Malen returns to group training ahead of Brighton trip

Devyne Rensch has suffered a mild tear to his right adductor during Roma's Champions League defeat at Manchester United, according to Sky Sport, and the Dutch full-back is expected to be sidelined for around three weeks. The 22-minute withdrawal at Old Trafford saw Lulli come on in his place. The problem means Rensch will miss Roma's next Serie A fixture against Sassuolo on Saturday evening at the Olimpico. He may only return after the international break, depending on how the injury progresses. The absence further complicates the plans of Gian Piero Gasperini, who is already without Dybala, Koné and Svilar through injury. Gasperini must now do without another option on the flanks just as Roma prepare for their final match before the break. The pause offers a valuable chance to clear, at least in part, the club's injury list.

Roma have suffered another defensive setback as Devyne Rensch has sustained a slight tear to the adductor muscle in his right thigh, Gian Piero Gasperini's side confirmed after the Dutch full-back underwent scans. The injury came during Roma's demanding Champions League trip to Manchester United, where Rensch came on at Old Trafford before being forced off in the 21st minute to make way for Lulli. The defender is expected to be sidelined for around three weeks, meaning he will miss Roma's upcoming official fixtures. He will definitely miss the home Serie A match against Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico and the away trip to Parma on the return from the international break. The medical staff's aim is to get him back in time for the high-profile Champions League clash away to PSG on 25 November, or for the home match against Monza. Rensch's absence reduces Gasperini's options on the flanks. In the short term, the coach will lean heavily on Wesley França and Molina, while also considering a full return to action for the club's young players to help cover the emergency at full-back.

Roma's injury news is encouraging three days before their Serie A trip to Sassuolo, with Manu Koné and Paulo Dybala both close to returning. Koné is progressing quickly towards a comeback, and Dybala is hopeful after resuming training on the pitch. Both are expected to start on the bench. In goal, the picture is less clear. Pierluigi Gollini has been ruled out, and Devis Vásquez is likely to play again against Sassuolo. It would be the Colombian's second consecutive match, following his debut the previous evening, when he saved a penalty. The match is the last before the international break, and comes just a day after Roma played at Old Trafford. Gian Piero Gasperini also has a defensive problem to solve. Roma have conceded 14 goals in their last seven matches, an average of two per game, after a very solid start to the season. Roma are also linked with Wiafe and Pau Navarro in transfer talk.

Matías Soulé was Roma's standout figure in a first half at Old Trafford that ended well for the Giallorossi, before a collective drop-off after the restart. The Argentine wearing number 18 scored the opening goal with a well-timed run onto a pass from Mora, and his shot won a handball from Heaven, leading to the penalty converted by Malen. He needed just 17 minutes to dominate the match. The display confirmed his importance to Gian Piero Gasperini's project. The article notes that Soulé was among the players linked by radiomercato with a possible exit just a few months ago, after a second half of last season affected and slowed by a troublesome groin problem (pubalgia). He has since regained his continuity. Soulé, the former Juventus and Frosinone player, is at his best when he starts wide on the right and cuts inside. In the first half he also tried a Del Piero-style effort with his left foot, curling a shot towards the far post that narrowly missed the crossbar and sent the Roma fans in the Old Trafford stands into a murmur. After the interval, with Manchester United pushing forward and Roma pinned back, Soulé tried to win the ball and run at the defence alone. His efforts were admirable but fruitless, as the team was too deep and tired to support him, leaving him isolated. Gasperini had praised him after the 3-3 draw at Napoli, ahead of the Roma-Cagliari match. He said: "The performance the other evening was extraordinary, but he has always played at a high level in the previous games too. He can play not only on the right but also on the left and as a full-back. The other evening he also played as a trequartista, found the goal and did important things. He is gaining maturity, confidence and security in his game. He loses many fewer balls than in the past, but there are still aspects where he can improve. We are convinced he has further room to grow and, above all, he is a young man who works very well every day to improve himself." The article concludes that the English night left a bitter taste because of how the match ended, but Soulé's performance shows that Roma have found a player they can rely on.

Former United States forward Michele 'Mike' Grella has criticised Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini after the club's recent comeback defeats, saying the coach's decisions have been poor. Roma lost at home to Manchester United after being overturned from a two-goal lead, and they face Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday in their final match before the November international break. Speaking on CBSSportsGolazo, Grella said: "It's not something new. We've seen it against Manchester United, Real Madrid and Inter, in all these cases with a two-goal lead." He added that Roma play with three centre-backs, so nine centre-backs across the three matches, and that seven of them were substituted. "In a really strong team, probably all nine finish the match, or eight. Putting these three matches together, only two finished the game." Grella said the decisions were poor in terms of management by the coach, and that Roma conceded from corners, where heading and personality count. "But these are game decisions and having the wrong players at the wrong time. Koné isn't there, Ndicka only God knows why he didn't start from the first minute, Dybala isn't there, Malen is substituted, Svilar isn't there, nor Gollini, who was ok despite having played only once in two years. When you add all these things to Gasperini's bad decisions, something like this (the Manchester United comeback, ed.) becomes possible against teams of this level."

Roma led Manchester United 2-0 at half-time in the Champions League but lost 3-2 at Old Trafford, with Soulé scoring a fine goal and Malen converting a penalty before the break. The defeat, the article argues, exposes a recurring flaw under Gian Piero Gasperini: Roma repeatedly lose control of matches after the interval. In the second half they had no shots, no big chances, no corners and just 49% possession. Manchester United, coached by Carrick, rallied to win 3-2, with Bruno Fernandes converting a penalty at the second attempt. The result is more than a setback in the Champions League race; it is another example of a pattern Roma have shown all season, in Europe and in Serie A alike. The problem is not a one-off. In 6 of Roma's 14 matches so far this season, they have conceded in the first 15 minutes of the second half. Of their 17 goals conceded this season, 6 have come between the 46th minute and the hour mark. Examples cited include Ederson in Roma-Atalanta (47'), Brown for Fenerbahce (48'), Lautaro in the big match against Inter (46'), McTominay against Napoli (50') and Zaniolo on Saturday against Udinese (48'). Roma have also been pegged back from leads against Inter, Real Madrid and now Manchester United, and in smaller fixtures against Cagliari and Udinese in recent weeks, letting opponents back into games has become a worrying habit. Cristante addressed the issue after the final whistle: "We have to understand where we are going wrong, because it is becoming too frequent." Gasperini said: "This defeat teaches us more than the one against Real." The article notes that the coach knows lessons must quickly turn into immediate solutions. Several causes are identified: fatigue, the demands of closely spaced fixtures, a short bench, lapses in concentration and a lack of players suited to managing a result. The psychological element is seen as central. When Roma lose control of a match, they struggle to break the momentum with tactical fouls, aggression or the cutting edge needed in Europe. Gasperini had made similar points after the Old Trafford defeat. The article also identifies a squad imbalance. Gasperini has a clear identity built on one-on-one duels and full-pitch pressing, which quickly won over the Roman support. However, when fatigue sets in and the tempo drops because Roma no longer control the game, the team needs alternatives and vertical breaks that the current squad, by its characteristics, does not offer. The result is two different Romas, one in the first half and another after the interval. In the short term, the article concludes, Roma must learn never to switch off.