From June ambitions to Champions League: How Gasperini transformed Roma

Roma's 3–1 victory over Real Madrid on 14 October left supporters with mixed emotions. For 80 minutes Roma dominated the European champions, but defensive errors in the closing stages—specifically three corner-kick concessions—soured what could have been a complete performance. A fan and observer reflecting on the match the morning after acknowledged the pride of the display while warning that such lapses cannot recur if Roma are to sustain a title challenge this season. Gasperini's work and his squad have a clear objective: Roma must compete at the highest level. The article praised the team's attacking quality and intensity but identified corner-kick defending as a correctable flaw that Gasperini must address. The performance drew criticism from Mourinho, who saw the match differently; the writer disagreed, saying "there were 80 minutes of Roma and nothing else" before three crucial set-piece errors. The broader context is that Roma, as a squad commanding significant investment, must maintain focus and consistency throughout the 2026–27 season to challenge for honours. Donyell Malen was singled out for particular praise: "Every shot a threat, no waste." The writer observed that Malen's two goals against Real Madrid, combined with a victory, would have completed his vindication at the club—though the player's quality was acknowledged regardless of the result. The emotional weight of the night united Roma's supporters across the city, a reminder of football's power to bind a community. Looking ahead, Roma must refocus before the fixture against Genoa, managed by Daniele De Rossi. Santiago Castro and Rodrigo Mora are expected to take prominent roles in that match. Gasperini's task is to correct the set-piece errors and restore the clarity that Roma displayed in open play, ensuring the club builds on the positives rather than repeating defensive mistakes.

Roma conceded three goals in the final eight minutes of their Champions League match against Real Madrid at the Olimpico on Wednesday evening, suffering their first defeat of the season. The collapse has reignited debate about the club's recurring vulnerability in moments of control: this is now the third occasion under Gasperini when a two-goal advantage has evaporated against major opponents. Earlier in the season, Roma surrendered a 3–1 lead to draw 3–3 at home with Juventus, Juventus scoring their leveller from set play, and later drew 2–2 at home to Inter after leading 2–0 in the first half. Gasperini himself identified three corners that became three goals in Madrid's comeback as a key factor, but the article frames Roma's collapse as a deeper psychological phenomenon—a sudden loss of nerve at the decisive moment that manifests physically, comparing it to an athlete freezing at the critical juncture of a match. Roma host Genoa, managed by De Rossi, on Saturday. The club will be weakened by absences: goalkeepers Mile Svilar and midfielder Bryan Cristante are injured, as are Manu Koné and Paulo Dybala; forward Donyell Malen is suspended. Roma will have only 16 outfield players available. The squad is at its minimum, and the team faces the match fatigued by their effort against Madrid and traumatised by the manner of their defeat. How Roma respond will test whether this pattern of late collapses can be arrested.

Paolo Condò analysed Roma's Champions League defeat to Real Madrid in an exclusive interview, emphasising the growth the club demonstrated despite the loss. Roma were the strongest of the four Italian sides to lose in the competition this week, and held Real Madrid at bay for 80 minutes before conceding twice more to lose what Condò described as a painful collapse. Condò highlighted the defensive vulnerability that emerged when Mancini and Hermoso were substituted. "When they came off, the defence fell apart," he said. "We were missing the player who, at 3–3, would say 'we're not playing this game any more and we finish it like this'. Ultimately the pitch seemed to slope in Real Madrid's favour—they always have at least four world-class players fresh on the pitch at the end." He argued that Endrick, the Spanish club's young forward, decided the match and that Mancini's absence was critical: "I believe if Mancini had been on the pitch Roma would not have conceded three goals from corners." Condò noted that Roma's character was evident in midfielders Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné, defender Gianluca Mancini, and goalkeeper Mile Svilar, though he felt their personalities were not fully deployed in the closing stages. On Roma's standing in Serie A, Condò was clear: "Roma remains the most credible anti-Inter candidate, and there are two proofs: they are the only side to have taken points from Inter, and they drew against Como with ten men." He assessed that Roma went closer to victory when at full strength, while in numerical disadvantage they conceded little. Condò also observed that Como, under Fabregas, has fallen behind Gasperini's Roma since that match.

Roma's injury troubles deepened Wednesday when two key squad members went down with muscle injuries. Manu Koné limped off in the sixteenth minute, while Paulo Dybala did not return after half-time. Both players underwent instrumental examinations on 16 October, with early indications suggesting a longer absence for Koné. The French midfielder felt pain in the biceps femoris — the same area that troubled him twice last year — and risks missing matches against Genoa, Slovan, Napoli, Cagliari, Udinese, Manchester United and Sassuolo before the international break. Roma expect to deploy the partnership of Niccolò Pisilli and Marten de Roon against Genoa. Dybala, who had already undergone initial checks on 15 October, remained under observation, though the club was more optimistic about his prospects; he would not have played against Genoa regardless. Donyell Malen is unavailable through suspension, and Mile Svilar continues his absence from the squad.

Roma face Genoa at the Olimpico on Thursday at 20.45 after a devastating Champions League defeat to Real Madrid on Wednesday night, when the club conceded three goals in seven minutes to lose a match they had dominated for 70 minutes. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini must rebuild morale quickly, drawing on the squad's awareness of their own quality to avoid a repeat of last season's collapse. After Roma surrendered a 3–1 lead to Juventus in a late turnaround, they lost to Como and Genoa and exited the Europa League to Bologna. The injury toll threatens to derail the recovery. Mile Svilar and Bryan Cristante were already sidelined; Manu Koné and Paulo Dybala have now joined them on the casualty list. Koné left the field in tears after 15 minutes with a hamstring strain that raises fears of a muscle tear. Dybala has a calf complaint and is likely to be rested against Genoa ahead of fixtures against Slovan and Napoli in a congested schedule. Both players are due for medical tests on Thursday. Donyell Malen is suspended, further stretching the squad's options. Gasperini is expected to field Rodrigo Mora, Niccolò Pisilli and Santiago Castro from the start in attack. A defensive reshuffle may see Leonardo Balerdi replace either Mario Hermoso or Evan N'Dicka. With Koné potentially facing a lengthy absence, midfield cover is tight and Lorenzo Pellegrini will be asked to drop deeper to provide support.

Roma will face Genoa on 17 October without five key players, leaving Gasperini to blood young squad members in what amounts to a depleted side. The coach will be without Mile Svilar in goal, Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné in midfield, and Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen in attack. Niccolò Pisilli, Rodrigo Mora and Santiago Castro are set to feature as Gasperini manages a squad stretched by fixture congestion and injury. The French midfielder Koné left the field in tears, covering his face with his shirt, raising immediate concern about a potential hamstring injury to his right biceps femoris. If graded as first-degree, the injury would sideline him for two weeks; a second-degree tear would mean three to four weeks out. Gasperini hopes to have Koné available after the international break for Roma's trip to Parma on 21 November. Dybala is expected to miss the Genoa fixture but return for Roma's next Champions League match against Slovan, which the team must win. Cristante remains a target for recovery by that point. Marten de Roon faces his third consecutive match in six days, covering fixtures against Como, Real Madrid and Genoa—a demanding schedule for a 35-year-old. Castro has featured in only four of Roma's eight matches so far, accumulating just 105 minutes of action. The young striker and his teammates Pisilli and Mora will have a rare opportunity to prove themselves in what Gasperini views as a chance to give confidence to players awaiting their real breakthrough.

Roma squandered a dominant 82-minute display against Real Madrid at the Olimpico to suffer a heavy defeat in the Champions League. After controlling the match with high-quality football and commanding Real Madrid for the opening phase, Roma's discipline collapsed in the final eight minutes as three goals — all conceded from corner kicks — left the Stadio Olimpico in despair. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini received a rating of 6.5 across the Italian press for his tactical setup, but his side's defensive frailties in set pieces proved fatal. The match saw several substitutions: Manu Koné was withdrawn after just 16 minutes for Niccolò Pisilli, while Gianluca Mancini departed at the 63-minute mark for Leonardo Balerdi. Daniele Ghilardi and Nahuel Molina both entered late in the contest. Among the five major Italian outlets' player ratings, Donyell Malen emerged as Roma's standout performer, earning marks of 7.5 to 8 across the press box. Pierluigi Gollini and Balerdi drew the harshest assessments, with ratings ranging from 4.5 to 6 for the goalkeeper and 5 to 6 for the defender. Wesley drew consistent praise for a solid defensive showing, rated 6.5 to 7.5, while Matías Soulé and Evan N'Dicka also featured prominently in the squad across the 90 minutes.

Roma return to Champions League football at the Olimpico for the first time in seven years, facing Real Madrid, the competition's most successful winner. Gasperini opts for a three-at-the-back formation with Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso in defence. Wesley and Molina patrol the flanks, with Koné and De Roon in midfield. Soulé plays behind Dybala and Malen in attack. Roma (3-4-1-2): Gollini; Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Wesley, Koné, De Roon, Molina; Soulé; Dybala, Malen. Substitutes: De Marzi, Vásquez, Balerdi, Ghilardi, Koulierakis, Rensch, Lulli, Pisilli, Mora, Castro, Pellegrini. Manager: Gasperini. Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, Rüdiger, Cucurella; Valverde, Tchouaméni; Güler, Bellingham, Vinicius; Mbappé. Substitutes: Lunin, Mestre, Dumfries, Huijsen, Carreras, Camavinga, Bernardo Silva, Brahim Díaz, Diomandé, Endrick, Espí, Pitarch. Manager: Mourinho.

Gian Piero Gasperini has named his squad for Roma's Champions League league-phase match against Real Madrid, kick-off 21:00 this evening. Konstantinos Koulierakis returns to the travelling party, while Devis Vásquez is included among the goalkeepers. The squad list features 24 players across all four positions. In defence, Gasperini has selected Devyne Rensch, Koulierakis, Evan N'Dicka, Nahuel Molina, Mario Hermoso, Gianluca Mancini, Leonardo Balerdi, Wesley, Emanuele Lulli and Daniele Ghilardi. Midfield options comprise Lorenzo Pellegrini, Marten de Roon, Manu Koné, Niccolò Pisilli and Rodrigo Mora. The forward line includes Santiago Castro, Donyell Malen, Matías Soulé and Paulo Dybala.

Roma's injury troubles deepened Wednesday when two key squad members went down with muscle injuries. Manu Koné limped off in the sixteenth minute, while Paulo Dybala did not return after half-time. Both players underwent instrumental examinations on 16 October, with early indications suggesting a longer absence for Koné. The French midfielder felt pain in the biceps femoris — the same area that troubled him twice last year — and risks missing matches against Genoa, Slovan, Napoli, Cagliari, Udinese, Manchester United and Sassuolo before the international break. Roma expect to deploy the partnership of Niccolò Pisilli and Marten de Roon against Genoa. Dybala, who had already undergone initial checks on 15 October, remained under observation, though the club was more optimistic about his prospects; he would not have played against Genoa regardless. Donyell Malen is unavailable through suspension, and Mile Svilar continues his absence from the squad.

Roma face Genoa at the Olimpico on Thursday at 20.45 after a devastating Champions League defeat to Real Madrid on Wednesday night, when the club conceded three goals in seven minutes to lose a match they had dominated for 70 minutes. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini must rebuild morale quickly, drawing on the squad's awareness of their own quality to avoid a repeat of last season's collapse. After Roma surrendered a 3–1 lead to Juventus in a late turnaround, they lost to Como and Genoa and exited the Europa League to Bologna. The injury toll threatens to derail the recovery. Mile Svilar and Bryan Cristante were already sidelined; Manu Koné and Paulo Dybala have now joined them on the casualty list. Koné left the field in tears after 15 minutes with a hamstring strain that raises fears of a muscle tear. Dybala has a calf complaint and is likely to be rested against Genoa ahead of fixtures against Slovan and Napoli in a congested schedule. Both players are due for medical tests on Thursday. Donyell Malen is suspended, further stretching the squad's options. Gasperini is expected to field Rodrigo Mora, Niccolò Pisilli and Santiago Castro from the start in attack. A defensive reshuffle may see Leonardo Balerdi replace either Mario Hermoso or Evan N'Dicka. With Koné potentially facing a lengthy absence, midfield cover is tight and Lorenzo Pellegrini will be asked to drop deeper to provide support.

Roma will face Genoa on 17 October without five key players, leaving Gasperini to blood young squad members in what amounts to a depleted side. The coach will be without Mile Svilar in goal, Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné in midfield, and Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen in attack. Niccolò Pisilli, Rodrigo Mora and Santiago Castro are set to feature as Gasperini manages a squad stretched by fixture congestion and injury. The French midfielder Koné left the field in tears, covering his face with his shirt, raising immediate concern about a potential hamstring injury to his right biceps femoris. If graded as first-degree, the injury would sideline him for two weeks; a second-degree tear would mean three to four weeks out. Gasperini hopes to have Koné available after the international break for Roma's trip to Parma on 21 November. Dybala is expected to miss the Genoa fixture but return for Roma's next Champions League match against Slovan, which the team must win. Cristante remains a target for recovery by that point. Marten de Roon faces his third consecutive match in six days, covering fixtures against Como, Real Madrid and Genoa—a demanding schedule for a 35-year-old. Castro has featured in only four of Roma's eight matches so far, accumulating just 105 minutes of action. The young striker and his teammates Pisilli and Mora will have a rare opportunity to prove themselves in what Gasperini views as a chance to give confidence to players awaiting their real breakthrough.