Roma flash briefing: Gollini tops ratings; Champions League prep underway

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.

Donyell Malen was sent off in the 53rd minute for a challenge on Kaiki, his first career dismissal, in what referee Fabbri judged a clear straight red card. The tackle's severity aligned with designator Orsato's recent directive to officials following errors in Como–Parma (second matchday) and Lecce–Bologna, where similar fouls received only yellow cards. Fabbri applied the protocol without hesitation, though Malen had been held by Ramon's shirt moments earlier without the referee stopping play—a point Malen raised to fourth official Sozza as he left the pitch. The Dutch forward acknowledged the incident on social media, writing: "I ask for forgiveness from the team and the fans." Gasperini sought to provide context, saying: "He had momentum after being held and he touched the ball too. There was a foul on him first. What is ugly is the leap, but there is no intent. There is no willingness or determination to cause harm. The incident made the match uglier." The coach grew frustrated when slow-motion replays were broadcast, arguing they distorted reality: "Football is not made of frames but actions, otherwise you can justify everything. It is time to stop with the frames, they falsify reality. We have suffered this for years, finally from this year onwards you see truer football. Please, do not go backwards." The disciplinary outcome remains open. The sports judge must decide whether to confirm a one-match ban for serious foul play or impose three matches (reduced to two) for violent conduct—though the latter is remote. Malen's apology may influence the decision. Separately, Gian Piero Gasperini pointed to an uncorrected error when Wesley was not penalised for a challenge on Diao heading toward goal; the VAR deemed N'Dicka capable of intervening as a second defender, ruling out a clear goalscoring chance and thus limiting the offence to a yellow-card level. Fabbri's overall direction came under scrutiny. He raised the white flag at the 68th minute due to a knee problem, telling the benches "it hurts, they run too much" before handing the whistle to Sozza. The incident underscores a broader push by the Italian Football Federation: at Saturday's AIA elections, newly elected president Massini and vice-president Affinito emphasised the need for higher athletic standards among referees and dedicated expert support during training. Professionalising Can referees and building specialist teams around them is becoming essential as football accelerates in pace and intensity.

Pierluigi Gollini delivered a composed first response to Mile Svilar's month-long absence at Como, removing much of the initial anxiety that gripped Roma when their first-choice goalkeeper suffered injury on the eve of a demanding fixture run. After Donyell Malen's red card complicated the match, Gollini proved the quality of his understudy role through work outside the box—four interventions rooted in tactical positioning and timing, hallmarks of Svilar's own play. He did not need to be Svilar; he needed to ensure Roma did not feel his absence too acutely. He achieved that. Gollini arrives at the hardest test without having erased Svilar from memory but having quietened the doubts that surfaced when the injury news broke and observers began scanning the calendar. He spent the summer months waiting, training, and preparing for moments exactly like Como. "The years pass and with strong goalkeepers it happens that you stay on the bench," he said. The match itself proved instructive: "During the game I felt good, I managed to enter an optimal state and felt fairly fluid. Of course, mental state makes the difference." His readiness now carries weight beyond a single fixture. Wednesday brings the definitive examination: Real Madrid visit the Olimpico. Gollini takes that platform having done what was required—held the line while Svilar recovers, and reminded Roma that some contingencies are well in place.

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.

Roma held firm at Como for 50 minutes with a display matching a top-six side, only to be undone by a controversial refereeing decision. Referee Fabbri of Ravenna allowed a clear foul on Malen to pass without sanction, then issued a red card to the winger moments later for a challenge of at least debatable intent. That dismissal handed Como territorial control and possession for the remaining 40 minutes of the second half, but Roma emerged unscathed and without defensive risk—a result that, judged against last season's standard, represents genuine progress. Gasperini's side carried home encouraging signs from a bruising 90-minute contest against Fàbregas's combative setup. Gasperini deployed the recently recovered Pellegrini in a hybrid trequartista role on the left, flanking Malen with Dybala operating wide on the opposite flank. Como set up to play through the centre, with both teams vacating midfield spaces before refilling them through timed runs with the ball exposed during build-up play from defence. Fàbregas arranged a three-man midfield behind striker Douvikas, with Nico Paz and Diao operating at his sides. Roma entered the final third through rotations along the wing corridors, with Mancini notably active; Como found their openings through vertical tracers in the central lanes, springing Diao and Nico Paz into space. Both sides suffered from ball quality early on, with Dybala missing a monumental chance inside five minutes and Nico Paz testing Gollini moments later. Koné flanked Perrone while De Roon stood alongside Caqueret; Roma's first defensive difficulty was reaching Da Cunha, who dropped deep then cut transversely into midfield through gaps opened by his teammates. Roma rotated marking between Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso against Como's three attacking players, while Wesley faced a precarious duel with Diao. De Roon gradually took Da Cunha's measure, leaving forward momentum to Koné, whose passes after regaining possession were frequently imprecise, wasting multiple transition opportunities—particularly when Pellegrini and the defensive line sat high, a pattern Roma's midfielders and wing-backs could have exploited both for ball-free runs and to spring Malen. Roma also failed to read Como's aggressive press on the ball-carrier from behind, the intensity Como brought to defensive possession, making a switch of play from flank to flank tactically sensible. At half-time Gasperini withdrew Pellegrini in favour of Soulé to mark Yan Couto, but after five minutes Roma's defensive exhibition began in earnest once Fabbri's red card left them outnumbered, regrouping into a 3-4-2 with Balerdi replacing Hermoso. Fàbregas sensed an opportunity to go for the win, removed Caqueret for Jesus Rodriguez and shifted to 4-2-4, raising his line and attacking with angled runs without needing to defend the depth that Dybala, lacking the required pace, could not threaten. Dybala finished too isolated, though he managed the ball well on several occasions before ceding his place alongside Koné to Lulli, deployed as left-sided midfielder, and Pisilli. Rensch came on for the exhausted Molina. Fàbregas played his final card with Addai, to intensify pressure in the 1v1 wide contests, and Kempf for aerial duels at corners and set plays. At the 90th minute, however, Como managed only tentative attempts, unable to give substance to their pressure—they remained most dangerous when finding open or disorganised opponents in central spaces, a consequence of their coaching and player quality.

Roma held firm at Como for 50 minutes with a display matching a top-six side, only to be undone by a controversial refereeing decision. Referee Fabbri of Ravenna allowed a clear foul on Malen to pass without sanction, then issued a red card to the winger moments later for a challenge of at least debatable intent. That dismissal handed Como territorial control and possession for the remaining 40 minutes of the second half, but Roma emerged unscathed and without defensive risk—a result that, judged against last season's standard, represents genuine progress. Gasperini's side carried home encouraging signs from a bruising 90-minute contest against Fàbregas's combative setup. Gasperini deployed the recently recovered Pellegrini in a hybrid trequartista role on the left, flanking Malen with Dybala operating wide on the opposite flank. Como set up to play through the centre, with both teams vacating midfield spaces before refilling them through timed runs with the ball exposed during build-up play from defence. Fàbregas arranged a three-man midfield behind striker Douvikas, with Nico Paz and Diao operating at his sides. Roma entered the final third through rotations along the wing corridors, with Mancini notably active; Como found their openings through vertical tracers in the central lanes, springing Diao and Nico Paz into space. Both sides suffered from ball quality early on, with Dybala missing a monumental chance inside five minutes and Nico Paz testing Gollini moments later. Koné flanked Perrone while De Roon stood alongside Caqueret; Roma's first defensive difficulty was reaching Da Cunha, who dropped deep then cut transversely into midfield through gaps opened by his teammates. Roma rotated marking between Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso against Como's three attacking players, while Wesley faced a precarious duel with Diao. De Roon gradually took Da Cunha's measure, leaving forward momentum to Koné, whose passes after regaining possession were frequently imprecise, wasting multiple transition opportunities—particularly when Pellegrini and the defensive line sat high, a pattern Roma's midfielders and wing-backs could have exploited both for ball-free runs and to spring Malen. Roma also failed to read Como's aggressive press on the ball-carrier from behind, the intensity Como brought to defensive possession, making a switch of play from flank to flank tactically sensible. At half-time Gasperini withdrew Pellegrini in favour of Soulé to mark Yan Couto, but after five minutes Roma's defensive exhibition began in earnest once Fabbri's red card left them outnumbered, regrouping into a 3-4-2 with Balerdi replacing Hermoso. Fàbregas sensed an opportunity to go for the win, removed Caqueret for Jesus Rodriguez and shifted to 4-2-4, raising his line and attacking with angled runs without needing to defend the depth that Dybala, lacking the required pace, could not threaten. Dybala finished too isolated, though he managed the ball well on several occasions before ceding his place alongside Koné to Lulli, deployed as left-sided midfielder, and Pisilli. Rensch came on for the exhausted Molina. Fàbregas played his final card with Addai, to intensify pressure in the 1v1 wide contests, and Kempf for aerial duels at corners and set plays. At the 90th minute, however, Como managed only tentative attempts, unable to give substance to their pressure—they remained most dangerous when finding open or disorganised opponents in central spaces, a consequence of their coaching and player quality.

Donyell Malen was sent off in the 53rd minute for a challenge on Kaiki, his first career dismissal, in what referee Fabbri judged a clear straight red card. The tackle's severity aligned with designator Orsato's recent directive to officials following errors in Como–Parma (second matchday) and Lecce–Bologna, where similar fouls received only yellow cards. Fabbri applied the protocol without hesitation, though Malen had been held by Ramon's shirt moments earlier without the referee stopping play—a point Malen raised to fourth official Sozza as he left the pitch. The Dutch forward acknowledged the incident on social media, writing: "I ask for forgiveness from the team and the fans." Gasperini sought to provide context, saying: "He had momentum after being held and he touched the ball too. There was a foul on him first. What is ugly is the leap, but there is no intent. There is no willingness or determination to cause harm. The incident made the match uglier." The coach grew frustrated when slow-motion replays were broadcast, arguing they distorted reality: "Football is not made of frames but actions, otherwise you can justify everything. It is time to stop with the frames, they falsify reality. We have suffered this for years, finally from this year onwards you see truer football. Please, do not go backwards." The disciplinary outcome remains open. The sports judge must decide whether to confirm a one-match ban for serious foul play or impose three matches (reduced to two) for violent conduct—though the latter is remote. Malen's apology may influence the decision. Separately, Gian Piero Gasperini pointed to an uncorrected error when Wesley was not penalised for a challenge on Diao heading toward goal; the VAR deemed N'Dicka capable of intervening as a second defender, ruling out a clear goalscoring chance and thus limiting the offence to a yellow-card level. Fabbri's overall direction came under scrutiny. He raised the white flag at the 68th minute due to a knee problem, telling the benches "it hurts, they run too much" before handing the whistle to Sozza. The incident underscores a broader push by the Italian Football Federation: at Saturday's AIA elections, newly elected president Massini and vice-president Affinito emphasised the need for higher athletic standards among referees and dedicated expert support during training. Professionalising Can referees and building specialist teams around them is becoming essential as football accelerates in pace and intensity.

Referee Michael Fabbri received a scathing assessment from major Italian newspapers following Como's 0–0 draw with Roma, with an average rating of just 4.5 across the publications reviewed. The focal point of criticism is Donyell Malen's straight red card in the second half for a challenge on Kaiki. While the sending-off itself is broadly deemed compatible with current directives on serious foul play, the consensus centres on what happened seconds before: Malen was repeatedly held by Ramon, and Fabbri allowed play to continue. After losing possession as a result, Malen's attempt to reclaim the ball prompted the intervention that cost him his place. Gazzetta dello Sport awarded Fabbri 5, judging the red card correct for the winger's dangerous tackle but emphasising the "clear tug on the Dutch player" by Ramon that should have been sanctioned and would have halted the sequence entirely. Corriere dello Sport was harsher, rating Fabbri 4, and stated: "If the referee had stopped play, none of the rest would have happened." Il Romanista graded him 4.5, describing Malen's challenge as "grey area"—forceful and unbalanced yet with contact on the ball and without a malicious entry—but again highlighting Ramon's prior hold as the source of the entire chain of events. A separate controversy emerged in first-half stoppage time when Diao broke toward goal and made contact with Wesley. Gazzetta and Corriere both flagged a missed whistle and absent yellow card for the Roma defender, though neither deemed it a red-card offence with N'Dicka positioned to intervene. Corriere noted the VAR could not have corrected it since only a caution would have applied. Il Romanista offered a different reading, suggesting Wesley attempted to avoid impact and the decision to let play continue was defensible under current refereeing standards. Overall, the newspapers' verdict is negative. Beyond the red card, the management of contact and incidents failed to convince, with the failure to whistle for the hold on Malen preceding his dismissal by seconds and heavily influencing the match outcome.

Roma held firm at Como for 50 minutes with a display matching a top-six side, only to be undone by a controversial refereeing decision. Referee Fabbri of Ravenna allowed a clear foul on Malen to pass without sanction, then issued a red card to the winger moments later for a challenge of at least debatable intent. That dismissal handed Como territorial control and possession for the remaining 40 minutes of the second half, but Roma emerged unscathed and without defensive risk—a result that, judged against last season's standard, represents genuine progress. Gasperini's side carried home encouraging signs from a bruising 90-minute contest against Fàbregas's combative setup. Gasperini deployed the recently recovered Pellegrini in a hybrid trequartista role on the left, flanking Malen with Dybala operating wide on the opposite flank. Como set up to play through the centre, with both teams vacating midfield spaces before refilling them through timed runs with the ball exposed during build-up play from defence. Fàbregas arranged a three-man midfield behind striker Douvikas, with Nico Paz and Diao operating at his sides. Roma entered the final third through rotations along the wing corridors, with Mancini notably active; Como found their openings through vertical tracers in the central lanes, springing Diao and Nico Paz into space. Both sides suffered from ball quality early on, with Dybala missing a monumental chance inside five minutes and Nico Paz testing Gollini moments later. Koné flanked Perrone while De Roon stood alongside Caqueret; Roma's first defensive difficulty was reaching Da Cunha, who dropped deep then cut transversely into midfield through gaps opened by his teammates. Roma rotated marking between Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso against Como's three attacking players, while Wesley faced a precarious duel with Diao. De Roon gradually took Da Cunha's measure, leaving forward momentum to Koné, whose passes after regaining possession were frequently imprecise, wasting multiple transition opportunities—particularly when Pellegrini and the defensive line sat high, a pattern Roma's midfielders and wing-backs could have exploited both for ball-free runs and to spring Malen. Roma also failed to read Como's aggressive press on the ball-carrier from behind, the intensity Como brought to defensive possession, making a switch of play from flank to flank tactically sensible. At half-time Gasperini withdrew Pellegrini in favour of Soulé to mark Yan Couto, but after five minutes Roma's defensive exhibition began in earnest once Fabbri's red card left them outnumbered, regrouping into a 3-4-2 with Balerdi replacing Hermoso. Fàbregas sensed an opportunity to go for the win, removed Caqueret for Jesus Rodriguez and shifted to 4-2-4, raising his line and attacking with angled runs without needing to defend the depth that Dybala, lacking the required pace, could not threaten. Dybala finished too isolated, though he managed the ball well on several occasions before ceding his place alongside Koné to Lulli, deployed as left-sided midfielder, and Pisilli. Rensch came on for the exhausted Molina. Fàbregas played his final card with Addai, to intensify pressure in the 1v1 wide contests, and Kempf for aerial duels at corners and set plays. At the 90th minute, however, Como managed only tentative attempts, unable to give substance to their pressure—they remained most dangerous when finding open or disorganised opponents in central spaces, a consequence of their coaching and player quality.

Roma drew 1–1 at Como's Stadio Sinigaglia on 12 October, earning a point that pleased head coach Gian Piero Gasperini despite the team having to reorganise and defend in numerical disadvantage for over thirty minutes. The giallorossi showed tactical maturity and mental resilience, demonstrating the compactness and character expected of a top side in a match of considerable difficulty. Italian newspapers offered varied assessments of individual performances. Pierluigi Gollini received consistent praise from most outlets, earning ratings between 7 and 7.5 across the reviews. Evan N'Dicka also impressed, rated between 6.5 and 7.5 depending on the publication. Marten de Roon earned widespread recognition for his midfield work, with scores ranging from 6.5 to 7, underscoring his value as a stabilising presence in the centre. Gianluca Mancini and Mario Hermoso were graded 6 to 6.5, while Bryan Cristante, Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini each received middling marks between 6 and 6.5. Donyell Malen received the most critical assessment across the board, rated between 4.5 and 5, with several outlets using the notation "relativo" to suggest his red card was debatable. Gasperini himself was rated between 6.5 and 7 for his tactical management during the match. Substitutes who came on late—including Balerdi, Lulli, Pisilli, Rensch and Soulé—received sparse or non-numerical marks.

Roma claimed a point at Stadio Sinigaglia against Como on 12 October in a match that saw Gian Piero Gasperini's side tested by over thirty minutes of play with a numerical disadvantage. The giallorossi reorganised effectively and demonstrated tactical maturity and group compactness, holding firm despite the hostile circumstances. Gasperini emerged satisfied with a performance defined by great suffering and mental resilience from a side showing the hallmarks of maturity. Multiple Italian newspapers assessed the players' individual contributions across the fixture. Pierluigi Gollini earned consistent praise from the ratings panel, with marks ranging from 7 to 7.5. Evan N'Dicka and Marten de Roon also featured prominently in the evaluations, the latter earning a mark of 7 for his role anchoring the midfield when Roma faced their spell in the minority. Paulo Dybala drew ratings between 6 and 7, reflecting a mixed outing for the Argentine forward. Donyell Malen drew the most critical assessment, with ratings clustering between 4.5 and 5 across the newspapers surveyed—a relatively subdued performance from the Dutch winger. Lorenzo Pellegrini, who made way for Matías Soulé early in the contest, received marks of 6 to 6.5. Gianluca Mancini and Mario Hermoso (replaced by Leonardo Balerdi at the hour mark) both registered 6.5, while Bryan Cristante earned 6.5 across the evaluations. Gasperini himself drew ratings between 6.5 and 7 for his tactical management of the affair.