Roma begin 2026–27 season at Trigoria as Ghilardi becomes first player through gates

Donyell Malen received his first career red card in Roma's match against Como after a tackle on Kaiki. The Dutch forward protested that a foul had not been called on him moments earlier, but the dismissal stood and was not overturned. He will miss Roma's next fixture against Genoa on Saturday but will be available for the match against Napoli. The suspension stands at one match for serious foul play. Luca Marelli, speaking on DAZN, confirmed the one-game ban and analysed the incident: "It will be one match's suspension for serious foul play. There are all the elements for a red card—the knee is close, there is great speed and the studs are exposed. The fact that Malen did not fully catch Kaiki cannot be a justification; in fact we should be grateful that the Como player was not fully hit by Malen's challenge. There is no doubt about the red card; the referee and VAR made the decision very quickly." Under the laws of the game, "a tackle or challenge that endangers an opponent's safety or is committed with disproportionate force or brutality must be punished as serious foul play. Any player who, when challenging for the ball, strikes an opponent from the front, side or behind using one or both legs with disproportionate force or in a manner that endangers an opponent's safety, is guilty of serious foul play." Malen will return to lead Roma's attack on Wednesday in the fixture against Real Madrid.

Pierluigi Gollini delivered a Man of the Match performance in Roma's visit to Como, easing fears that had gripped the club since Mile Svilar's injury sidelined the goalkeeper for a month. With nine Serie A fixtures still to play before the next international break, concern had mounted over a goalkeeper who had barely featured in recent months and had been absent from the league for over two years. Gollini answered with more than saves; he transmitted security to his teammates from the opening moments. Within seven minutes, his decisive early exit to meet Nico Paz's attempted chip allayed those doubts immediately. Throughout the match, Gollini remained alert and reactive: a low claim on Caqueret in the first half, tipping Paz's effort over the bar in the 72nd minute, and another anticipatory intervention five minutes later. His composure particularly shone in his distribution and decision-making when to leave his line—qualities that often reveal the mental state of a goalkeeper returning from an extended absence. He showed no hesitation or nervousness, choosing correctly almost every time he abandoned the goal line. Gollini maintained this concentration even as Donyell Malen's expulsion forced Roma into a prolonged period of defensive strain. The article cautions against swinging from complete distrust to exultation after a single 90-minute showing, as it would have been unfair to judge Gollini inadequate before he had played at all. Gian Piero Gasperini, who knows Gollini from their time together at Atalanta, understands his qualities and must now help him rediscover the consistency that only competitive football can restore. Svilar remains the undisputed first choice and his return will be essential. Yet Como has underscored a simpler truth: possessing an extraordinary number one does not necessarily mean the backup is unreliable. Eight further matches lie ahead before the next break—Real Madrid, Genoa, Slovan Bratislava, Napoli, Cagliari, Udinese, Manchester United and Sassuolo—in which continuity, reliability and concentration will determine whether this was merely a fine afternoon by the lake or the start of a convincing run.

Donyell Malen received his first red card of his career in Roma's match against Como. Under the sporting justice code, the suspension he faces will depend on the specific circumstances and regulations governing such dismissals.

Como and Roma meet in a high-quality fixture on 11 October as both sides look to test their ambitions early in the season. Gasperini's Roma face significant absences: Bryan Cristante and Mile Svilar are unavailable, with Marten de Roon and Pierluigi Gollini stepping in. Como manager Cesc Fabregas is without Kean, his backup striker. Pellegrini returns to Roma's lineup after six months out, wearing the captain's armband on the trequarti alongside Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. The fixture is early enough in the campaign to offer limited guidance on league position, but Gasperini will use it to gauge the squad's form and competitive level. Roma field a 3-4-2-1: Gollini; Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Molina, de Roon, Koné, Wesley; Dybala, Pellegrini; Malen. Substitutes: Vasquez, De Marzi, Balerdi, Ghilardi, Rensch, Lulli, Pisilli, Soulé, Castro, Mora. Como line up in 4-2-3-1: Butez; Couto, Ramon, Chalobah, Valle; Da Cunha, Perrone; Diao, Paz, Baturina; Douvikas.

Roma have released their squad list for Saturday's Serie A match against Como, kick-off 12:30, in the sixth round of fixtures. Mile Svilar and Bryan Cristante are both unavailable and will miss the trip. Wesley and Donyell Malen have been cleared to play after returning to fitness under Gian Piero Gasperini. Vasquez has been reintegrated into the squad after being left out until now, and will serve as deputy to Pierluigi Gollini during Svilar's absence. The full squad includes goalkeepers Vasquez, De Marzi and Gollini; defenders Rensch, N'Dicka, Molina, Hermoso, Mancini, Balerdi, Wesley, Lulli and Ghilardi; midfielders Pellegrini, De Roon, Koné, Pisilli and Mora; and forwards Castro, Malen, Soulé and Dybala.

Roma travel to Como on 11 October for the Serie A sixth-round fixture at 12.30 kickoff, with goalkeeper Mile Svilar sidelined by a training-ground injury that will keep him out for at least a month. Pierluigi Gollini will deputise in goal. Gian Piero Gasperini has named his squad for the match. Beyond Svilar, Bryan Cristante and Konstantinos Koulierakis are also absent through injury. The convoked players are: defenders Devyne Rensch, Evan N'Dicka, Nahuel Molina, Mario Hermoso, Gianluca Mancini, Leonardo Balerdi, Wesley, Emanuele Lulli and Daniele Ghilardi; midfielders Lorenzo Pellegrini, Marten de Roon, Manu Koné, Niccolò Pisilli and Rodrigo Mora; forwards Santiago Castro, Donyell Malen, Matías Soulé and Paulo Dybala.

Pierluigi Gollini spoke after Como's 0–0 draw with Roma on 11 October, reflecting on his first Serie A appearance in two years. The goalkeeper said he had approached the fixture with focused intensity, aware of the long absence from top-flight football. He praised Mile Svilar's professionalism and their relationship, saying: "I told Mile to stay calm and recover; we are all waiting for him. He is a great professional, we have an excellent relationship." Svilar had encouraged him before the match, telling him: "It is your moment, enjoy it." Gollini's return marks a significant moment for Roma's goalkeeping department. The 29-year-old has built a career worthy of respect, and he framed his opportunity as a reward for years of dedicated work. He acknowledged that doubts were natural after such a lengthy absence from Serie A competition, but insisted his mental preparation had been thorough and his confidence high during the week leading into the fixture. On his performance, Gollini credited mental clarity for his distribution and composure. "When you are in good shape mentally, everything follows," he said. "I felt good in the match. I felt fluid too, despite it being such a long time. Mental state makes the difference." He was questioned about a possible contact between Wesley and Como's Diao but had not seen the incident clearly from his position on the pitch. Regarding his positioning, he reflected: "Of course there would be doubts after two years without playing a Serie A match. I played the match in my head this week. During the match I felt good. This helped me."

Como manager Cesc Fabregas reflected on his side's 0–0 draw against Roma, describing it as an unusual stalemate between two attacking teams. Speaking to DAZN after the match, Fabregas said: "Sometimes football cannot be explained. We are two offensive and propositive teams, a 0–0 is not normal. Perhaps after the red card the match changed, but it was a beautiful game between two teams that respected each other. Both wanted victory. To play against Roma you need plenty of personality, then tactics come in. We had the courage to play, especially 11 against 11 I think it's one of the best performances Como have put in against Roma since I've been here." Fabregas acknowledged regret over Como's failure to capitalise on their numerical advantage late in the contest. "We are in a growth process and did not know how to manage our superiority," he explained. "It required more patience and faster ball circulation. We did not concede any counterattacks with the extra man and that is not a given—when you push forward you risk being exposed defensively and it did not happen." He praised his team's defensive discipline, noting that they created chances for Douvikas, Diao and Nico Paz, though none found the net. On his tactical setup, Fabregas defended his choice to select Caqueret over Baturina. "Sometimes players deserve something. Today Caqueret deserved to play, it was my feeling. I must keep Max in, he is not on the Champions League list. Today was a very important match and I saw him playing very well." Fabregas also drew lessons from Inter's performance against Roma's coach Gasperini: "The best team for me, Inzaghi's Inter, did poorly against Gasperini; from there I must draw conclusions and start preparing matches. In this sense the squad pleased me a lot." On N'Dicka's defensive prowess, Fabregas observed: "N'Dicka is a general. I watch many Roma matches and, always being the last man against strong attackers, if you are not a phenomenon you cannot play like that." He also defended the red card decision as subjective: "It is a personal opinion, I can think different things too, they are points of view. As a player I was sent off in the same manner with a very similar foul; it depends on the dynamic. For me Wesley's red card against Diao was clearer. N'Dicka would never have taken him down, no doubt about it."

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.

Pierluigi Gollini delivered a Man of the Match performance in Roma's visit to Como, easing fears that had gripped the club since Mile Svilar's injury sidelined the goalkeeper for a month. With nine Serie A fixtures still to play before the next international break, concern had mounted over a goalkeeper who had barely featured in recent months and had been absent from the league for over two years. Gollini answered with more than saves; he transmitted security to his teammates from the opening moments. Within seven minutes, his decisive early exit to meet Nico Paz's attempted chip allayed those doubts immediately. Throughout the match, Gollini remained alert and reactive: a low claim on Caqueret in the first half, tipping Paz's effort over the bar in the 72nd minute, and another anticipatory intervention five minutes later. His composure particularly shone in his distribution and decision-making when to leave his line—qualities that often reveal the mental state of a goalkeeper returning from an extended absence. He showed no hesitation or nervousness, choosing correctly almost every time he abandoned the goal line. Gollini maintained this concentration even as Donyell Malen's expulsion forced Roma into a prolonged period of defensive strain. The article cautions against swinging from complete distrust to exultation after a single 90-minute showing, as it would have been unfair to judge Gollini inadequate before he had played at all. Gian Piero Gasperini, who knows Gollini from their time together at Atalanta, understands his qualities and must now help him rediscover the consistency that only competitive football can restore. Svilar remains the undisputed first choice and his return will be essential. Yet Como has underscored a simpler truth: possessing an extraordinary number one does not necessarily mean the backup is unreliable. Eight further matches lie ahead before the next break—Real Madrid, Genoa, Slovan Bratislava, Napoli, Cagliari, Udinese, Manchester United and Sassuolo—in which continuity, reliability and concentration will determine whether this was merely a fine afternoon by the lake or the start of a convincing run.

Pierluigi Gollini spoke after Como's 0–0 draw with Roma on 11 October, reflecting on his first Serie A appearance in two years. The goalkeeper said he had approached the fixture with focused intensity, aware of the long absence from top-flight football. He praised Mile Svilar's professionalism and their relationship, saying: "I told Mile to stay calm and recover; we are all waiting for him. He is a great professional, we have an excellent relationship." Svilar had encouraged him before the match, telling him: "It is your moment, enjoy it." Gollini's return marks a significant moment for Roma's goalkeeping department. The 29-year-old has built a career worthy of respect, and he framed his opportunity as a reward for years of dedicated work. He acknowledged that doubts were natural after such a lengthy absence from Serie A competition, but insisted his mental preparation had been thorough and his confidence high during the week leading into the fixture. On his performance, Gollini credited mental clarity for his distribution and composure. "When you are in good shape mentally, everything follows," he said. "I felt good in the match. I felt fluid too, despite it being such a long time. Mental state makes the difference." He was questioned about a possible contact between Wesley and Como's Diao but had not seen the incident clearly from his position on the pitch. Regarding his positioning, he reflected: "Of course there would be doubts after two years without playing a Serie A match. I played the match in my head this week. During the match I felt good. This helped me."

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.