Malen red, El Azzouzi yellow: identical incidents, inconsistent decisions

Roma have the strongest defence in European football this season, level with Cagliari, having conceded only three goals in six matches. In the top five leagues, no other side has a better defensive record. The goals Roma have shipped came from Atalanta (one) and Inter (two). This defensive solidity marks a significant shift from last season, when Gasperini's team struggled in attack despite strong defensive numbers. Today, Roma's goal difference stands at +11, the best in Serie A, and in the calendar year 2026 only Arsenal have performed better than the Giallorossi, who sit second in that year-long ranking alongside Como. The defensive unit benefits from an embarrassment of riches in depth: Mancini, N'Dicka, Balerdi, Hermoso, Koulierakis and Ghilardi are all competing for places, a reflection of the squad's overall cohesion and the choices available to Gasperini across the back line.

Pierluigi Gollini delivered a man-of-the-match performance in place of the absent Mile Svilar as Roma won at Como, with Gasperini's trusted contingent from his Atalanta days forming the spine of a dominant defensive display. Gollini, who had played only one match in nearly two years before this fixture, was repeatedly tested by Nico Paz and denied him four times. Marten de Roon, another Gasperini recruit, was among the standout performers, while Gianluca Mancini marshalled the defence alongside Mario Hermoso and Evan N'Dicka, offering little to one of Italy's most attacking sides. Mancini drew particular focus. He had faced criticism for early-season lapses against Atalanta and Inter, yet Roma's defensive record speaks loudly: three goals conceded in Serie A, the best in the division. Only Arsenal, across all competitions, has a better tally. Despite his occasional mistakes, Mancini's concentration never wavered. Seven years at Roma have made him a son of the capital, evidenced by his rejection of Inter's advances. Gasperini shaped the defender during his time at Atalanta, and Mancini has grown into the role. After the match, Gasperini explained: "The group put him in the best conditions." The Atalanta contingent—players the coach brought in—seized the spotlight at Como and may yet dominate again this season. Roma face Real Madrid next. The assignment is among the season's heaviest: marking Vinicius and others. It will be the toughest examination for Italy's best defence. Mancini arrives at the right moment—his statistics and Gasperini's confidence on his side, and the doubters waiting to be silenced.

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.

Former referee and designator Gianluca Rocchi has weighed into the controversy surrounding Donyell Malen's red card, which affected Roma's match against Como. Rocchi clarified the principle governing such incidents: a disciplinary sanction for serious misconduct or violent conduct cannot be overturned by a prior infraction. "If you commit a serious foul or violent conduct, what happened before does not remedy the foul and you cannot change the technical decision," Rocchi told DAZN. "For example, if a player is in an offside position and then commits a serious foul deserving of a red card, the red stands and play resumes with the offside. The technical sanction does not exclude the disciplinary one." Rocchi then addressed the broader role of VAR in football decision-making. He acknowledged that VAR was designed to correct clear and obvious errors, yet stressed the inherent limitations of the technology. "You cannot perfect something that is not perfect by nature—football is not perfect," he said. Rocchi noted that when he served as designator, he recognised that the public developed a rejection of technology. UEFA subsequently convened meetings to align federations, with Italy following the correct line to "return a bit to the origins." "VAR is a tool that must be used for important decisions and therefore the central referee must retain the main decision," Rocchi explained. "But at the same time we must also accept some errors, otherwise we return to the point of too much technology. The problem is the definition of clear and obvious—either you try to make VAR as perfectible as possible, or you put the responsibility on the referee on the pitch. England has never accepted the technology because they have a different football philosophy."

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.