Pellegrini reaches 350 Roma appearances in Como match

Donyell Malen has issued a public apology following his dismissal in Roma's away match at Como. The Dutch forward took to social media after the final whistle to express his regret and accept responsibility for the sending-off, addressing both his teammates and the Roma supporters. The red card poses a significant problem for head coach Gian Piero Gasperini in the coming fixtures. Unless the disciplinary judge rules otherwise, Malen faces at least one Serie A match ban as a result of the dismissal. Gasperini will need to assess his alternatives in attack to cover for the absent winger in Roma's next league fixture. Malen's message on social media demonstrated his awareness of how an expulsion can affect a team's performance during a match. The forward chose to communicate directly with the Roma faithful, taking full responsibility for the incident at Stadio Sinigaglia.

Donyell Malen has issued a public apology following his red card in Roma's match against Como. The Dutch forward was sent off in the second half for a foul on Kaiki at the Sinigaglia stadium. Malen posted on social media: "I apologise to the squad and the fans." The decision sparked debate, particularly because Roma had protested moments earlier for a foul committed against Malen himself that went unpunished. Rather than seeking justification or blaming others, Malen accepted responsibility for the incident. The gesture carries weight at Roma, especially for a player who has quickly endeared himself to supporters and become one of the main attacking references in Gian Piero Gasperini's squad. The dismissal will carry immediate consequences: Malen will miss Roma's next fixture against Genoa before becoming available again. The incident underlines his importance to the team and the standards the club expects from its key players. Malen's response reflects a direct approach—addressing teammates and supporters without excuses or deflection. He will be suspended for the Genoa match, after which he aims to return and resume the goalscoring form that has already made a significant mark on his Roma career.

Donyell Malen has issued a public apology following his dismissal in Roma's match at Como, where he was sent off in the 55th minute for a foul on Kaiki. The Dutch forward took to social media to address the incident, saying: "I apologise to the squad and the fans." Although the red card came shortly after Kaiki had committed a foul against Malen, the forward chose not to seek excuses or blame the referee, instead accepting full responsibility for his actions. Malen's response has resonated with Roma's supporters, who have backed him since his arrival at the club. His willingness to acknowledge the mistake and face the consequences publicly reflects the standards expected at the club. The incident means Malen will miss Roma's next fixture against Genoa as he serves his suspension. Once available again, the forward will return to his primary role of scoring goals for the Giallorossi.

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.

Yan Couto spoke to DAZN after a draw between his Como side and Roma, highlighting the opposition's defensive organisation. "Happy with this first clean sheet," Couto said. "Both teams could have scored, we played well in the first half, it was a balanced match. We learn a lot from these games against strong opponents. Roma defended well in the second half in 10." The Como defender explained his tactical positioning during the contest. "Today there was one-on-one defending to do. I was lower to defend and with my movements we could come out of the pressure. I had to attract the man and create space for my teammates," he said. Couto also reflected on his recent performances at Como after two difficult years in Germany. "I feel confidence from everyone, I'm happy to be here after two complicated years in Germany. I'm arriving at the level where I want to be. We've already grown a lot and I'm learning to know my teammates better," he explained. Couto clarified his individual battle during the match, noting that his primary focus was defending against Pellegrini in the first half rather than Wesley, Roma's left-back. "I didn't defend much against Wesley but against Pellegrini in the first half. We expected them to press high. Sometimes I was too close to Ramon and we spoke about that thing. Wesley attacked and defended well like me, it was a nice match," Couto said. The performance represented another opportunity for Couto to build his confidence as he continues his development at Como.

Roma drew 0–0 at Como in Serie A's first goalless match of the season, with Dybala and Pellegrini spurning first-half chances before Malen's dismissal reshaped the contest. Dybala had an early opportunity to break the deadlock, then Pellegrini struck the woodwork as Roma dominated the opening period. Como grew into the match as the half progressed, but the turning point came early in the second half when Malen was sent off directly for a high challenge on Kaiki. Thereafter, Roma retreated into a defensive shell, forced to absorb pressure with ten men. The point keeps Roma within two of Inter at the summit, though it represented a missed opportunity for Fabregas's Como to exploit their numerical advantage. For Roma, securing a draw despite the dismissal proved valuable; Dybala's display combined quality and graft throughout. The Giallorossi's focus now shifts to Wednesday, when they face Real Madrid in the Champions League. Como travel to Feyenoord in the same competition.