Roma dominate first half at Manchester United but collapse after the break, losing to a controversial penalty and Cunha's winner

Roma have been left with two unwanted records after Manchester United overturned a lead of at least two goals at Old Trafford, a defeat that follows a similar collapse against Real Madrid. Data from Opta shows Roma are the first side to lose two matches after holding a lead of at least two goals in the same Champions League season. They are also the team that has dropped the most points from winning positions in this Champions League, with eight. Roma had come close to a famous win in both games, but in each case the opposition took the points. The defeat to United leaves a deep wound, and Gasperini faces the task of quickly easing the pain and restoring energy to a side that left Old Trafford in pieces. The figures hurt, but they do not tell the whole story. Roma have already shown they can respond, having done so once after the Real Madrid game, and the article suggests they will do so again. The pain is expected to last for several more days. Gasperini must now lift a squad that, according to the report, came off the pitch in pieces, and steer the team back towards form in the competition.

Marco Di Bello, a referee from the Brindisi section, has been appointed to officiate Roma's home match against Sassuolo, the Serie A eleventh-round fixture. The game is scheduled for Saturday 7 November at 20:45 at the Stadio Olimpico, according to the Italian referees' association (AIA), which published the match officials for the round. Ivano Pezzuto will work in the VAR room, while Marco Guida has been named AVAR. The appointments complete the officiating team for the fixture, which Gian Piero Gasperini's side will host in front of their own supporters on Saturday evening. Roma face Sassuolo, the opponents identified in the match report, in the eleventh round of the league campaign. The fixture is the club's next home league game at the Olimpico.

Marco Di Bello will referee Roma against Sassuolo, a Serie A Matchday 11 fixture, on Saturday 7 November at 20:45 at the Stadio Olimpico. Roma return to action after their painful Champions League defeat to Manchester United, looking to get straight back to winning ways in the league under Gian Piero Gasperini. Di Bello will be assisted by Peretti and Scatragli, with Abisso serving as fourth official. Pezzuto has been appointed VAR, with Guida in the role of AVAR. The wider weekend's officiating appointments have also been confirmed. Venezia-Udinese on Friday 6 November at 20:45 will be refereed by Sacchi J.L., with Imperiale and Mondin assisting, Bonacina as fourth official, Gariglio as VAR and Pezzuto as AVAR. On Saturday 7 November, Cagliari-Frosinone (15:00) is refereed by Ayroldi, Torino-Lecce (15:00) by Feliciani, and Parma-Bologna (18:00) by Zufferli. Napoli-Lazio on Sunday 8 November at 12:30 is under Pairetto, Genoa-Milan (15:00) under Massa, Monza-Atalanta (15:00) under Allegretta, Inter-Como (18:00) under Chiffi, and Fiorentina-Juventus (20:45) under Colombo.

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.

Rodrigo Mora has spoken warmly about team-mate Wesley after Roma's defeat at Manchester United, where Mora was among the Giallorossi's best players in the first half. Mora said: "Today he played another great match. He is a great player and he will reach the highest levels of football." The Portuguese midfielder also described their relationship: "We talk mostly about Brazil and Brazilian football. The language helps us a lot. He gave me a big hand when I joined Roma and I am really grateful to him." Mora's comments were reported by TNT Sports. Manchester United celebrated the win on social media with a post recalling their previous meetings with Roma, from a 7-1 result through to the comeback of last night. The caption, "Absolute cinema", referred to a contest in which Roma, under Gasperini, had dominated the first half and gone two goals ahead before the Red Devils turned the game around. Newspaper ratings favoured Soulé, who earned a 7.00 as Roma's best player thanks to a very strong first half that included a goal and a penalty won. Mora followed on 6.75, while Cristante and Wesley received generally positive marks of 6.25. At the bottom of the ratings, Balerdi scored 4.42, penalised for the error that started United's comeback. Pisilli (4.83) and Lulli (5.08) also struggled, while Vasquez and Ghilardi, both on 5.50, remained below the pass mark. Rensch left the Manchester United match early with a muscle problem in his right adductor and was replaced by Lulli. The Dutchman will undergo further assessments in the coming hours by the Roma medical staff to establish the extent of the problem. Rensch is a serious doubt for the Saturday fixture against Sassuolo.

Roma lost 3-2 at Old Trafford in Manchester, having led by two goals before being pegged back, a result that makes qualification for the Champions League knockout phase harder. Italian newspapers were unanimous in praising the first half as very high level, but the second half was markedly less bright, and a much-disputed penalty awarded to the hosts added to Roma's frustration. The papers' player ratings were widely critical of Balerdi, who received a 4.5 from La Gazzetta dello Sport, a 4 from Corriere dello Sport and La Repubblica, and a 5 from Il Messaggero. Soulé was the standout performer, rated 7.5 by La Gazzetta dello Sport, Corriere dello Sport and La Repubblica, and 7 by Il Messaggero and Corriere della Sera. Mora also earned strong marks, with a 7 from Corriere dello Sport and La Repubblica. Pisilli was judged harshly, rated 5 by La Gazzetta dello Sport, 4.5 by Corriere dello Sport, La Repubblica and Corriere della Sera, and 5 by Il Messaggero and Il Tempo. Gasperini was given a 5.5 by La Gazzetta dello Sport and La Repubblica, a 5 by Corriere dello Sport and Corriere della Sera, and a 6 by Il Messaggero and Il Tempo. Vásquez received 5.5 from Il Messaggero and 6 from La Repubblica, Il Tempo and Romanews.eu. Cristante earned 6.5 from La Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere della Sera, and Wesley was rated 6.5 by Corriere dello Sport and Il Tempo. Malen was rated 7 by La Repubblica, with Castro's late cameo marked between 5 and 6 across the papers.

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.

Roma's momentum collapsed after the interval at Old Trafford, with Manchester United taking control and completing their comeback. Rodrigo Mora and Matías Soulé had lit up the first half for Gasperini's side, with goals, assists and quality play, and United could not contain them as Roma flew. Then, at half-time, something went wrong. When the teams came back out, Roma faded, United took over and the comeback became reality. Mora, the standout performer of the first half, stayed in the dressing room, and Pisilli came on in his place. The article suggests the switch may have been driven by a need to manage the minutes of the young talent, or by a wish to give the midfield more cover. Whatever the reason, Mora's departure changed the balance of the team, and it may have mattered far more than it appeared. The first half belonged to Mora and Soulé, the Portuguese and Argentine pairing whose understanding had been Roma's main threat. The collapse that followed was hard to explain, but the change at half-time offers a possible tactical key, and it leads straight back to Mora.

Donyell Malen scored a cool penalty at Old Trafford to put Roma 2-0 up against Manchester United, but a late comeback by United turned the night into a nightmare for the Giallorossi. Malen's personal achievement offered little consolation. His goal made him a notable name in Roma's history. The Dutch forward became the third Roma player to score in at least three consecutive Champions League matches, joining Antonio Cassano (2004) and Edin Dzeko (2018) in the club's record books. The milestone is a significant achievement, but it does not erase the disappointment of the result. Malen's own performance was somewhat below his recent displays, which went largely unnoticed amid the collapse. The penalty was struck with the composure that has become his trademark, and it briefly gave Roma hope of a memorable night at Old Trafford. United's fightback then transformed the evening into one to forget. Malen's record is a small light in a night Roma will want to put behind them.

Donyell Malen scored a cool penalty at Old Trafford to put Roma 2-0 up against Manchester United, but a late comeback by United turned the night into a nightmare for the Giallorossi. Malen's personal achievement offered little consolation. His goal made him a notable name in Roma's history. The Dutch forward became the third Roma player to score in at least three consecutive Champions League matches, joining Antonio Cassano (2004) and Edin Dzeko (2018) in the club's record books. The milestone is a significant achievement, but it does not erase the disappointment of the result. Malen's own performance was somewhat below his recent displays, which went largely unnoticed amid the collapse. The penalty was struck with the composure that has become his trademark, and it briefly gave Roma hope of a memorable night at Old Trafford. United's fightback then transformed the evening into one to forget. Malen's record is a small light in a night Roma will want to put behind them.

Roma lost 3-2 at Old Trafford in Manchester, having led by two goals before being pegged back, a result that makes qualification for the Champions League knockout phase harder. Italian newspapers were unanimous in praising the first half as very high level, but the second half was markedly less bright, and a much-disputed penalty awarded to the hosts added to Roma's frustration. The papers' player ratings were widely critical of Balerdi, who received a 4.5 from La Gazzetta dello Sport, a 4 from Corriere dello Sport and La Repubblica, and a 5 from Il Messaggero. Soulé was the standout performer, rated 7.5 by La Gazzetta dello Sport, Corriere dello Sport and La Repubblica, and 7 by Il Messaggero and Corriere della Sera. Mora also earned strong marks, with a 7 from Corriere dello Sport and La Repubblica. Pisilli was judged harshly, rated 5 by La Gazzetta dello Sport, 4.5 by Corriere dello Sport, La Repubblica and Corriere della Sera, and 5 by Il Messaggero and Il Tempo. Gasperini was given a 5.5 by La Gazzetta dello Sport and La Repubblica, a 5 by Corriere dello Sport and Corriere della Sera, and a 6 by Il Messaggero and Il Tempo. Vásquez received 5.5 from Il Messaggero and 6 from La Repubblica, Il Tempo and Romanews.eu. Cristante earned 6.5 from La Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere della Sera, and Wesley was rated 6.5 by Corriere dello Sport and Il Tempo. Malen was rated 7 by La Repubblica, with Castro's late cameo marked between 5 and 6 across the papers.

Roma were dominant for 45 minutes at Manchester United before collapsing in the second half, a defeat that Italian newspapers describe as a painful one. It is the club's second Champions League blackout, following the defeat against Real Madrid, and a collapse that Gian Piero Gasperini will have to work on for a long time. Matías Soulé was named the best Roma player on the pitch, playing a perfect first half, opening the scoring and winning the penalty that made it 2-0. However, he faded in the second half, as did the rest of the team. Defender Leonardo Balerdi was rated the worst player on the pitch, with his error on United's equaliser to make it 2-2 weighing heavily on him. The collapse after such a strong start is seen as difficult to explain, and it puts a spotlight on the team's ability to hold a lead against top opposition. The Italian sports press rated the Roma players in a range of marks across five newspapers. Gazzetta dello Sport gave Soulé 6.5 and Balerdi 4, and Corriere dello Sport gave Soulé 7.5 and Balerdi 4. Il Messaggero gave Soulé 7 and Balerdi 5, while Il Tempo gave Soulé 7 and Balerdi 4.5. Corriere della Sera rated Soulé 7 and Balerdi 4.5, and Leggo gave Soulé 7 and Balerdi 4.5. Gasperini received marks between 5 and 6 across the papers. Roma lined up in a 3-4-2-1 formation. Vásquez started in goal, with Mancini, Balerdi and Hermoso in defence, and Rensch, Cristante, de Roon and Wesley in midfield. Soulé and Mora played behind Malen. Rensch was replaced by Lulli at 21 minutes, Mora by Pisilli at half-time, and Mancini and Hermoso were replaced by Ghilardi and Ndicka at 75 minutes. Malen made way for Castro at 80 minutes.