over for the remainder. Como dominated possession thereafter but could not break through Roma's resolute defensive block. Jesus Rodriguez fired wide late on as the hosts pressed for a breakthrough that never came. After seven minutes of added time, the match ended 0–0. Gasperini extended Roma's positive run and stayed within striking distance of the title race.