Roma 2–2 Inter: Koné scores twice but Lautaro completes comeback

Leonardo Balerdi was dominant for 80 minutes of Roma's Champions League clash at Manchester United before a single error at Old Trafford turned the match. The Argentine defender, chosen by Gian Piero Gasperini ahead of Ndicka in central defence after winning that selection battle, was in monumental form and would have been a strong contender for player of the match had the game ended 15 minutes earlier, at the 80th minute, before the referee Gil Manzano blew his final whistle. Until the 83rd minute he had produced impeccable reading of the game, hard tackling and a clean, impressive touch on the ball. Then came a lapse in technique and concentration that handed Cunha the ball for United's 2-2 equaliser, paving the way for the home side to go ahead, as they surged on the back of their enthusiasm against a Roma side that looked tired and deflated. The mistake weighs heavily on the final result. It also revived memories of Balerdi's time at Marseille, where he was often criticised for exactly these costly lapses, born of overconfidence or a momentary drop in concentration. This time, the error proved decisive. The article argues it would be unfair to erase what Balerdi did over 80 minutes. He arrives on the back of excellent performances and has a strong understanding with Gasperini's way of playing. SofaScore statistics underline his display: 12 defensive contributions, 3 tackles, 2 of them won, 5 recoveries and 5 interceptions, 4 clearances, 50% of ground duels won and 60% of aerial duels won. His passing accuracy was 94% in his own half and 75% in the opposition half. Gasperini values his garra, his fierce aggression in duels and a leadership personality that never backs down. The lesson from Old Trafford, the article concludes, is that the quality of a great defender is there, but making the next step requires eliminating the blackouts that risk spoiling an excellent performance.

Former referee Gianpaolo Calvarese has defended the decision to award Manchester United a penalty in their match against Roma at Old Trafford, which Gil Manzano gave at the 58th minute and which allowed United to cut the deficit. Writing in La Gazzetta dello Sport, Calvarese said: "Il rigore concesso per il contatto tra Mancini e Cunha, a mio giudizio, è leggero: Mancini cerca di evitare l'avversario." Translated: "The penalty awarded for the contact between Mancini and Cunha, in my opinion, is slight: Mancini is trying to avoid the opponent." The contact between Mancini and Cunha, if there was any, was described as very light. The spot-kick sequence then began with a save by Vásquez from Bruno Fernandes, followed by a retake after Cristante entered the box early. The result was a 1-2 scoreline, which revitalised United's players and fans and opened the way to their comeback. Calvarese said the focus should be on what came after the save. He said: "Vásquez para il tiro di Bruno Fernandes rispettando la posizione richiesta al portiere, con un piede sulla linea. Cristante, invece, al momento della battuta ha già un piede sulla linea dell'area. E soprattutto è lui che, dopo la parata, gioca il pallone e lo allontana." Translated: "Vásquez saves Bruno Fernandes's shot while respecting the position required of the goalkeeper, with one foot on the line. Cristante, however, already had a foot on the edge of the area when the kick was taken. And above all it is he who, after the save, plays the ball and clears it away." He added that the VAR protocol applied: "L'ingresso anticipato (encroachment) può essere oggetto di intervento, perché Cristante partecipa direttamente all'azione sulla respinta. Il Var lo segnala e il rigore viene ripetuto, senza bisogno che l'arbitro vada al monitor (overrule). La decisione, dunque, è corretta, in punta di regolamento." Translated: "Early entry (encroachment) can be subject to intervention, because Cristante takes a direct part in the action on the rebound. The VAR flags it and the penalty is retaken, without the referee needing to go to the monitor (overrule). The decision, therefore, is correct, strictly according to the rules." Calvarese then questioned whether the outcome was fair. He said: "È giusto che una parata regolare venga cancellata in una situazione del genere?" Translated: "Is it right that a regular save is cancelled in a situation like this?" He argued that both players had complied with the rules, since each kept one foot on the goal line at the moment of the kick, and that Cristante's impact on the rebound had no bearing on the duel between shooter and goalkeeper. He said: "Cristante ha certamente avuto un impatto sulla ribattuta - addirittura arriva per primo sul pallone e lo gioca -, ma quel piede sulla linea non ha inciso sul confronto tra tiratore e portiere." Translated: "Cristante certainly had an impact on the rebound, in fact he gets to the ball first and plays it, but that foot on the line did not affect the duel between shooter and goalkeeper." He backed a proposal from Pierluigi Collina for a "one shot" penalty: "Se il tiro entra, è gol. Se il portiere para, oppure il pallone colpisce un palo, o la traversa, e torna in campo, l'azione finisce e si riparte con un calcio di rinvio." Translated: "If the shot goes in, it is a goal. If the goalkeeper saves, or the ball hits a post or the crossbar and comes back into play, the action ends and play restarts with a goal kick."

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.

Italian radio pundits were scathing the morning after Roma lost to Manchester United in the Champions League, with the second half at the centre of the debate. Roma led 2-1 at one stage, and Roberto Pruzzo said the collapse came after the team had been strong. Gianluca Piacentini of Rete Sport said the performance resembled Roma's displays against Real Madrid and Inter: "This is a team with dramatic highs where if the opponent is Udinese or Lecce you hit them for four and then manage, if it's Inter you hit them twice and then draw, but if you play Real or Manchester United at home in the end you lose." He added: "Until January we have to take the good and the bad of this team." The analysis from Rete Sport's Checco Oddo Casano focused on squad depth. He said: "If you'd had another Konè, which you don't have now, and a fast attacker like Gervinho, which you still don't have, you would have rebalanced the match with the substitutions." He added that conceding goals at 2-0 has "now become a trend", linking it to the squad's overall value and shortcomings more than to the coach and players' attitude. Fabio Petruzzi said the first half had been stellar, with Roma conceding nothing, but that the second half changed everything. He said Gasperini "will have to understand the reasons", and that Roma lack "the second weapon" needed to press when they are ahead. Mario Corsi of Tele Radio Stereo was blunt: "Manchester United have won only one league match, in August. After that they have never won again." He said Roma had "not shot once" and had won no corners in the second half. Corsi criticised Balerdi for losing concentration, saying he was the reason Roma conceded two goals, and said young players "can't play in certain fields yet". Francesca Ferrazza said Roma should not be in the competition at all: "You have to leave this Cup, you shouldn't even go to the playoff, it's not your thing." She argued the Champions League drained energy needed for the league, adding: "Roma are an inexperienced side who crumble at the first difficulty." Lorenzo Pes said: "The Roma tempo never slows down, and 8 times out of 10 that works, but when you reach the big matches you never achieve success." Piero Torri said the squad was short, with four players missing, and questioned the substitutions. He said he would have brought on Molina over Lulli, and felt the timing of Mora's change was wrong. Torri also raised a refereeing complaint, saying the referee had invented the penalty and then ordered it retaken: "Is the VAR in some pub in Manchester?" Nando Orsi raised the issue of physical condition, noting Roma's Sunday and Wednesday fixtures, and said Gasperini deserved some criticism. Mario Mattioli said he had expected a heavy win, but the second half "started badly". He said De Roon was left alone at one point, Pisilli was not where he should be, and Maguire led the United comeback. Mattioli said the problem was mainly mental, and that the coach had not prepared his side for United's assault.

Radio pundits in Rome have been dissecting Roma's defeat to Manchester United, with the recurring criticism centred on the team's collapse after half-time. Several commentators argued that Roma led 2-0 and then let the lead slip, and that the problem is structural rather than a matter of one refereeing decision. Radio Radio's Ferrajolo said the key issue was not the penalty episodes but the pattern: "Roma were a great team in the first half and an unwatchable one in the second. Every time they go ahead they get pegged back. It is normal that you are winning 2-0 and you bring on a midfielder. The side was beautiful in the first half and unwatchable in the second. Since it is not the first time this has happened, we need to understand the problem." He also questioned the referee's handling of the penalty, saying the official was "too precise" when he ordered the spot-kick retaken, and criticised Maguire, whom he described as behaving like a wrestler. Verdenelli of Radio Bruno said the team struggles in big matches but that analysing the game fully was impossible because the referee had "literally distorted" the match with the penalty and a red card that was not shown. Luca Ferri of Radio Bruno said he was not angry about the result and was more concerned with the reasons behind the "blackouts" in the opening 20 minutes of every second half, adding: "There is a lot of work to do, but I am confident about the rest of the league campaign." Torri, speaking to Radio Manà Manà Sport, said the referee had weighed heavily on the result, but argued that Roma had perhaps chosen a low profile given their situation with UEFA. "Can you imagine Mourinho last night? He would have exploded. Roma have a short squad and often the substitutions do not maintain the level of quality. When you play games of this level, which wear you down mentally more than physically, you need the right changes. The absence of Koné and Svilar is devastating." Matera said Roma lost their shape after going 2-0 up by bringing on an extra midfielder, adding: "Roma are not capable of managing it, and Pisilli was running around aimlessly. I don't think it was a physical problem, Roma collapsed mentally." He also said Balerdi had played a great game before making an error that showed something was wrong. Carina of Radio Radio Mattino said: "This Roma in the Champions League is not enough. In Serie A they are overwhelming and can even do without three key players like Svilar, Koné and Dybala. In Europe, unfortunately, it lasts an hour. In these games you cannot concede anything, even against a Manchester side in great difficulty. Roma's flaw was closing the first half with only a two-goal lead." Pruzzo said: "I don't know how United managed to get back into the game. The penalty decision conditioned the course of the match. At 2-1 the difference between a great team and one that still has to grow to compete at the highest level emerged. In Italy you cannot beat teams of your own level, while in Europe you lose to superior ones. The substitutions brought nothing. Indeed, they made the situation worse." Orsi said: "Perhaps it is a question of physical stamina. In Italy the dips are not seen, abroad they hurt you. Gasperini should face some criticism: against Real Madrid three goals from corners, not to mention yesterday and Inter. He is not untouchable, he too makes mistakes." The commentators disagreed on the penalty and the referee, with Agresti saying the spot-kick could have been withheld while agreeing with the retake, and Camelio arguing that Manchester United had been dead before the second goal. Camelio said Lulli was not ready and that Molina, who has more experience, should have been used, while disagreeing that fatigue was the cause because Roma had run. Agresti warned that letting Manchester United back into the game changed everything, saying the match turned around once they returned.

Roma threw away a two-goal lead at Manchester United in the Champions League, losing 3-2 after a dominant first half in which Soulé and Malen (from the penalty spot) had put them ahead. The collapse follows a similar late unravelling against Real Madrid, and this time the defeat is even more painful. Roma controlled the first half, rattling a United side that looked unrecognisable, before disappearing from the pitch after the break with no reaction and no ability to ease the English pressure. The responsibility, the article argues, must be shared, and head coach Gasperini must accept his part. Taking off Rodrigo Mora at half-time, after the Portuguese had lit up Roma's attacking play, was hard to understand. Pisilli's introduction was meant to bring more substance and dynamism but removed quality and unpredictability, and from that point Roma barely threatened. Replacing the injured Rensch with Lulli, rather than the more experienced Molina, also raised doubts; the young winger suffered badly under the weight of the match and United's pressure. Both choices failed and Gasperini will have to reflect on them. The squad is also showing strain. The absences of Manu Koné and Paulo Dybala were felt, especially when the team needed fresh legs and quality to escape difficult moments. Roma still lack a quick attacking winger who can beat a man and turn a move, something the club sought without success during the summer transfer window. Balerdi, probably the best player on the pitch until then, made a costly error, missing the ball on the cross that allowed Cunha to equalise. A few minutes later it was 3-2. The decisive moment was the penalty awarded to United for a very light contact between Mancini and Cunha, which looked utterly incomprehensible. The retake, after Vásquez had saved the first attempt, was justified because Cristante's foot was already inside the box, but the initial decision that revived a struggling United side remains a source of enormous doubt. Bruno Fernandes's goal reignited United and Old Trafford. The real problem, the article says, was what happened in the minds and legs of the Roma players: as the pace rose and United pressed harder, Roma were gripped by fear of losing a victory already within reach and could not respond. Gasperini acknowledged after the game that this defeat could teach Roma even more than the loss to Real Madrid, and the article agrees, while insisting the problem must be faced rather than hidden behind the refereeing call or the absences. The result leaves Roma's hopes of reaching the Champions League play-off round harder to secure. The club now face Sassuolo on Saturday evening at the Olimpico, a final push before the international break. The article says Roma must recover injured players, energy and composure, and collect three points, while the championship remains the season's main target. Roma have repeatedly shown they can bounce back from disappointment, and the article concludes that the real frustration is seeing how strong this team can be, and how little it still takes for them to stop being so.

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.

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."

Radio pundits in Rome have been dissecting Roma's defeat to Manchester United, with the recurring criticism centred on the team's collapse after half-time. Several commentators argued that Roma led 2-0 and then let the lead slip, and that the problem is structural rather than a matter of one refereeing decision. Radio Radio's Ferrajolo said the key issue was not the penalty episodes but the pattern: "Roma were a great team in the first half and an unwatchable one in the second. Every time they go ahead they get pegged back. It is normal that you are winning 2-0 and you bring on a midfielder. The side was beautiful in the first half and unwatchable in the second. Since it is not the first time this has happened, we need to understand the problem." He also questioned the referee's handling of the penalty, saying the official was "too precise" when he ordered the spot-kick retaken, and criticised Maguire, whom he described as behaving like a wrestler. Verdenelli of Radio Bruno said the team struggles in big matches but that analysing the game fully was impossible because the referee had "literally distorted" the match with the penalty and a red card that was not shown. Luca Ferri of Radio Bruno said he was not angry about the result and was more concerned with the reasons behind the "blackouts" in the opening 20 minutes of every second half, adding: "There is a lot of work to do, but I am confident about the rest of the league campaign." Torri, speaking to Radio Manà Manà Sport, said the referee had weighed heavily on the result, but argued that Roma had perhaps chosen a low profile given their situation with UEFA. "Can you imagine Mourinho last night? He would have exploded. Roma have a short squad and often the substitutions do not maintain the level of quality. When you play games of this level, which wear you down mentally more than physically, you need the right changes. The absence of Koné and Svilar is devastating." Matera said Roma lost their shape after going 2-0 up by bringing on an extra midfielder, adding: "Roma are not capable of managing it, and Pisilli was running around aimlessly. I don't think it was a physical problem, Roma collapsed mentally." He also said Balerdi had played a great game before making an error that showed something was wrong. Carina of Radio Radio Mattino said: "This Roma in the Champions League is not enough. In Serie A they are overwhelming and can even do without three key players like Svilar, Koné and Dybala. In Europe, unfortunately, it lasts an hour. In these games you cannot concede anything, even against a Manchester side in great difficulty. Roma's flaw was closing the first half with only a two-goal lead." Pruzzo said: "I don't know how United managed to get back into the game. The penalty decision conditioned the course of the match. At 2-1 the difference between a great team and one that still has to grow to compete at the highest level emerged. In Italy you cannot beat teams of your own level, while in Europe you lose to superior ones. The substitutions brought nothing. Indeed, they made the situation worse." Orsi said: "Perhaps it is a question of physical stamina. In Italy the dips are not seen, abroad they hurt you. Gasperini should face some criticism: against Real Madrid three goals from corners, not to mention yesterday and Inter. He is not untouchable, he too makes mistakes." The commentators disagreed on the penalty and the referee, with Agresti saying the spot-kick could have been withheld while agreeing with the retake, and Camelio arguing that Manchester United had been dead before the second goal. Camelio said Lulli was not ready and that Molina, who has more experience, should have been used, while disagreeing that fatigue was the cause because Roma had run. Agresti warned that letting Manchester United back into the game changed everything, saying the match turned around once they returned.

Manu Koné is reportedly close to full recovery from a thigh muscle injury and could return to the bench for Saturday's Serie A trip against Sassuolo, the eleventh round of the season. Il Tempo reports that Gian Piero Gasperini may have one of his key midfield figures available, at least among the substitutes, after Koné missed 20 days with the injury. The focus turns to the weekend immediately after Roma's Champions League defeat to Manchester United, with the disappointment of that result giving way to preparation for the Sassuolo fixture. Koné's possible return would be a welcome boost for Gasperini as Roma look to bounce back in Serie A. The report also states that Paulo Dybala remains in doubt for the match. Further details on the squad's fitness and selection are expected as the week progresses.