Gasperini relives Atalanta nightmare as Roma's lead slips at Old Trafford

Donyell Malen scored a cool penalty at Old Trafford to put Roma 2-0 up against Manchester United, but a late comeback by United turned the night into a nightmare for the Giallorossi. Malen's personal achievement offered little consolation. His goal made him a notable name in Roma's history. The Dutch forward became the third Roma player to score in at least three consecutive Champions League matches, joining Antonio Cassano (2004) and Edin Dzeko (2018) in the club's record books. The milestone is a significant achievement, but it does not erase the disappointment of the result. Malen's own performance was somewhat below his recent displays, which went largely unnoticed amid the collapse. The penalty was struck with the composure that has become his trademark, and it briefly gave Roma hope of a memorable night at Old Trafford. United's fightback then transformed the evening into one to forget. Malen's record is a small light in a night Roma will want to put behind them.

Roma are halfway through their Champions League league phase with four points from four matches, and Gian Piero Gasperini's side must now start picking up results quickly. The return so far is a win over Slovan, a draw with Fenerbahçe and defeats to Real Madrid and Manchester United. Roma were ahead by two goals against Real and against United before late collapses cost them both games. Roma have four matches left, and the article says the points needed to move beyond the play-off zone are still very much in reach. Teams finishing between 9th and 24th go into the play-offs, while the top eight qualify directly. Based on the last two editions, Roma could need around 11 or 12 points to secure at least a play-off place. In 2024/25 Club Brugge were the last team to qualify with 11 points, while in 2025/26 Benfica of José Mourinho went through with nine. The average across the two seasons is 10 points, but Gasperini would be wise to aim higher. Starting from four points, Roma need at least two wins and a draw to get close to that mark. A top-eight finish has needed 16 points in each of the last two seasons, which would mean winning all four remaining matches. The remaining fixtures are Paris Saint-Germain, Sporting, AEK Athens and Lille. The trip to Paris is the toughest, and the article expects Roma to leave the Parc des Princes without points, though it says football is unpredictable and Roma could surprise. The three games after that are considered manageable, and two of them are at home, where the backing of the Olimpico will be decisive.

Roma have thrown away leads of two goals in three matches, and last night at Old Trafford they lost to Manchester United after a strong first half. Il Messaggero says the side were dominant before the interval but lost intensity badly after it, a problem Gian Piero Gasperini must address. The pattern has now appeared against Inter, Real Madrid and Manchester United, where Roma were two goals ahead and failed to win, losing the last two games. Against Real Madrid at the Stadio Olimpico, Roma were taught a football lesson before turning the match and the result around with very little effort, leaving wounds on the brave giallorossi. Il Messaggero argues they remain young for that kind of evening. The Real side were the great Real of Mbappé and his friend Mourinho, while the United side were in deep crisis, giving Roma the chance to finish them off and climb the Champions League table, perhaps even into the top eight. The columnist writes that Roma played a European style of football, enchanted with physical strength, energy and top-level touches, and silenced Old Trafford. Yet the phrase that defines the night is that teams who know more than you can kill you even as they are dying. Roma fell into that trap again. Gasperini's side, the paper concludes, are not yet equipped for miracles: they need time, patience and stronger players.