Malen facing suspension after red card; could miss just one match and play at Napoli

Frenchman François Letexier will referee Roma's Champions League match against Real Madrid at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday evening. Letexier will be assisted by fellow French officials Cyrill Mugnier and Mehdi Rahmouni, with Bastien Dechepy as fourth official. The VAR team is entirely Dutch, with Dennis Higler at the monitor and Pol van Boekel as AVAR. Letexier has overseen four previous Roma fixtures, with a perfectly balanced record: two wins and two defeats. His most painful memory for Roma came in a Europa League semi-final, a 0–2 home loss to Bayer Leverkusen. The other defeat came in 2023–24 against Slavia Praga. Roma's two victories under Letexier in the Europa League came against Porto (3–2) and Brighton (4–0).

Roma secured a valuable point despite fielding a depleted squad and playing more than half an hour with ten men. The absence of goalkeeper Svilar and midfielder Malen, combined with the red card shown to their leading striker, left the team severely weakened, yet they managed to contain Como and avoid defeat. The opposition created their only genuine chances during stretches when both teams had eleven players on the pitch; once Roma's attacking threat was neutered by Malen's absence, the team adjusted tactically to prioritise containment. Gasperini's management of the crisis demonstrated the hallmark of a top-level coach. Rather than rigidly adhering to a fixed approach, he recognised the context demanded adaptation—a point earned under such circumstances represented a solid outcome. The display showed Roma's capacity to suffer intelligently when circumstances demanded it, maintaining their shape and discipline even as key personnel were unavailable. Gollini stepped into the void left by Svilar's absence, while Pellegrini continued to marshal the midfield. The performance also reflected the broader philosophy underpinning Gasperini's tenure: he makes decisions based on conviction rather than convenience or political calculation. The article notes his independence from what it characterises as a self-serving faction within the fanbase, positioning his approach as the correct direction for the club's future.

Pierluigi Gollini delivered a composed performance in goal as Roma defeated Como, with the backup goalkeeper compensating for the absence of first-choice Mile Svilar through intelligent positioning and command of the box. Gollini made four crucial interventions, particularly excelling on low exits — Svilar's trademark — notably arriving early to thwart Nico Paz's attempts and executing a perfect save against Caqueret when he was played through on goal. The goalkeeper said afterwards: "This match I played it during the entire week at a mental level. The doubt of someone who hasn't played in two years risked weighing on me, but I built my performance through daily work at Trigoria: hammering, training, waiting, being ready. Training with Mile every day raises the level — we try to push each other." Svilar had encouraged him before kickoff: "Go, it's your moment, enjoy it and have fun." The display provided a crucial confidence boost ahead of Roma's Champions League fixture against Real Madrid on Wednesday evening, with Gollini arriving without overshadowing Svilar but having substantially eased fears surrounding the number one's injury. The squad-wide relief was evident; team-mates felt a solid presence between the posts, and Gollini's mental state proved a considerable strength. The match itself grew complex after Donyell Malen was sent off, a suspension that will keep him out of the Genoa fixture. Between Gollini and Svilar there are no recriminations but rather a transparent relationship and a clear hierarchy. Gollini described their daily work: "Training with Mile every day alters the level. We seek to drive each other forward." The test at Como was a first positive examination; the definitive check arrives on Wednesday in the super Champions League clash against José Mourinho's Real Madrid.

Roma secured a valuable point despite fielding a depleted squad and playing more than half an hour with ten men. The absence of goalkeeper Svilar and midfielder Malen, combined with the red card shown to their leading striker, left the team severely weakened, yet they managed to contain Como and avoid defeat. The opposition created their only genuine chances during stretches when both teams had eleven players on the pitch; once Roma's attacking threat was neutered by Malen's absence, the team adjusted tactically to prioritise containment. Gasperini's management of the crisis demonstrated the hallmark of a top-level coach. Rather than rigidly adhering to a fixed approach, he recognised the context demanded adaptation—a point earned under such circumstances represented a solid outcome. The display showed Roma's capacity to suffer intelligently when circumstances demanded it, maintaining their shape and discipline even as key personnel were unavailable. Gollini stepped into the void left by Svilar's absence, while Pellegrini continued to marshal the midfield. The performance also reflected the broader philosophy underpinning Gasperini's tenure: he makes decisions based on conviction rather than convenience or political calculation. The article notes his independence from what it characterises as a self-serving faction within the fanbase, positioning his approach as the correct direction for the club's future.

Pierluigi Gollini delivered a composed performance in goal as Roma defeated Como, with the backup goalkeeper compensating for the absence of first-choice Mile Svilar through intelligent positioning and command of the box. Gollini made four crucial interventions, particularly excelling on low exits — Svilar's trademark — notably arriving early to thwart Nico Paz's attempts and executing a perfect save against Caqueret when he was played through on goal. The goalkeeper said afterwards: "This match I played it during the entire week at a mental level. The doubt of someone who hasn't played in two years risked weighing on me, but I built my performance through daily work at Trigoria: hammering, training, waiting, being ready. Training with Mile every day raises the level — we try to push each other." Svilar had encouraged him before kickoff: "Go, it's your moment, enjoy it and have fun." The display provided a crucial confidence boost ahead of Roma's Champions League fixture against Real Madrid on Wednesday evening, with Gollini arriving without overshadowing Svilar but having substantially eased fears surrounding the number one's injury. The squad-wide relief was evident; team-mates felt a solid presence between the posts, and Gollini's mental state proved a considerable strength. The match itself grew complex after Donyell Malen was sent off, a suspension that will keep him out of the Genoa fixture. Between Gollini and Svilar there are no recriminations but rather a transparent relationship and a clear hierarchy. Gollini described their daily work: "Training with Mile every day alters the level. We seek to drive each other forward." The test at Como was a first positive examination; the definitive check arrives on Wednesday in the super Champions League clash against José Mourinho's Real Madrid.

Pierluigi Gollini emerged as Roma's standout performer in press ratings following the recent match, averaging 7.08 across major Italian newspapers. Evan N'Dicka and Marten de Roon followed closely at 6.92 each, with Gianluca Mancini at 6.42 and Paulo Dybala at 6.33. Donyell Malen, penalised for his red card, rated lowest at 4.83, while substitute Matías Soulé averaged 5.70. Roma resume training today ahead of their UEFA Champions League fixture against Real Madrid. Mile Svilar and Bryan Cristante remain unavailable, though Gian Piero Gasperini will attempt to recover Konstantinos Koulierakis. Mancini and Mario Hermoso are assured in defence, with a contest between Leonardo Balerdi and N'Dicka for the third spot. Malen and Dybala will lead the attack, and Soulé is favoured to reclaim a starting role in the attacking midfield. Manu Koné and de Roon are confirmed as the central midfield pairing, while Nahuel Molina and Emanuele Lulli will battle for the right flank. Former player Ciccio Graziani commented on Malen's expulsion against Como, highlighting a foul the winger suffered before receiving the red card. Graziani said: "He should have fallen and taken the foul—that's also attacker cunning. But he stayed on his feet and lost clarity. You shouldn't simulate, but if there's a foul, take it: he was pulled three times."

Roma held firm at Como for 50 minutes with a display matching a top-six side, only to be undone by a controversial refereeing decision. Referee Fabbri of Ravenna allowed a clear foul on Malen to pass without sanction, then issued a red card to the winger moments later for a challenge of at least debatable intent. That dismissal handed Como territorial control and possession for the remaining 40 minutes of the second half, but Roma emerged unscathed and without defensive risk—a result that, judged against last season's standard, represents genuine progress. Gasperini's side carried home encouraging signs from a bruising 90-minute contest against Fàbregas's combative setup. Gasperini deployed the recently recovered Pellegrini in a hybrid trequartista role on the left, flanking Malen with Dybala operating wide on the opposite flank. Como set up to play through the centre, with both teams vacating midfield spaces before refilling them through timed runs with the ball exposed during build-up play from defence. Fàbregas arranged a three-man midfield behind striker Douvikas, with Nico Paz and Diao operating at his sides. Roma entered the final third through rotations along the wing corridors, with Mancini notably active; Como found their openings through vertical tracers in the central lanes, springing Diao and Nico Paz into space. Both sides suffered from ball quality early on, with Dybala missing a monumental chance inside five minutes and Nico Paz testing Gollini moments later. Koné flanked Perrone while De Roon stood alongside Caqueret; Roma's first defensive difficulty was reaching Da Cunha, who dropped deep then cut transversely into midfield through gaps opened by his teammates. Roma rotated marking between Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso against Como's three attacking players, while Wesley faced a precarious duel with Diao. De Roon gradually took Da Cunha's measure, leaving forward momentum to Koné, whose passes after regaining possession were frequently imprecise, wasting multiple transition opportunities—particularly when Pellegrini and the defensive line sat high, a pattern Roma's midfielders and wing-backs could have exploited both for ball-free runs and to spring Malen. Roma also failed to read Como's aggressive press on the ball-carrier from behind, the intensity Como brought to defensive possession, making a switch of play from flank to flank tactically sensible. At half-time Gasperini withdrew Pellegrini in favour of Soulé to mark Yan Couto, but after five minutes Roma's defensive exhibition began in earnest once Fabbri's red card left them outnumbered, regrouping into a 3-4-2 with Balerdi replacing Hermoso. Fàbregas sensed an opportunity to go for the win, removed Caqueret for Jesus Rodriguez and shifted to 4-2-4, raising his line and attacking with angled runs without needing to defend the depth that Dybala, lacking the required pace, could not threaten. Dybala finished too isolated, though he managed the ball well on several occasions before ceding his place alongside Koné to Lulli, deployed as left-sided midfielder, and Pisilli. Rensch came on for the exhausted Molina. Fàbregas played his final card with Addai, to intensify pressure in the 1v1 wide contests, and Kempf for aerial duels at corners and set plays. At the 90th minute, however, Como managed only tentative attempts, unable to give substance to their pressure—they remained most dangerous when finding open or disorganised opponents in central spaces, a consequence of their coaching and player quality.

Referee Michael Fabbri received a scathing assessment from major Italian newspapers following Como's 0–0 draw with Roma, with an average rating of just 4.5 across the publications reviewed. The focal point of criticism is Donyell Malen's straight red card in the second half for a challenge on Kaiki. While the sending-off itself is broadly deemed compatible with current directives on serious foul play, the consensus centres on what happened seconds before: Malen was repeatedly held by Ramon, and Fabbri allowed play to continue. After losing possession as a result, Malen's attempt to reclaim the ball prompted the intervention that cost him his place. Gazzetta dello Sport awarded Fabbri 5, judging the red card correct for the winger's dangerous tackle but emphasising the "clear tug on the Dutch player" by Ramon that should have been sanctioned and would have halted the sequence entirely. Corriere dello Sport was harsher, rating Fabbri 4, and stated: "If the referee had stopped play, none of the rest would have happened." Il Romanista graded him 4.5, describing Malen's challenge as "grey area"—forceful and unbalanced yet with contact on the ball and without a malicious entry—but again highlighting Ramon's prior hold as the source of the entire chain of events. A separate controversy emerged in first-half stoppage time when Diao broke toward goal and made contact with Wesley. Gazzetta and Corriere both flagged a missed whistle and absent yellow card for the Roma defender, though neither deemed it a red-card offence with N'Dicka positioned to intervene. Corriere noted the VAR could not have corrected it since only a caution would have applied. Il Romanista offered a different reading, suggesting Wesley attempted to avoid impact and the decision to let play continue was defensible under current refereeing standards. Overall, the newspapers' verdict is negative. Beyond the red card, the management of contact and incidents failed to convince, with the failure to whistle for the hold on Malen preceding his dismissal by seconds and heavily influencing the match outcome.

Real Madrid arrive at the Olimpico on Wednesday with José Mourinho in their ranks, setting up a heavyweight European fixture for Roma. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will resume training today with a full squad session, followed by a final workout tomorrow. Both Mile Svilar and Bryan Cristante remain unavailable; Svilar will return after the international break, while Cristante is hopeful of facing Genoa on Saturday but recovery is uncertain. Gasperini will attempt to restore only Konstantinos Koulierakis to full fitness ahead of the Madrid match. In defence, Gianluca Mancini and Mario Hermoso are set, with a straight battle between Leonardo Balerdi and Evan N'Dicka for the centre. Donyell Malen will lead the attack alongside Paulo Dybala, though Malen is unavailable for Saturday's Genoa fixture through suspension. Matías Soulé, who played 45 minutes yesterday, is in line to return to the starting eleven in the attacking midfield role—an area that has remained unsettled. The midfield pairing will be Manu Koné and Marten de Roon. Wesley takes the left-back position, while Nahuel Molina and Emanuele Lulli will contest the right-back spot.

Pierluigi Gollini emerged as Roma's standout performer in press ratings following the recent match, averaging 7.08 across major Italian newspapers. Evan N'Dicka and Marten de Roon followed closely at 6.92 each, with Gianluca Mancini at 6.42 and Paulo Dybala at 6.33. Donyell Malen, penalised for his red card, rated lowest at 4.83, while substitute Matías Soulé averaged 5.70. Roma resume training today ahead of their UEFA Champions League fixture against Real Madrid. Mile Svilar and Bryan Cristante remain unavailable, though Gian Piero Gasperini will attempt to recover Konstantinos Koulierakis. Mancini and Mario Hermoso are assured in defence, with a contest between Leonardo Balerdi and N'Dicka for the third spot. Malen and Dybala will lead the attack, and Soulé is favoured to reclaim a starting role in the attacking midfield. Manu Koné and de Roon are confirmed as the central midfield pairing, while Nahuel Molina and Emanuele Lulli will battle for the right flank. Former player Ciccio Graziani commented on Malen's expulsion against Como, highlighting a foul the winger suffered before receiving the red card. Graziani said: "He should have fallen and taken the foul—that's also attacker cunning. But he stayed on his feet and lost clarity. You shouldn't simulate, but if there's a foul, take it: he was pulled three times."

Roma held firm at Como for 50 minutes with a display matching a top-six side, only to be undone by a controversial refereeing decision. Referee Fabbri of Ravenna allowed a clear foul on Malen to pass without sanction, then issued a red card to the winger moments later for a challenge of at least debatable intent. That dismissal handed Como territorial control and possession for the remaining 40 minutes of the second half, but Roma emerged unscathed and without defensive risk—a result that, judged against last season's standard, represents genuine progress. Gasperini's side carried home encouraging signs from a bruising 90-minute contest against Fàbregas's combative setup. Gasperini deployed the recently recovered Pellegrini in a hybrid trequartista role on the left, flanking Malen with Dybala operating wide on the opposite flank. Como set up to play through the centre, with both teams vacating midfield spaces before refilling them through timed runs with the ball exposed during build-up play from defence. Fàbregas arranged a three-man midfield behind striker Douvikas, with Nico Paz and Diao operating at his sides. Roma entered the final third through rotations along the wing corridors, with Mancini notably active; Como found their openings through vertical tracers in the central lanes, springing Diao and Nico Paz into space. Both sides suffered from ball quality early on, with Dybala missing a monumental chance inside five minutes and Nico Paz testing Gollini moments later. Koné flanked Perrone while De Roon stood alongside Caqueret; Roma's first defensive difficulty was reaching Da Cunha, who dropped deep then cut transversely into midfield through gaps opened by his teammates. Roma rotated marking between Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso against Como's three attacking players, while Wesley faced a precarious duel with Diao. De Roon gradually took Da Cunha's measure, leaving forward momentum to Koné, whose passes after regaining possession were frequently imprecise, wasting multiple transition opportunities—particularly when Pellegrini and the defensive line sat high, a pattern Roma's midfielders and wing-backs could have exploited both for ball-free runs and to spring Malen. Roma also failed to read Como's aggressive press on the ball-carrier from behind, the intensity Como brought to defensive possession, making a switch of play from flank to flank tactically sensible. At half-time Gasperini withdrew Pellegrini in favour of Soulé to mark Yan Couto, but after five minutes Roma's defensive exhibition began in earnest once Fabbri's red card left them outnumbered, regrouping into a 3-4-2 with Balerdi replacing Hermoso. Fàbregas sensed an opportunity to go for the win, removed Caqueret for Jesus Rodriguez and shifted to 4-2-4, raising his line and attacking with angled runs without needing to defend the depth that Dybala, lacking the required pace, could not threaten. Dybala finished too isolated, though he managed the ball well on several occasions before ceding his place alongside Koné to Lulli, deployed as left-sided midfielder, and Pisilli. Rensch came on for the exhausted Molina. Fàbregas played his final card with Addai, to intensify pressure in the 1v1 wide contests, and Kempf for aerial duels at corners and set plays. At the 90th minute, however, Como managed only tentative attempts, unable to give substance to their pressure—they remained most dangerous when finding open or disorganised opponents in central spaces, a consequence of their coaching and player quality.

Referee Michael Fabbri received a scathing assessment from major Italian newspapers following Como's 0–0 draw with Roma, with an average rating of just 4.5 across the publications reviewed. The focal point of criticism is Donyell Malen's straight red card in the second half for a challenge on Kaiki. While the sending-off itself is broadly deemed compatible with current directives on serious foul play, the consensus centres on what happened seconds before: Malen was repeatedly held by Ramon, and Fabbri allowed play to continue. After losing possession as a result, Malen's attempt to reclaim the ball prompted the intervention that cost him his place. Gazzetta dello Sport awarded Fabbri 5, judging the red card correct for the winger's dangerous tackle but emphasising the "clear tug on the Dutch player" by Ramon that should have been sanctioned and would have halted the sequence entirely. Corriere dello Sport was harsher, rating Fabbri 4, and stated: "If the referee had stopped play, none of the rest would have happened." Il Romanista graded him 4.5, describing Malen's challenge as "grey area"—forceful and unbalanced yet with contact on the ball and without a malicious entry—but again highlighting Ramon's prior hold as the source of the entire chain of events. A separate controversy emerged in first-half stoppage time when Diao broke toward goal and made contact with Wesley. Gazzetta and Corriere both flagged a missed whistle and absent yellow card for the Roma defender, though neither deemed it a red-card offence with N'Dicka positioned to intervene. Corriere noted the VAR could not have corrected it since only a caution would have applied. Il Romanista offered a different reading, suggesting Wesley attempted to avoid impact and the decision to let play continue was defensible under current refereeing standards. Overall, the newspapers' verdict is negative. Beyond the red card, the management of contact and incidents failed to convince, with the failure to whistle for the hold on Malen preceding his dismissal by seconds and heavily influencing the match outcome.