Early-Season Assessment: Roma's Five-Match Balance Sheet

Leonardo Balerdi was dominant for 80 minutes of Roma's Champions League clash at Manchester United before a single error at Old Trafford turned the match. The Argentine defender, chosen by Gian Piero Gasperini ahead of Ndicka in central defence after winning that selection battle, was in monumental form and would have been a strong contender for player of the match had the game ended 15 minutes earlier, at the 80th minute, before the referee Gil Manzano blew his final whistle. Until the 83rd minute he had produced impeccable reading of the game, hard tackling and a clean, impressive touch on the ball. Then came a lapse in technique and concentration that handed Cunha the ball for United's 2-2 equaliser, paving the way for the home side to go ahead, as they surged on the back of their enthusiasm against a Roma side that looked tired and deflated. The mistake weighs heavily on the final result. It also revived memories of Balerdi's time at Marseille, where he was often criticised for exactly these costly lapses, born of overconfidence or a momentary drop in concentration. This time, the error proved decisive. The article argues it would be unfair to erase what Balerdi did over 80 minutes. He arrives on the back of excellent performances and has a strong understanding with Gasperini's way of playing. SofaScore statistics underline his display: 12 defensive contributions, 3 tackles, 2 of them won, 5 recoveries and 5 interceptions, 4 clearances, 50% of ground duels won and 60% of aerial duels won. His passing accuracy was 94% in his own half and 75% in the opposition half. Gasperini values his garra, his fierce aggression in duels and a leadership personality that never backs down. The lesson from Old Trafford, the article concludes, is that the quality of a great defender is there, but making the next step requires eliminating the blackouts that risk spoiling an excellent performance.

Matías Soulé was Roma's standout figure in a first half at Old Trafford that ended well for the Giallorossi, before a collective drop-off after the restart. The Argentine wearing number 18 scored the opening goal with a well-timed run onto a pass from Mora, and his shot won a handball from Heaven, leading to the penalty converted by Malen. He needed just 17 minutes to dominate the match. The display confirmed his importance to Gian Piero Gasperini's project. The article notes that Soulé was among the players linked by radiomercato with a possible exit just a few months ago, after a second half of last season affected and slowed by a troublesome groin problem (pubalgia). He has since regained his continuity. Soulé, the former Juventus and Frosinone player, is at his best when he starts wide on the right and cuts inside. In the first half he also tried a Del Piero-style effort with his left foot, curling a shot towards the far post that narrowly missed the crossbar and sent the Roma fans in the Old Trafford stands into a murmur. After the interval, with Manchester United pushing forward and Roma pinned back, Soulé tried to win the ball and run at the defence alone. His efforts were admirable but fruitless, as the team was too deep and tired to support him, leaving him isolated. Gasperini had praised him after the 3-3 draw at Napoli, ahead of the Roma-Cagliari match. He said: "The performance the other evening was extraordinary, but he has always played at a high level in the previous games too. He can play not only on the right but also on the left and as a full-back. The other evening he also played as a trequartista, found the goal and did important things. He is gaining maturity, confidence and security in his game. He loses many fewer balls than in the past, but there are still aspects where he can improve. We are convinced he has further room to grow and, above all, he is a young man who works very well every day to improve himself." The article concludes that the English night left a bitter taste because of how the match ended, but Soulé's performance shows that Roma have found a player they can rely on.

Former United States forward Michele 'Mike' Grella has criticised Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini after the club's recent comeback defeats, saying the coach's decisions have been poor. Roma lost at home to Manchester United after being overturned from a two-goal lead, and they face Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday in their final match before the November international break. Speaking on CBSSportsGolazo, Grella said: "It's not something new. We've seen it against Manchester United, Real Madrid and Inter, in all these cases with a two-goal lead." He added that Roma play with three centre-backs, so nine centre-backs across the three matches, and that seven of them were substituted. "In a really strong team, probably all nine finish the match, or eight. Putting these three matches together, only two finished the game." Grella said the decisions were poor in terms of management by the coach, and that Roma conceded from corners, where heading and personality count. "But these are game decisions and having the wrong players at the wrong time. Koné isn't there, Ndicka only God knows why he didn't start from the first minute, Dybala isn't there, Malen is substituted, Svilar isn't there, nor Gollini, who was ok despite having played only once in two years. When you add all these things to Gasperini's bad decisions, something like this (the Manchester United comeback, ed.) becomes possible against teams of this level."

Former United States forward Michele 'Mike' Grella has criticised Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini after the club's recent comeback defeats, saying the coach's decisions have been poor. Roma lost at home to Manchester United after being overturned from a two-goal lead, and they face Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday in their final match before the November international break. Speaking on CBSSportsGolazo, Grella said: "It's not something new. We've seen it against Manchester United, Real Madrid and Inter, in all these cases with a two-goal lead." He added that Roma play with three centre-backs, so nine centre-backs across the three matches, and that seven of them were substituted. "In a really strong team, probably all nine finish the match, or eight. Putting these three matches together, only two finished the game." Grella said the decisions were poor in terms of management by the coach, and that Roma conceded from corners, where heading and personality count. "But these are game decisions and having the wrong players at the wrong time. Koné isn't there, Ndicka only God knows why he didn't start from the first minute, Dybala isn't there, Malen is substituted, Svilar isn't there, nor Gollini, who was ok despite having played only once in two years. When you add all these things to Gasperini's bad decisions, something like this (the Manchester United comeback, ed.) becomes possible against teams of this level."

Roma's defence is under growing strain, having conceded 14 goals in their last seven matches, an average of two per game. The figure is a warning sign for Gasperini and raises serious questions about the team's defensive stability. There is a paradox, though: excluding the defeats to Real Madrid and Manchester United, Roma have not lost in this period. They have shipped plenty of goals but have usually managed to respond. In the Champions League, one detail stands out. In both comebacks Roma have conceded, the collapse came after Hermoso left the pitch. Manchester United scored twice in 15 minutes, and Real Madrid scored three times in 20. Whether this is coincidence or a real factor is hard to establish. Hermoso brings experience, personality and security to the back line, and his absence was clearly felt on both occasions. The absence of Mile Svilar weighs heavily too. Since his injury, a problem with the fifth toe of his foot, Roma have lost their main defensive reference point, a goalkeeper capable of preventing one or two goals a game. Gollini has not let the team down and has often been decisive, but Svilar projects a different sort of security. Behind him, the defence knows it has a goalkeeper ready to correct a mistake and make a save when needed. It is no coincidence that Roma have begun conceding so many goals without him. Gasperini must now work on restoring solidity and, above all, the confidence the side seems to have lost, because the two go hand in hand. When trust disappears, even the most solid wall can start to crack.

Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini has left uncertainty over the return of goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini, who has a back problem, ahead of Saturday's match against Sassuolo. Asked about his return, Gasperini replied: "Non lo so, vediamo" ("I don't know, we'll see"). The injury that kept Gollini out of the game against Manchester United could also affect the next fixture. Yesterday Devis Vásquez took his place in goal, making his first appearance in the Roma shirt. His performance is hard to judge. He made no serious mistakes, and his only fault came on Cunha's goal that made it 3-2. He also saved Fernandes's penalty, but the referee denied him the chance to enter Roma's history books. Vásquez could now be asked to play again on Saturday, with Gollini still uncertain and Mile Svilar also in the picture. The game against Sassuolo is on Saturday. Gasperini's cautious comments leave the starting goalkeeper choice open, and Vásquez's debut performance means he is in line for another start if Gollini is not fit.

Former referee Gianpaolo Calvarese has defended the decision to award Manchester United a penalty in their match against Roma at Old Trafford, which Gil Manzano gave at the 58th minute and which allowed United to cut the deficit. Writing in La Gazzetta dello Sport, Calvarese said: "Il rigore concesso per il contatto tra Mancini e Cunha, a mio giudizio, è leggero: Mancini cerca di evitare l'avversario." Translated: "The penalty awarded for the contact between Mancini and Cunha, in my opinion, is slight: Mancini is trying to avoid the opponent." The contact between Mancini and Cunha, if there was any, was described as very light. The spot-kick sequence then began with a save by Vásquez from Bruno Fernandes, followed by a retake after Cristante entered the box early. The result was a 1-2 scoreline, which revitalised United's players and fans and opened the way to their comeback. Calvarese said the focus should be on what came after the save. He said: "Vásquez para il tiro di Bruno Fernandes rispettando la posizione richiesta al portiere, con un piede sulla linea. Cristante, invece, al momento della battuta ha già un piede sulla linea dell'area. E soprattutto è lui che, dopo la parata, gioca il pallone e lo allontana." Translated: "Vásquez saves Bruno Fernandes's shot while respecting the position required of the goalkeeper, with one foot on the line. Cristante, however, already had a foot on the edge of the area when the kick was taken. And above all it is he who, after the save, plays the ball and clears it away." He added that the VAR protocol applied: "L'ingresso anticipato (encroachment) può essere oggetto di intervento, perché Cristante partecipa direttamente all'azione sulla respinta. Il Var lo segnala e il rigore viene ripetuto, senza bisogno che l'arbitro vada al monitor (overrule). La decisione, dunque, è corretta, in punta di regolamento." Translated: "Early entry (encroachment) can be subject to intervention, because Cristante takes a direct part in the action on the rebound. The VAR flags it and the penalty is retaken, without the referee needing to go to the monitor (overrule). The decision, therefore, is correct, strictly according to the rules." Calvarese then questioned whether the outcome was fair. He said: "È giusto che una parata regolare venga cancellata in una situazione del genere?" Translated: "Is it right that a regular save is cancelled in a situation like this?" He argued that both players had complied with the rules, since each kept one foot on the goal line at the moment of the kick, and that Cristante's impact on the rebound had no bearing on the duel between shooter and goalkeeper. He said: "Cristante ha certamente avuto un impatto sulla ribattuta - addirittura arriva per primo sul pallone e lo gioca -, ma quel piede sulla linea non ha inciso sul confronto tra tiratore e portiere." Translated: "Cristante certainly had an impact on the rebound, in fact he gets to the ball first and plays it, but that foot on the line did not affect the duel between shooter and goalkeeper." He backed a proposal from Pierluigi Collina for a "one shot" penalty: "Se il tiro entra, è gol. Se il portiere para, oppure il pallone colpisce un palo, o la traversa, e torna in campo, l'azione finisce e si riparte con un calcio di rinvio." Translated: "If the shot goes in, it is a goal. If the goalkeeper saves, or the ball hits a post or the crossbar and comes back into play, the action ends and play restarts with a goal kick."

Roma were beaten 3-2 at Old Trafford after dominating the first half, with Manchester United winning the game after a controversial refereeing decision and a defensive error by Reportedly Balerdi. Roma's first-half display was built on an aggressive 3-4-2-1 press that left United's 4-2-3-1 struggling to cope. The visitors took control with a Soulé goal, assisted by a delicious pass from Mora, and then a penalty converted by Malen after Soulé was fouled. Roma came close to extending their lead in the first half: Soulé came close to scoring, and Malen wasted several chances through poor first touches, while Roma's pressing forced repeated turnovers. Rensch went off injured in the first half and was replaced by Lulli, a role unusual for him. Gasperini made changes at the break, bringing on Pisilli for Mora to seek more balance, and Tielemans replaced Baleba. Roma's control faded late in the match. Several loose passes and too many backpasses from Roma gave United a foothold, and Maguire and De Roon created the danger from corners. Referee Gil Manzano judged a foul by Cunha in the area, awarded a penalty and ordered it retaken, which changed the game. Roma's keeper Vásquez was denied the chance to be the hero, as the penalty was retaken and Vásquez was unable to stop it. Rensch's withdrawal and the switch to a back three of Ghilardi, N'Dicka and Castro for Hermoso, Mancini and Malen came after Roma's defeat to Napoli, Gasperini's team had already faced Real Madrid in a heavy defeat, and the match was another negative result for the club in a big game against a top-level opponent. The article notes that Gasperini remained calm after the match, saying he was learning from the errors without making a drama of it. Roma must now avoid any hangover in Serie A, where the club's ambitions appear more justified.

Roma led Manchester United at Old Trafford for 45 minutes and played outstandingly, but lost 3-2 after a controversial penalty and a late collapse. The article argues Roma were strong in the first half despite heavy absences, including a third-choice goalkeeper in goal and a squad less deep than United's. Roma scored two goals in that opening period and came close to a third. Gasperini's side then gradually lost the ability to play out from their own half once United raised their pressing, continuing with solutions that had worked in the first half. The article says Roma needed to change approach, accept some long balls, break the rhythm and accept that defending a lead does not mean abandoning their identity. Some reserves, the article states, have not yet shown the same reliability as the starters. It describes this as not a condemnation but an observation that becomes evident when a Champions League match suddenly changes intensity. Gasperini has built a competitive side, but not yet a squad able to maintain the same level through all of its substitutions. The article, however, says this cannot excuse what happened at the 55th minute. It describes the penalty Gil Manzano awarded for contact between Mancini and Cunha as a decision that leaves observers frankly astonished: a very light touch, an attacker who seems to lose his balance alone, and a referee pointing to the spot with a certainty inversely proportional to the foul. According to a rigorous technical assessment, the article says, the penalty should never have existed. On the retake, Cristante entered the area early and intervened on the rebound from Vasquez's save, which made the rule applicable. The article calls this the paradox: VAR intervened over a marginal infringement but did not correct the original decision. After Bruno Fernandes missed and Vasquez saved, the retake led to the goal that changed the match's momentum, and United regained enthusiasm as Old Trafford came alive. The article calls the handling of that episode scandalous, while stressing that this is not a search for an alibi. Gasperini referred to the usual "rigorini" (small penalties) but did not turn the post-match into a trial of the referee. The article suggests this restraint could be read in light of Roma's delicate relationship with UEFA, given the settlement agreement and the economic monitoring to which the club is subject, though it calls this an interpretation rather than a certainty. Such a low institutional profile would be understandable, the article says, but not necessarily agreeable. Roma need no theatrics, yet should not accept every decision passively; defending their case through the appropriate channels should be a normal form of protection. The article concludes that work must now focus on Trigoria and on what the pitch revealed: physical decline, the alternatives on the bench, the inability to manage certain moments, and the two goals conceded late that turned a prestigious win at a historically cursed ground into a painful defeat. Roma must learn not to be pegged back, it says, but must not get used to being refereed this way. These are two distinct problems, and both deserve an answer.

Roma were beaten 3-2 at Old Trafford after dominating the first half, with Manchester United winning the game after a controversial refereeing decision and a defensive error by Reportedly Balerdi. Roma's first-half display was built on an aggressive 3-4-2-1 press that left United's 4-2-3-1 struggling to cope. The visitors took control with a Soulé goal, assisted by a delicious pass from Mora, and then a penalty converted by Malen after Soulé was fouled. Roma came close to extending their lead in the first half: Soulé came close to scoring, and Malen wasted several chances through poor first touches, while Roma's pressing forced repeated turnovers. Rensch went off injured in the first half and was replaced by Lulli, a role unusual for him. Gasperini made changes at the break, bringing on Pisilli for Mora to seek more balance, and Tielemans replaced Baleba. Roma's control faded late in the match. Several loose passes and too many backpasses from Roma gave United a foothold, and Maguire and De Roon created the danger from corners. Referee Gil Manzano judged a foul by Cunha in the area, awarded a penalty and ordered it retaken, which changed the game. Roma's keeper Vásquez was denied the chance to be the hero, as the penalty was retaken and Vásquez was unable to stop it. Rensch's withdrawal and the switch to a back three of Ghilardi, N'Dicka and Castro for Hermoso, Mancini and Malen came after Roma's defeat to Napoli, Gasperini's team had already faced Real Madrid in a heavy defeat, and the match was another negative result for the club in a big game against a top-level opponent. The article notes that Gasperini remained calm after the match, saying he was learning from the errors without making a drama of it. Roma must now avoid any hangover in Serie A, where the club's ambitions appear more justified.

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.

Leonardo Balerdi's two errors in the final minutes turned a comfortable Roma lead at Old Trafford into a painful defeat, with United coming back to win after Roma had been 2-0 up. Roma had dominated the first half under Gian Piero Gasperini, going 2-0 up through Soulé and a Malen penalty, with Balerdi outstanding at the heart of the defence, making ferocious interceptions, playing the ball out with authority and dominating his area. The match then followed the pattern of the recent defeat to Real Madrid: Roma stopped running, suffered constantly and let United back into the game. The decisive moment came in the 83rd minute. Balerdi was well placed to win the ball, an ordinary play for a player who had been the best on the pitch until then, but he slipped and missed it, allowing Cunha to score the 2-2 equaliser. Three minutes later he was again at fault, with the ball for United's 3-2 goal coming through his mistake, the second consecutive error that completed the collapse. Cunha was sent off for a second yellow card shortly afterwards, but the damage was done and Roma lost three points. Balerdi had been in a race for a starting place with N'Dicka until the last moment, but Gasperini preferred him for his dynamism and pace. He was not at full fitness, having not played in the last 180 minutes because of a knee problem. Gasperini deployed him as the central figure of a three-man defence alongside Mancini and Hermoso, specifically to mark Matheus Cunha, who was playing as a number nine for Carrick. Balerdi had earlier been impressive in a double against Napoli, which had convinced Roma to prepare a buy-back option worth over €11 million with Marseille, and he had previously been on Juventus's transfer radar. The article describes the result as leaving Roma battered, with the lesson that dominating like giants is not enough; the side must learn not to fall asleep at the crucial moment.