Curva Sud rallies Roma before Inter clash

Tensions boiled over at the final whistle of Manchester United v Roma, with contact between police and Giallorossi supporters after the match. Three people were arrested, and another Roma fan suffered a medical episode during the clashes. Doctors intervened and prevented the worst outcome. Some fans have denounced their treatment, saying: "Treated like animals", both before and after the match. The trouble started before kick-off, with further contact with police during pre-filtering and one Roma supporter arrested. Throughout the 90 minutes, the travelling fans reportedly faced constant provocation from the English supporters. After Manchester United's third goal, coins and pieces of sandwich were thrown from the stands towards the Roma section. The incidents overshadowed the fixture for the Giallorossi travelling support, with the complaints about police handling now likely to draw attention to how visiting fans are policed in England.

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 coach Gian Piero Gasperini has complained that European football still awards soft penalties, speaking at his press conference after the Manchester United defeat. He said: "In Europa danno ancora i rigorini. È una cosa che dà fastidio" ("In Europe they still give these little penalties. It's something that bothers me"). Gasperini said that playing on these pitches means accepting some pressure, adding: "Su questi campi ci sta subire un po', non si possono giocare 90 minuti come il primo tempo ma potevamo fare di più." ("On these pitches it's understandable to suffer a bit, you can't play 90 minutes like the first half, but we could have done more.") He added: "Questi rigorini però si sperava non ci fossero più" ("We had hoped these little penalties were no longer around"). The comments follow Roma's 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford against Manchester United. Roma's penalty concessions were the subject of debate afterwards, with the match-day video review examining a penalty awarded against Roma for a challenge on Cunha. Bryan Cristante said the penalty was very doubtful and that Roma too often conceded late comebacks, adding that the club must understand where they go wrong. Fernandes said Roma had been fortunate on the penalty and hoped the win would give the team confidence, referring to the result as a victory.

Roma led Manchester United 2-0 at half-time in their Champions League league-phase fourth matchday clash at Old Trafford, with Paulo Dybala's teammate Matías Soulé and Donyell Malen on the scoresheet. Soulé opened the scoring in the 11th minute after a fine pass from Mora, and Malen doubled the lead from the penalty spot in the 17th minute after Heaven handled Soulé's shot. Bruno Fernandes pulled one back for United in the 57th minute, after the hosts had been handed a penalty that Vásquez saved before the referee ordered a retake. Roma came into the game with four points from their first three European matches, following a convincing win over Slovan Bratislava, while United, under Michael Carrick, were on three points and in a difficult spell. Gian Piero Gasperini made changes to his starting lineup. Gollini was ruled out at the last minute, so Vásquez started in goal. Balerdi came in for Ndicka at centre-back, and Rensch won the battle for the right-back spot over Molina. Malen and Soulé were confirmed up front with Mora in support. On the United side, Lammens started in goal, with Mbeumo, Bruno Fernandes and Diallo behind Cunha. Roma dominated the first half and had further chances to extend their lead. Soulé came close with a left-foot effort that went narrowly wide, and Cristante released Malen, whose right-foot shot was tipped away by Lammens. Bruno Fernandes also fired over from a good position. Roma's defence was tested after Rensch was forced off in the 22nd minute, with Lulli coming on in his place. Malen was booked in the 41st minute for a foul, and Lulli was booked in the 35th minute for handball. Soulé and Bruno Fernandes were both shown yellow cards in the 20th minute after a flare-up on the pitch. In the second half, Gasperini brought on Pisilli in place of Mora at the restart. Baleba was injured in the 47th minute and was replaced by Tielemans in the 50th minute. United then received a penalty in the 55th minute, when Mancini's arm contacted the ball and Cunha went down under contact. Vásquez saved Bruno Fernandes' spot kick, but the referee ordered it to be retaken, and Fernandes made no mistake the second time, in the 57th minute. Shortly afterwards, Mbeumo struck the woodwork twice. By the 65th minute, the momentum had shifted towards United, with the home crowd lifted and United reinvigorated. The match was refereed by Jesús Gil Manzano from Spain, with Guadalupe Porras Ayuso and Diego Barbero as assistants, Juan Martínez Munuera as fourth official, and Carlos del Cerro Grande on VAR. The match remained in progress at the time of the live coverage, and Roma's position in the league phase will depend on how the second half ends.

Roma travel to Old Trafford on Tuesday for a high-stakes UEFA Champions League clash that could decide Michael Carrick's future at Manchester United, with the home side enduring their worst run of form since the late 1980s. United lost 2-0 at home to Chelsea on Saturday and are level on points with 18th-placed Crystal Palace in the Premier League. They are on a nine-game winless streak in all competitions (D3, L6), their worst run since 1988. Carrick's position is under scrutiny ahead of what is described as a must-win game. United beat Champions League debutants Sabah Baku 4-0, but have since lost back-to-back group-phase matches, suffering multi-goal defeats at Atletico Madrid and Como. Roma arrive in better shape. Gian Piero Gasperini's side recovered from a two-game winless start (D1, L1) to thrash Slovan Bratislava 4-0 on matchday three. That win is part of a five-game unbeaten run in all competitions (W4, D1), capped by a dominant 5-2 win at Udinese last weekend. Roma are unbeaten in 17 Serie A matches (W13, D4), and the Giallorossi will take the Old Trafford pitch in high spirits, seeking their maiden win on United's home ground. United have beaten Roma in all four previous meetings at the Theatre of Dreams, including a 7-1 rout in 2007, when Carrick scored a brace. The under-pressure United boss will be desperate to repeat that success, knowing anything other than a win would likely seal his fate at the club. United have won 13 of their 17 Champions League home matches against Italian opposition at Old Trafford (D1, L3) and bring a seven-game winning streak in European home games into the fixture, with each of their last four wins in that sequence seeing them score at least four goals. However, the 20-time English champions are enduring their worst-ever ten-game Champions League run (W2, D1, L7), and they have failed to score in five of their seven defeats this season. Roma's scoring has been prolific, with Gasperini's side netting two or more goals in six consecutive outings across all competitions. That run started with a 4-3 home loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League, and Roma have since won five straight games without defeat (W4, D1). Their domestic form has not translated to Europe, however. They have secured just two wins from their last 20 Champions League road fixtures (D6, L12) and have gone 32 successive Champions League road trips without a clean sheet. They are also seeking their first-ever away win over English opposition in the Champions League proper (D3, L7). That said, Roma have not lost any of their last six European away games (W3, D3). Patrick Dorgu, Luke Shaw and Benjamin Sesko are definite absentees for United, while Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo could be on the bench. Bryan Mbeumo is expected to lead the line amid Matheus Cunha's rough patch, with Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount and Youri Tielemans behind him in Carrick's 4-2-3-1 set-up. Roma remain without Paulo Dybala, Manu Kone and first-choice goalkeeper Mile Svilar. Lorenzo Pellegrini, who is struggling with a thigh injury, is also out, meaning Matias Soule is likely to start behind Donyell Malen. Roma's probable lineup is Gollini; N'Dicka, Mancini, Hermoso; Molina, De Roon, Pisilli, Wesley; Cristante, Soule; Malen. The prediction is a Roma win.

Gian Piero Gasperini is set to reshape Roma for tonight's Champions League clash away at Manchester United, with Bryan Cristante potentially moving into the attacking midfield role behind the front line. Il Messaggero's Daniele Aloisi reports that Niccolò Pisilli would take Cristante's place in midfield alongside Marten de Roon. The match marks the halfway point of the Champions League league phase. Cristante is expected to operate in the number ten area, although a start for Rodrigo Mora cannot be ruled out. Donyell Malen and Matías Soulé remain untouchable as the front pair. On the left, Wesley is set to play, while Devyne Rensch is pushing Emanuele Lulli on the right. At the back, Gasperini will rely on his best men, with Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso ready to form the three-man defence. Leonardo Balerdi is at risk after training on Monday with a heavy bandage on his right knee. Gollini is expected in goal, returning to Manchester where he spent time in the youth ranks from 2012 to 2014. Mile Svilar, Manu Koné and Paulo Dybala are once again out. Koné and Dybala are hoping to be available for Saturday's match against Sassuolo, though their involvement is not guaranteed.