Malen apologises after Como red card

Lorenzo Pellegrini marked a historic milestone with his 350th appearance for Roma in the match against Como. The achievement places him among an exclusive group of players in the club's history. Roma celebrated the landmark on social media, posting: "350 times in our colours". Pellegrini's appearance came after a lengthy absence from the pitch. On his return to action, he came close to marking the occasion with a goal, only to be denied by the woodwork.

Roma earned a valuable point at Como despite being affected by a refereeing error, with Gasperini keeping his side compact and organized. For more than 85 minutes, the coach kept Paulo Dybala on the pitch as the focal point of the attack. Shortly after Donyell Malen was sent off, Santiago Castro removed his bib, ready to enter the match in what appeared to be Dybala's replacement. Gasperini changed his mind. "He was attracting the ball, helping us breathe," Gasperini explained after the match. "It was him who convinced me to keep him on." Dybala's ability to win possession cleanly and help Roma escape the press proved crucial at that moment, and the coach recognized the tactical need. Castro will have his opportunity coming up against Genoa, partly due to Malen's absence.

Pierluigi Gollini spoke after Roma's match at Como in Serie A matchday six, reflecting on his return to league football after two years and the support he received from Mile Svilar before the game. The goalkeeper emphasised the mental preparation required to step in on short notice, saying: "It was a match I approached with different focus. Not playing for so long is felt by anyone. I told Mile to take it easy and recover — we're all waiting for him. He's a great professional and we have an excellent relationship. Today's performance is a reward because what I've had in my career I've earned through work. Sometimes things go well, sometimes less so. When you commit in life, sooner or later things turn around." Svilar, Roma's first-choice goalkeeper, is currently recovering from injury. Before the match he encouraged Gollini directly: "He told me 'it's your moment, enjoy it.' He's a great player — there's little to say about him, he's proved it in these two years. I care about him and I'm here to help Roma when needed and show that I've built a certain kind of career for a reason." The situation highlights Roma's depth in the goalkeeper position and the professional relationship between the two shot-stoppers. Gollini addressed the mental challenge of a two-year absence from Serie A football, noting that he had mentally prepared for the match all week. "Who wouldn't have doubts after two years without a league match?" he said. "I played the match in my head this week. In the game I felt good, fluent despite the length of time away. Mental state makes the difference. When you're in the right headspace everything follows." He described his shot-stopping as sharp during the fixture and credited his training discipline: "A professional must be ready. I'm happy to help the team. Today we played with character — it wasn't easy. We have a very important run of matches ahead, hoping to get plenty of satisfaction and make the fans happy." Reflecting on his role as backup goalkeeper over recent seasons, Gollini explained: "Years pass and often there are two strong goalkeepers and one has to sit on the bench. Psychologically it's a matter of approach, of how you live the week. I thought from the start I could play, before Svilar got injured. It's not easy to replace a goalkeeper so strong, who's shown so much. Every day pushing hard, but then the wheel turns." He credited training alongside Svilar with raising standards: "In my career I've always learned from others. From Manchester with De Gea and from anyone. Mile has so many qualities and training with him every day lifts the level — we try to push each other. He doesn't need it, he has a great mentality, but when two goalkeepers train well it's natural to raise the bar. It depends on how you work. At Roma there's a lot of work on goalkeepers too."

Roma earned a valuable point at Como despite being affected by a refereeing error, with Gasperini keeping his side compact and organized. For more than 85 minutes, the coach kept Paulo Dybala on the pitch as the focal point of the attack. Shortly after Donyell Malen was sent off, Santiago Castro removed his bib, ready to enter the match in what appeared to be Dybala's replacement. Gasperini changed his mind. "He was attracting the ball, helping us breathe," Gasperini explained after the match. "It was him who convinced me to keep him on." Dybala's ability to win possession cleanly and help Roma escape the press proved crucial at that moment, and the coach recognized the tactical need. Castro will have his opportunity coming up against Genoa, partly due to Malen's absence.

Donyell Malen's dismissal in Roma's draw at Como has become a focal point of debate, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini arguing that referee Fabbri should have blown for a foul before the contact that led to the red card. Gasperini said: "Basta con i fotogrammi" (enough with the stills), emphasizing a straightforward point: had Fabbri whistled for a foul first, nothing would have happened. The decision proved costly, denying Roma the chance to return from Como with three points. Malen faces a one-match ban, possibly two. The dismissal has invited comparison to a second-round match between Como and Parma, where Caqueret committed what the article describes as a far graver foul but received only a yellow card from Colli. The inconsistency highlights what appears to be a disparity in officiating standards. Como manager Fabregas made no public comment on that incident. Roma delivered a spirited performance despite the numerical disadvantage, competing on level terms and holding firm to the final whistle. The focus now shifts to their next fixture: a meeting with Real Madrid.

Roma earned a hard-fought point on the road at Como, holding a 0–0 draw on 11 October despite playing most of the second half with ten men after Donyell Malen's dismissal. The Dutch winger was sent off early in the second half by referee Fabbri, a decision the raters found excessive given the overall nature of the play, though Malen was noted as somewhat reckless in the challenge. The result counted toward the sixth matchday of the Serie A season. Pierluigi Gollini deputised in goal and drew particular praise for his work on distribution and his alertness to Como's limited chances, keeping the bench-warmer tag away from Mile Svilar. At centre-back, Gianluca Mancini and Evan N'Dicka formed an imposing partnership; Mancini earned a 7 rating for his battling quality and composure in the tackle despite rare lapses, while N'Dicka dominated a physical duel with Como's Douvikas. Mario Hermoso supported the backline with careful defending before Leonardo Balerdi replaced him in the 60th minute. Marten de Roon covered ground reliably in midfield, earning a 7 for consistency with Gasperini's system. Paulo Dybala was handed a 6, his performance marred by a glaring early miss that could have altered the match entirely. Lorenzo Pellegrini made his return to the pitch and was credited with important work and technical quality, including a shot that struck the post from the edge of the area, though his fitness remained not yet sharp. He gave way to Matías Soulé at the 46th minute. Manu Koné was not at his sharpest, rated 6, while defender Nahuel Molina (5.5) struggled with precision; Devyne Rensch entered in the 81st minute and impressed on arrival. Gasperini himself earned a 6.5, praised for keeping Roma organised and tactically sharp after numerical disadvantage forced him to abandon attacking ambitions and deploy personnel with calculated precision through his substitutions. With parity in numbers, Roma had appeared the superior side and more threatening side before the dismissal.