Gollini answers the call: reaction, nerve and assurance after Svilar's injury

Roma drew 0–0 at Como in Serie A's first goalless match of the season, with Dybala and Pellegrini spurning first-half chances before Malen's dismissal reshaped the contest. Dybala had an early opportunity to break the deadlock, then Pellegrini struck the woodwork as Roma dominated the opening period. Como grew into the match as the half progressed, but the turning point came early in the second half when Malen was sent off directly for a high challenge on Kaiki. Thereafter, Roma retreated into a defensive shell, forced to absorb pressure with ten men. The point keeps Roma within two of Inter at the summit, though it represented a missed opportunity for Fabregas's Como to exploit their numerical advantage. For Roma, securing a draw despite the dismissal proved valuable; Dybala's display combined quality and graft throughout. The Giallorossi's focus now shifts to Wednesday, when they face Real Madrid in the Champions League. Como travel to Feyenoord in the same competition.

Ramon expressed frustration after Roma's match against Como in Serie A's sixth round of fixtures. Speaking after the game, the Roma player reflected on a performance in which his side failed to capitalise on a numerical advantage. "We are not content," he said. "We wanted to win. In the end they had one man fewer and we were unable to score a goal — we must improve." Ramon acknowledged his own development but emphasised the need for continued progress. "I have improved a lot, thanks to everyone, but I still have to improve," he stated. "We are not content and we must continue to work." The comments underline Roma's determination to turn draws into victories as the season progresses.

Jacobo Ramon expressed frustration after his side drew with Roma, saying his team failed to capitalise on a numerical advantage late in the match. Speaking to DAZN following the fixture, Ramon said: "We are not happy, we wanted to win and at the end you could see it with them down to ten men. We couldn't score a goal, we need to improve and think about the next one." Ramon reflected on his own development over the past year, crediting his teammates and staff for helping him progress. He acknowledged there remains room for growth: "I have improved a lot thanks to everyone, my teammates and the staff. But I still have to improve a lot. We need to continue working."

Pierluigi Gollini spoke to journalists after Como-Roma on matchday six of Serie A, reflecting on his start in goal for the Giallorossi. The goalkeeper said: "The match was approached differently. Playing after such a long time was difficult. My performance is a reward — what I've earned I've earned through work, hammering away at it. There's a circle of life: when you behave well and give your maximum, the wheel turns in the end." Gollini had been out for an extended period before returning to action at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia. His performance represented a moment of redemption after limited opportunities. Mile Svilar, Roma's first-choice goalkeeper, offered encouragement before kickoff. On his state of mind during the match, Gollini explained: "I felt good, quite fluid even though I hadn't played in a long time. Mental state makes the difference — if you're convinced, everything follows as a consequence." When asked if Svilar had reached out, Gollini revealed: "He told me before the match, 'Go, it's your moment.' He's very strong, there's little to say. I care about him and we're here to help Roma. If I've had a certain career, there's a reason for it."

Roma sporting director Tony D'Amico spoke to DAZN shortly before the match between Como and Roma on 11 October, addressing the squad's readiness and key personnel changes. With goalkeeper Mile Svilar sidelined by injury, D'Amico expressed confidence in Pierluigi Gollini's ability to step in, alongside midfielder Marten de Roon. "It is a great shame to lose important players like Svilar or Cristante to injury," D'Amico said. "They are fairly lengthy injuries and both will miss some matches. But all the players who are part of the squad have great trust from the club and the coach, and that is why they are here. For Gollini, like de Roon or all the players who have the opportunity to show themselves, it is a motivation and not a burden." D'Amico framed Lorenzo Pellegrini's return as a strategic acquisition. "For us, Pellegrini was a signing—we found him out of contract," he explained. "He, like Dybala and Cristante, were our first signings in the market. Pellegrini lived very difficult months after his injury in May, worked hard over the summer, and for him too I believe it is a great motivation to return today. We are very happy to see him on the pitch and we are convinced he can give great help to the group." D'Amico acknowledged the challenge posed by Como, noting the squad had limited preparation time with international players returning on Friday. "The principles of the two teams are somewhat different, and we expect a fine match between two strong sides," he said. "The time to prepare it has not been great, but there are months of important work behind us. We hope for a fine match between two strong sides and a showcase for Italian football."

Marten de Roon will make his first Roma start in midfield alongside Manu Koné in today's match at Como, with Bryan Cristante unavailable. The Dutch midfielder, signed from Atalanta, spoke to DAZN before kickoff about the opportunity and his readiness after the international break. De Roon acknowledged the challenge of regaining match fitness but stressed that only playing would help him find his rhythm. He said: "It is always nice, especially to play as a starter for Roma. We prepared very well, the break was long but we trained well. I have regained condition to play, it won't be easy to find rhythm at first but the only way to do it is by playing. I will try to prove I am still a footballer and that Roma can also win against Como." On goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini, who is also making his Roma debut, De Roon offered reassurance: "I saw him calm, goalkeepers prepare alone. He knows the environment, has played many matches and is an experienced guy. In my opinion he will be very ready."

Pierluigi Gollini spoke to journalists after Como-Roma on matchday six of Serie A, reflecting on his start in goal for the Giallorossi. The goalkeeper said: "The match was approached differently. Playing after such a long time was difficult. My performance is a reward — what I've earned I've earned through work, hammering away at it. There's a circle of life: when you behave well and give your maximum, the wheel turns in the end." Gollini had been out for an extended period before returning to action at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia. His performance represented a moment of redemption after limited opportunities. Mile Svilar, Roma's first-choice goalkeeper, offered encouragement before kickoff. On his state of mind during the match, Gollini explained: "I felt good, quite fluid even though I hadn't played in a long time. Mental state makes the difference — if you're convinced, everything follows as a consequence." When asked if Svilar had reached out, Gollini revealed: "He told me before the match, 'Go, it's your moment.' He's very strong, there's little to say. I care about him and we're here to help Roma. If I've had a certain career, there's a reason for it."

Roma sporting director Tony D'Amico spoke to journalists before kickoff in the sixth Serie A round at Como, addressing the squad's readiness and injury situation. "We expect a match between two strong sides," D'Amico said. "We haven't had much time to prepare it, but we have months of work behind us. We hope for a standout moment in football." The director confirmed that goalkeeper Mile Svilar and midfielder Bryan Cristante will miss a significant period through injury. "It's a great shame to lose an important player like Mile," D'Amico said. "But also Cristante. It's unfortunate because these are long injuries—they will miss quite a few matches. The squad members have great trust in the club, and everyone who has the opportunity to be on show should see that as motivation and not a burden." On the debut of Lorenzo Pellegrini, D'Amico expressed confidence in the midfielder's contribution going forward. D'Amico stressed that Pellegrini's arrival represented a significant acquisition for Roma. "For us it was a signing," he said. "We found him with his contract expiring—everyone who signed a renewal was among the first signings. Lorenzo has lived through difficult months and worked hard in the summer; for him this is a major motivation. We are convinced he can give a big hand to the group."

Roma's sporting director addressed the media ahead of the sixth Serie A round at Como, expressing disappointment over key injuries while backing the squad to respond. D'Amico confirmed that both Mile Svilar and Bryan Cristante will miss the fixture through injury, describing them as long-term absences that will sideline the players for multiple matches. "Sicuramente è un dispiacere perdere un giocatore importante come Svilar, ma anche Cristante. Sono infortuni un po' lunghi e quindi salteranno tante partite," he said, but added confidence in the available squad. "Però tutti i ragazzi che fanno parte della rosa hanno grande fiducia da parte del club e dell'allenatore, quindi credo che per Pierluigi come per Marten sia una motivazione e non un peso." D'Amico praised the work done over the summer and highlighted the importance of squad depth despite the absences. He stressed that renewal contracts for players out of contract carried the same strategic weight as new signings. The director also expressed optimism about Lorenzo Pellegrini's role going forward, having worked through a difficult injury period during the off-season. "Per noi rinnovarlo è stato come un acquisto, così come tutti gli altri che erano in scadenza," he explained. Ahead of the Como fixture, D'Amico outlined Roma's expectations: "Sì, i principi delle due squadre sono un po' diversi. Ci aspettiamo una partita bella tra due squadre forti. Il tempo di prepararla è stato poco perchè abbiamo avuto tantissimi giocatori in nazionale, però ci sono mesi di lavoro importante alle spalle. Ci auguriamo che sia una partita bella, uno spot per tutto il sistema calcio italiano."

Roma drew 0–0 at Como in Serie A's first goalless match of the season, with Dybala and Pellegrini spurning first-half chances before Malen's dismissal reshaped the contest. Dybala had an early opportunity to break the deadlock, then Pellegrini struck the woodwork as Roma dominated the opening period. Como grew into the match as the half progressed, but the turning point came early in the second half when Malen was sent off directly for a high challenge on Kaiki. Thereafter, Roma retreated into a defensive shell, forced to absorb pressure with ten men. The point keeps Roma within two of Inter at the summit, though it represented a missed opportunity for Fabregas's Como to exploit their numerical advantage. For Roma, securing a draw despite the dismissal proved valuable; Dybala's display combined quality and graft throughout. The Giallorossi's focus now shifts to Wednesday, when they face Real Madrid in the Champions League. Como travel to Feyenoord in the same competition.

Roma drew with Como on 11 October 2026, but the result was overshadowed by a red card shown to Donyell Malen in the 55th minute. Referee Fabbri's decision to dismiss the Dutch forward has come under heavy scrutiny. Malen was fouled before the contact with Como's Kaiki, and Fabbri played advantage; when that advantage did not materialise, the referee should have returned to blow his whistle for the original foul. Instead, he allowed play to continue, fundamentally changing the course of the match. Further examination reveals that Malen also made contact with the ball during the challenge on Kaiki, a detail that compounds the controversy. A yellow card would have been the correct sanction. Despite playing the entire second half with ten men and facing a decision that will be debated for some time, Roma showed character and sacrifice to prevent Como from scoring. The point gained demonstrates the resilience of Gasperini's side, who remain in contention for the title. The handling of the incident will draw criticism, but the squad's response—maintaining discipline and shape throughout the numerical disadvantage—speaks to their commitment.

Donyell Malen was sent off directly by referee Fabbri during Roma's match at Como for a foul on Kaiki. Roma players and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini protested vehemently both against the dismissal itself and over a potential foul committed on Malen moments before the incident. Malen contested the decision to fourth official Sozza, saying: "It's always a foul first, if you whistle a foul first I don't get sent off." The controversy centred on whether the referee should have penalised a challenge on the Roma forward in the lead-up to his own challenge, which would have prevented the red card from being shown.