Refereeing review: Caqueret should have been booked, Ramon handball was not a penalty

Gian Piero Gasperini and Como manager Cesc Fabregas share mutual respect but are not friends, a dynamic that played out both before and after their sides met on 11 October. Before kickoff, the two coaches spoke at length during the pre-match greeting, with Gasperini covering his mouth to conceal what he was saying—a detail reflecting the tactical caution between two managers conscious of keeping their plans hidden. The match itself ended in a draw, with Roma playing as the dominant side and rarely facing sustained pressure from Como. Donyell Malen's expulsion shifted the balance of play, but Gasperini reacted effectively to restore equilibrium to his team during a difficult period. After the final whistle, DAZN cameras captured the two managers continuing their discussion outside the stadium in a relaxed atmosphere. The encounter showed a cordial tone between coaches who had approached the fixture with deliberate restraint beforehand. Despite the match's anticipated intensity, the contrasting moods before and after—from guarded pre-game exchanges to genial post-match conversation—underscored the professional respect between the two.

Roma earned a valuable point at Como despite being affected by a refereeing error, with Gasperini keeping his side compact and organized. For more than 85 minutes, the coach kept Paulo Dybala on the pitch as the focal point of the attack. Shortly after Donyell Malen was sent off, Santiago Castro removed his bib, ready to enter the match in what appeared to be Dybala's replacement. Gasperini changed his mind. "He was attracting the ball, helping us breathe," Gasperini explained after the match. "It was him who convinced me to keep him on." Dybala's ability to win possession cleanly and help Roma escape the press proved crucial at that moment, and the coach recognized the tactical need. Castro will have his opportunity coming up against Genoa, partly due to Malen's absence.

Donyell Malen's dismissal in Roma's draw at Como has become a focal point of debate, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini arguing that referee Fabbri should have blown for a foul before the contact that led to the red card. Gasperini said: "Basta con i fotogrammi" (enough with the stills), emphasizing a straightforward point: had Fabbri whistled for a foul first, nothing would have happened. The decision proved costly, denying Roma the chance to return from Como with three points. Malen faces a one-match ban, possibly two. The dismissal has invited comparison to a second-round match between Como and Parma, where Caqueret committed what the article describes as a far graver foul but received only a yellow card from Colli. The inconsistency highlights what appears to be a disparity in officiating standards. Como manager Fabregas made no public comment on that incident. Roma delivered a spirited performance despite the numerical disadvantage, competing on level terms and holding firm to the final whistle. The focus now shifts to their next fixture: a meeting with Real Madrid.

Gian Piero Gasperini and Como manager Cesc Fabregas share mutual respect but are not friends, a dynamic that played out both before and after their sides met on 11 October. Before kickoff, the two coaches spoke at length during the pre-match greeting, with Gasperini covering his mouth to conceal what he was saying—a detail reflecting the tactical caution between two managers conscious of keeping their plans hidden. The match itself ended in a draw, with Roma playing as the dominant side and rarely facing sustained pressure from Como. Donyell Malen's expulsion shifted the balance of play, but Gasperini reacted effectively to restore equilibrium to his team during a difficult period. After the final whistle, DAZN cameras captured the two managers continuing their discussion outside the stadium in a relaxed atmosphere. The encounter showed a cordial tone between coaches who had approached the fixture with deliberate restraint beforehand. Despite the match's anticipated intensity, the contrasting moods before and after—from guarded pre-game exchanges to genial post-match conversation—underscored the professional respect between the two.

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.

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.

Roma held Como to a draw despite playing most of the second half with ten men following Donyell Malen's red card, demonstrating the mental fortitude Gian Piero Gasperini demanded in a match that tested the squad's character. Pierluigi Gollini kept a clean sheet on his seasonal debut, while Marten de Roon marshalled the midfield with authority after Bryan Cristante's absence. The result—a point earned rather than lost—came at the cost of Malen's dismissal, which altered the tactical balance but unified Roma's resolve in the closing stages. The match unfolded as a tactical study between two sides that largely cancelled each other out for long stretches. Como pressed with intent, particularly through Nico Paz, but Roma's defensive line held firm. Gianluca Mancini recovered from an early lapse in concentration to anchor the back four alongside Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso, each marshalling their zones methodically. When Hermoso departed in the 59th minute, Leonardo Balerdi seamlessly continued the work. Gasperini's substitutions tightened Roma's shape as Como intensified their assault; the manager made tactical withdrawals to reinforce the rear guard and limit the damage once numerical disadvantage took hold. Wesley battled constantly against Diao on the flank, Nahuel Molina invested considerable energy in both directions, and Paulo Dybala demonstrated leadership by rolling up his sleeves after Malen's dismissal to shoulder the burden. Gollini was tested early—he produced a strong save on Nico Paz within seconds but erred on timing with a second attempt, though he recovered to deny Caqueret. Dybala arrived at Como intent on unsettling the hosts and delivered a crucial ball recovery that unlocked the home defence and set up a Lorenzo Pellegrini shot. Pellegrini himself took ten minutes to settle into the flow but soon began advancing play in Roma's traditional fashion. Manu Koné struggled with accuracy and picked up an avoidable yellow card, while Matías Soulé entered at half-time but collected a caution himself during defensive duties. Malen's dismissal stemmed from a fierce recovery that Gasperini felt may have warranted an earlier stoppage for a preceding foul. The manager himself was far from serene on the touchline, frequently remonstrating with refereeing decisions in a match neither official found straightforward. Roma travel to face José Mourinho's side next week.

Roma drew 0–0 at Como on 11 October in a tight defensive contest that saw them finish the match with ten men. Pierluigi Gollini made several assured saves to earn a 7 rating, particularly with an early decisive exit against Nico Paz and a clean response to Caqueret when the Como midfielder found himself one-on-one with the Roma goalkeeper. Gollini's display underlined the weight of replacing Mile Svilar, as the shot-stopper answered calls in both halves from Paz. Roma's backline stood firm despite the numerical disadvantage. Gianluca Mancini (6.5) focused on preventive marking and attempted to break the lines, though he was caught out when a loose ball from his touch nearly found Como's Caqueret. Evan N'Dicka (6.5) remained alert throughout, studying Como's Douvikas and maintaining his concentration even after Roma went down to ten. Mario Hermoso (6) operated quietly in the opening period before growing into the match, with Leonardo Balerdi (6) entering at the hour to reinforce the wall. Nahuel Molina (6) threw himself into clearances and defensive support, though he showed less in attack. In midfield, Marten de Roon (7) operated the fundamentals of Gasperini's system with tackles, positioning and pressing, though his vertical distribution lacked precision. Manu Koné (6) began with composure against Como's midfield but produced some unnecessary decisions in front of his own goal. Lorenzo Pellegrini (6) made his return to action after nearly six months, captaining the side with a clear will to create density, and struck the post inside ten minutes before being substituted at half-time. Donyell Malen (5) received a red card for an entry the article describes as avoidable, though he had been among Roma's best performers—setting up a chance for Paulo Dybala in the opening minutes and creating space between the lines throughout the first half. Matías Soulé (6) entered after Malen's dismissal in difficult circumstances and managed some playmaking amid defensive duties. Devyne Rensch (6) and Emanuele Lulli (both appearing late) completed the match.

Lorenzo Pellegrini marked a historic milestone with his 350th appearance for Roma in the match against Como. The achievement places him among an exclusive group of players in the club's history. Roma celebrated the landmark on social media, posting: "350 times in our colours". Pellegrini's appearance came after a lengthy absence from the pitch. On his return to action, he came close to marking the occasion with a goal, only to be denied by the woodwork.

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.