Rocchi on Malen case: violent conduct cannot be erased by prior foul

Roma held Como to a 0–0 draw on 11 October, a result that dominated debate across Roman radio stations and prompted praise for the team's character and tactical flexibility under Gasperini. The match turned on Donyell Malen's red card in the second half; while some commentators accepted the dismissal as correct, others questioned the sequence of play and the referee's positioning. Fabio Petruzzi of Rete Sport struck an optimistic note, saying: "If there is an anti-Inter, it is only Roma." He acknowledged that Malen's absence weakened Roma's attacking threat, noting: "The only problem is that there at Inter, if Lautaro doesn't score Thuram scores, Pio Esposito, Calhanoglu… at Roma if Malen doesn't score we have a bit of a struggle." Multiple voices highlighted Gasperini's tactical acumen in the second half, with Roma playing a notably deeper defensive block after going down to ten men. Francesca Ferrazza of Tele Radio Stereo remarked: "I really liked the lucidity of Gasperini. The boss celebrated at the final whistle because Roma is there." On Malen's expulsion, debate split between those who saw it as inevitable and those who questioned the handling. Checco Oddo Casano argued that referee Fabbri should have blown for a foul on the Dutch winger before the incident in question, while Lorenzo Pes suggested: "That Malen challenge was a yellow-card offence, but the red was not outrageous and for that reason VAR should not have intervened." Roberto Pruzzo of Radio Radio added: "A great referee blows the whistle for the foul, and having not done so five seconds earlier pulls out the yellow." Nando Orsi was more direct: "The red is clear and that's it." On Roma's wider performance, Alessio Nardo praised the team's "ability to reinvent itself with a low block almost Mourinho-style in the second half when down to ten," while Mario Corsi stressed Roma's pressing and suffocation of Como, calling it "a display of character and strength." Paulo Dybala drew mixed assessment: David Rossi noted his early miss but credited his later contributions, saying he has "become another player" operating as an offensive midfielder rather than the lethal second striker of his past. The broadcast coverage touched on goalkeeper changes, with Mario Mattioli defending Pierluigi Gollini's showing in place of the injured Mile Svilar, and reinforced the view that this result—and Roma's defensive solidity throughout the season—marks genuine progress under the manager's methods.

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.

Two nearly identical challenges in Serie A matches yesterday were treated with starkly different outcomes, raising fresh questions about consistency in refereeing decisions. Donyell Malen was sent off for a challenge on Kaiki in the Como fixture, while El Azzouzi received only a yellow card for a similar — or arguably more forceful — challenge on Ndri in the Lecce match just hours later. Malen's red card, technically correct under current directives, involved a straightened right leg and a stamping motion that endangered his opponent. However, the comparison exposes a glaring inconsistency: El Azzouzi's contact point was notably higher, and he arrived with two legs, yet escaped with a caution. Notably, there was no prior infringement against El Azzouzi, whereas Malen's challenge followed a clear holding offence by Ramon. Simonelli, the Italian league's governing official, had previously issued a warning ahead of the season: "All well and good, provided there is technical uniformity." Yesterday's incidents demonstrate precisely where that uniformity has broken down, undermining both the integrity of individual matches and their results.

Roma held Como to a 0–0 draw on 11 October, a result that dominated debate across Roman radio stations and prompted praise for the team's character and tactical flexibility under Gasperini. The match turned on Donyell Malen's red card in the second half; while some commentators accepted the dismissal as correct, others questioned the sequence of play and the referee's positioning. Fabio Petruzzi of Rete Sport struck an optimistic note, saying: "If there is an anti-Inter, it is only Roma." He acknowledged that Malen's absence weakened Roma's attacking threat, noting: "The only problem is that there at Inter, if Lautaro doesn't score Thuram scores, Pio Esposito, Calhanoglu… at Roma if Malen doesn't score we have a bit of a struggle." Multiple voices highlighted Gasperini's tactical acumen in the second half, with Roma playing a notably deeper defensive block after going down to ten men. Francesca Ferrazza of Tele Radio Stereo remarked: "I really liked the lucidity of Gasperini. The boss celebrated at the final whistle because Roma is there." On Malen's expulsion, debate split between those who saw it as inevitable and those who questioned the handling. Checco Oddo Casano argued that referee Fabbri should have blown for a foul on the Dutch winger before the incident in question, while Lorenzo Pes suggested: "That Malen challenge was a yellow-card offence, but the red was not outrageous and for that reason VAR should not have intervened." Roberto Pruzzo of Radio Radio added: "A great referee blows the whistle for the foul, and having not done so five seconds earlier pulls out the yellow." Nando Orsi was more direct: "The red is clear and that's it." On Roma's wider performance, Alessio Nardo praised the team's "ability to reinvent itself with a low block almost Mourinho-style in the second half when down to ten," while Mario Corsi stressed Roma's pressing and suffocation of Como, calling it "a display of character and strength." Paulo Dybala drew mixed assessment: David Rossi noted his early miss but credited his later contributions, saying he has "become another player" operating as an offensive midfielder rather than the lethal second striker of his past. The broadcast coverage touched on goalkeeper changes, with Mario Mattioli defending Pierluigi Gollini's showing in place of the injured Mile Svilar, and reinforced the view that this result—and Roma's defensive solidity throughout the season—marks genuine progress under the manager's methods.

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.