Roma beats Cannes 3-2 in pre-season friendly as Dybala shines despite Wesley's red card
Match Report·26 July 2026·4h ago

Roma beats Cannes 3-2 in pre-season friendly as Dybala shines despite Wesley's red card

Source: Forza Roma

Roma secured a 3–2 victory over Cannes at the Pierre-de-Coubertin stadium in France, with Paulo Dybala scoring twice and setting up a third goal to emerge as the standout performer. Dybala opened the scoring with a free-kick in the 35th minute, then combined brilliantly with Donyell Malen to make it 2–0 before half-time. Malen added the third in the 56th minute after cutting inside, but Roma's afternoon was complicated when Wesley received a second yellow card in the first half, leaving Gasperini's side to play the majority of the match with ten men. Cannes pulled goals back through Lopez in the 68th and 88th minutes, creating a tense finale, but Roma held firm to seal the win.

This was Roma's third pre-season outing under new head coach Gasperini, following 6–0 victories against Trastevere and the Primavera. The squad remains thin, with the coach continuing to rotate heavily and blood younger players. Dybala, Soulé and Malen formed the attacking line, with Bryan Cristante and Bah deployed in midfield, while Gianluca Mancini shook off a minor knock to complete the first half in defence. Gasperini made wholesale changes at the interval, introducing Artem Dovbyk and academy prospects, giving the group essential minutes as Roma awaits reinforcements in the transfer window.

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Roma secured a 3–2 victory over Cannes at Stade Pierre de Coubertin in their third pre-season friendly under new head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Paulo Dybala was the standout performer, scoring twice and setting up a third goal, with Donyell Malen also on the scoresheet. Wesley received a second yellow card early in the match, forcing Roma to play most of the game with ten men, but they held firm after Cannes pulled back two goals late on. The fixture marked a meaningful competitive test following 6–0 victories against Primavera and Trastevere at Trigoria. Ryan Friedkin attended the match in person alongside sporting director Tony D'Amico, underscoring the ownership's institutional backing for Gasperini's early weeks in charge. The friendly carried added significance as Cannes has been owned by the Friedkin Group since 2023, creating an in-house test before Roma's squad departs for a training camp in Wales on 1 August, where they will face Cardiff. Roma News reports that final approval for the Castro transfer operation was expected following the match.

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Testo Originale / Source Text

CANNES (4-2-3-1): Beunardeau; Corchia, Makutungu, Morante, Gueho; Hervieu, Majid; Goncalves, Noc, Kerouedan, Gerbeaud. All. Chabert. A disposizione: Vanni, Abderrahmane, Hajdem, Varela, Van, Williams, N'Diaye, N'Doye, Oggad, Lopez, Die, Morgan. ROMA (3-4-2-1): Svilar (46'st Gollini); Mancini…

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