Malen escapes lengthy ban with one-game suspension

Roma are monitoring William Gomes of Porto as a potential winger signing, though the club could explore an interim loan option in January before committing to a permanent deal next summer. Gian Piero Gasperini declined to discuss the transfer market ahead of Roma's Champions League clash with Real Madrid, but officials are actively working to strengthen the squad. The two clubs already conducted business this summer, with Roma acquiring Rodrigo Mora for €25M plus 50 percent of a future sale. Discussions are now underway to renew Mora's contract, raising his release clause from €80M to €100M and extending his deal by two years to 2031. Gomes, a Brazilian acquired from São Paulo for €9M in 2025, has quickly established himself at Porto with 16 goals and 4 assists in 67 appearances. Roma's strategy appears to involve bringing in a short-term solution on loan in January—with Endrick from Real Madrid mentioned as a possibility—before investing heavily in Gomes or another young prospect next summer. The club has already established a working relationship with Porto through the Mora transfer, which may facilitate negotiations. Regarding Endrick's compatriot at Real Madrid, Alan Redmond, the global head of football at Roc Nation, addressed the speculation surrounding his future. "There was a lot of interest in him, but leaving has never been his goal. There was only some chatter. The deals were never close to being completed. We'll see what happens in the future, but I think he'll stay at Real Madrid for a long time. The teams after him are fantastic, but I don't believe he'll transfer."

Roma held their final training session on the afternoon of 13 October before facing Real Madrid in the Champions League. The squad worked through a light session featuring small-sided games and work marked by a relaxed atmosphere. Academy members D'Amico and Galantic took part in the session as Gian Piero Gasperini prepares the squad for one of the season's biggest fixtures. The Champions League league-phase encounter with Real Madrid represents a significant test for Roma as they look to prove themselves against one of Europe's elite sides. The match will offer Gasperini's team a chance to measure their level against high-quality opposition early in their European campaign.

Donyell Malen has been suspended for one match by the Sport Judge following disciplinary action from the latest Serie A matchday, ruling him out of Roma's fixture against Genoa. Matías Soulé received his first yellow card of the season, while midfielders Manu Koné and Marten de Roon were each shown a second caution. Roma has also been fined €4,000 for unjustifiably causing a delay of approximately three minutes to the start of the first half.

Donyell Malen has been suspended for one match by the Sport Judge following disciplinary action from the latest Serie A matchday, ruling him out of Roma's fixture against Genoa. Matías Soulé received his first yellow card of the season, while midfielders Manu Koné and Marten de Roon were each shown a second caution. Roma has also been fined €4,000 for unjustifiably causing a delay of approximately three minutes to the start of the first half.

Donyell Malen will miss Roma's next Serie A fixture after receiving a suspension following his red card in the match against Como. The forward will sit out Roma-Genoa, scheduled for Saturday at 20.45 at Stadio Olimpico. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will need to reconfigure his attacking setup without one of his key players during this early stretch of the season. Malen will be available again for Roma's subsequent away fixture at Napoli, set for 24 October.

Gian Piero Gasperini held a pre-match press conference at Fulvio Bernardini training ground on the eve of Roma's Champions League fixture against Real Madrid at the Olimpico. The head coach addressed the magnitude of the occasion, the emotions surrounding José Mourinho's return to the club he managed, and Roma's tactical approach to one of Europe's strongest sides. Gasperini said Roma are in good form and eager to measure themselves against elite European opposition. "For us it is a fine moment, we want to test ourselves against one of the best squads in Europe," he said. He acknowledged Real Madrid's quality and recent managerial change under Carlo Ancelotti but noted they "have need of some matches to work themselves in, given that they have changed system and manager. But it is a squad that has great resources and I believe it can grow over time, remaining a very dangerous squad capable of winning any match." On Real's attacking talent—Mbappé, Vinicius Jr, Diomandé, and Bellingham—he observed: "If in front you have Mbappé, Vinicius, Diomandé, then Bellingham, you have extraordinary players who can settle any match but you perhaps lose something on compactness." Regarding Mourinho's reception, Gasperini said it was right and proper. "It is just that it should be so; towards Mourinho there has been important affection and he deserves the recognition of the people. These are things that everyone feels, they cannot be stopped. Then the match starts and all feeling is set aside: the people of Roma will support only their own team." When asked if he would ask Mourinho about Endrick, Gasperini smiled and said: "I do not believe so. We have begun a path and tomorrow will be a great event, we will live it with this pleasure." On squad fitness, he reported that Konstantinos Koulierakis had returned to training with the group after missing time, while Bryan Cristante required more recovery following the recent match against Como. Donyell Malen's goalscoring form drew praise: "No, I did not expect he would have more goals than Mbappé in the calendar year, but these goals are all valid and deserved." Gasperini expressed hope that Roma can surpass what his Atalanta achieved. "This is my objective and my hope. The Atalanta arrived from a lower position than Roma, won the Europa League, played five Champions Leagues. But we cannot launch proclamations for our football: we cannot win the Champions, we need to grow our own garden well. Then the journey will still be long."

Mario Somma praised Roma's performance in the Como match, describing it as further evidence the side are becoming a major force. Como began with organised pressing to disrupt Roma's game, but the visitors imposed their football and won the tactical battle as the home side dropped deeper. "This means they are becoming a great squad," Somma said on Retesport. On Paulo Dybala's display, Somma was upbeat despite a missed chance. "He provided an important performance in intensity, running and work rate. It's normal that when you have to be decisive technically you can be less sharp. I don't recall a Dybala so willing to work for the team. I'm not worried — I believe at the end of the season the numbers will arrive." Pierluigi Gollini received praise for his goalkeeping: "He had a very good match, was calm in goal. I've known him for many years and Sunday he showed he's a great goalkeeper." On Lorenzo Pellegrini and Gasperini's approach, Somma offered analysis of the manager's thinking. "Pellegrini has Bellingham-like qualities. He reached important numbers at a crucial point in his career without playing for Real Madrid but in a mediocre Roma. At Como he played a containing role and created a crossbar. I think it's normal Gasperini is trying to recover him — on the attacking midfield line, long-term, he can deliver more goals than Mora and Soulé on the left wing." Somma also contrasted the midfield pair: De Roon "runs after everyone," while Cristante is "more a preventing midfielder who thinks a lot." Somma concluded by noting Roma's ability to contain with quality — as demonstrated at Como — could have been replicated in their home fixture with Inter, which the article implies did not occur.

Donyell Malen has been suspended for one match by the Sport Judge following disciplinary action from the latest Serie A matchday, ruling him out of Roma's fixture against Genoa. Matías Soulé received his first yellow card of the season, while midfielders Manu Koné and Marten de Roon were each shown a second caution. Roma has also been fined €4,000 for unjustifiably causing a delay of approximately three minutes to the start of the first half.

Roma's mental fortitude was the standout quality in their Matchday 6 performance against Como, where they resisted the hosts' attacks even while playing with ten men following Donyell Malen's expulsion. The match produced spectacular goals, disputed refereeing decisions, and memorable individual displays across the weekend's Serie A action. Roma's defensive discipline and composure in possession neutralized Como's numerical advantage and made their attacks predictable—a performance that drew the highest rating of the round. Pierluigi Gollini's assured goalkeeping, which included shutting out Nico Paz with a low save, reinforced confidence across the backline. Marten de Roon patrolled midfield with tactical precision both before and after Malen's dismissal, winning every duel with intensity. Paulo Dybala's second-half contribution brought technical quality to a midfield battle, though a missed chance near goal remains unanswered. Malen's red card—for which he apologized—was preceded by an earlier sequence that should have been stopped with a free kick to Roma, a technical distinction that separates the dismissal from justification. Referee Marco Fabbri's overall management of the match drew sharp criticism for inconsistency: he appeared unsettled early, then adopted a pattern of compensation that inflamed tensions further. Midfield infractions went undetected, and calls he did make were often misinterpreted. Fabbri sustained a knee injury during Malen's tackle and later received criticism alongside VAR official Luca Marelli for the application of foul standards, with suggestions that decision-making criteria shifted between seasons. Elsewhere, Riccardo Orsolini's near-bicycling kick finish for Lecce exemplified the round's aesthetic moments, while a Naples penalty—technically correct by regulation—raised questions about consistency in enforcement across the weekend.