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Roma loses 4-1 to Cardiff in Welsh pre-season friendly
·1 August 2026·90d ago

Roma loses 4-1 to Cardiff in Welsh pre-season friendly

Source: Forza Roma

Roma suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat to Cardiff in a pre-season fixture on 1 August. The Welsh club took control early, with Ashford scoring in the 3rd minute after a defensive lapse, and Salech doubling the lead at the 30th-minute mark. Dybala had the chance to pull one back from the penalty spot but was saved. Ashford added a third before half-time, and although Dybala reduced the deficit in the 58th minute, Tanner sealed Cardiff's victory with a fourth goal in the 62nd minute amid Roma protests over a foul on Castro in the build-up.

Gasperini made multiple changes in the second half as Roma attempted to mount a comeback. The heavy defeat comes during the club's pre-season preparations, with significant emphasis placed on the physical demands of summer training rather than the competitive result. The manager used the fixture to observe and evaluate his squad ahead of the next challenge.

Roma's next test comes on Tuesday evening away to Newport. The match saw Dybala start in attack with Castro also named, while changes included the introduction of Ghilardi, Ziolkowski, and others as the match progressed.

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This summary was generated by an AI model. Always read the source for complete and accurate information.

Story Coverage7 sources on this story

Roma's hopes for a smooth pre-season were dealt a significant blow when midfielder Muhammad Bah was stretchered off in the 26th minute of a friendly at Cardiff with a right knee injury. The 2007-born Gambian suffered a distorsive knee trauma, with both outlets expressing serious concern about potential ligament damage, particularly cruciate involvement. The injury carries particular weight given Bah's injury history. Two years ago, he suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament rupture to his left knee during a pre-season retreat and underwent surgery at a Saint Moritz clinic favoured by the Friedkin Group ownership, sidelined for eleven months. Roma's medical team assessed the extent of the fresh damage in the hours following the match. The injury cast a shadow over the fixture as new Chief Executive Officer John Galantic, who arrived at the training camp yesterday, watched on from the sidelines. The midfielder's evident pain as he left the pitch drew concern from teammates and staff alike.

AI synthesis of all sources below — always check the originals.

Testo Originale / Source Text

“La prima Roma "gallese" stecca. I giallorossi di Gasperini crollano contro il Cardiff: la squadra di Murphy si prende il match con un netto 4-1. Un risultato più largo rispetto a quanto visto in campo, ma che racconta un pomeriggio complicato per la squadra di Gasp. Il Cardiff passa subito. Dopo…”

Read the full article in Italian at Forza Roma.

Read original on Forza Roma →

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