Roma's defensive wall starts to crack after 14 goals conceded in seven matches

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.

Former Roma striker Pruzzo said Roma still have to develop to compete at the highest level, after a defeat to Manchester United in which a penalty decision changed the course of the match. Speaking to Radio Radio Mattino, Pruzzo said: "I don't know how United managed to get back into the match. The penalty episode affected how the game went. At 2-1 the difference emerged between a great side and one that still has to grow to compete at the highest levels." Torri, speaking on Radio Manà Manà Sport, placed the referee's performance at the centre of the result, saying it had a big influence. He added that Roma, given their situation with UEFA, had chosen to keep a low profile. Torri also questioned how Mourinho would have reacted: "Can you imagine Mourinho last night? He would have exploded." He argued that Roma have a short squad and that substitutions often fail to maintain the level of quality, adding that matches of this intensity wear players down mentally more than physically, so the right changes are essential. Torri said the absences of Koné and Svilar were devastating. Pruzzo was equally critical of the substitutions: "The changes brought nothing. In fact, they made the situation worse." He said Roma cannot beat sides of their own level in Italy, while losing to stronger teams in Europe. Orsi, also on Radio Radio Mattino, linked the problems to physical stamina: "Perhaps it is a question of physical endurance. In Italy the drop-offs don't show, abroad they hurt you." He called for some criticism of Gasperini, pointing to three goals from corners against Real Madrid and to yesterday's match and the one against Inter. "He is not untouchable, he too makes mistakes."

Former Roma striker Roberto Pruzzo has said the club still lacks what it needs to compete at the highest level, in comments gathered from Rome's radio stations. Pruzzo, speaking on Radio Radio Mattino (104.5), questioned how Manchester United, as the article renders it "lo United", managed to come back into the match, and said the penalty decision had shaped how the game went. He said: "At 2-1 the difference emerged between a great side and one that still has to grow in order to compete at the highest level. In Italy you can't beat teams of your own level, while in Europe you lose against the superior ones. The substitutions brought nothing. In fact, they made the situation worse." Piero Torri, of Radio Manà Manà Sport Roma (90.9), said the referee's performance had a big influence on the result, but argued that Roma, given the situation with UEFA, had chosen to play with a low profile. He also said the squad is short, and that substitutes often fail to match the quality of the starters. Torri added: "When you play matches of this level, which wear you down mentally more than physically, you need the right changes. The absence of Koné and Svilar is devastating." He also asked: "Can you imagine Mourinho last night? He would have exploded…" Nando Orsi, also of Radio Radio Mattino (104.5), offered a physical explanation: "Perhaps it's a question of physical stamina. In Italy the dips don't show, abroad they hurt you." He called for some criticism of Gasperini: "With Real Madrid, 3 goals from corners, not to mention yesterday and Inter. He is not untouchable, he too makes mistakes."

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.

Roma led Manchester United at Old Trafford through goals from Soulé and Malen, but collapsed in the second half and lost the match. Soulé gave Roma the lead around the tenth minute with a left-footed strike, and Malen doubled it from the spot before the break. United then won a penalty in the second half. Vásquez saved the initial spot-kick, but the referee ordered a retake because Cristante had his knee on the line when he cleared the rebound. Bruno Fernandes stepped up again and scored, and Roma's concentration went with it. Balerdi's slip allowed the equaliser, and another error led to United's third goal. Roma had dominated the first half, with Soulé and Malen putting them 2-0 up. The second half turned on the disputed penalty. Roma appeared to tire after that, and a thin bench did not help. Gasperini's side had been pushed back, and the closing stages followed a familiar pattern for the club in recent weeks. The ratings were: Vásquez 6, Mancini 5.5, Balerdi 4.5, Hermoso 6, Cristante 6, De Roon 5.5, Wesley 5.5, Mora 6.5, Soulé 6.5, Malen 6 and Gasperini 5.5. Ghilardi, who came on for Mancini in the 74th minute, was rated 5.5, and N'Dicka, on for Hermoso in the 75th, was rated 5.5. Lulli, on for Rensch after 22 minutes, was rated 5.5. Rensch was not rated after playing barely twenty minutes. Pisilli, on from the 45th minute, was rated 5, while Castro, who came on for Malen in the 77th minute, was rated 5.5. Vásquez saved the first penalty but could do nothing about the retake. Mancini was booked for the penalty concession and was reportedly unhappy with the decision. Mora's pass for Soulé and his contribution to the penalty earned him the highest rating of the night, despite a couple of light touches. Balerdi was the most heavily criticised. His rating reflected a double-edged performance: some anticipations raised the pressure, but he steered well for long periods before the late errors. Cristante was praised for his control in the first half and was described as losing some sharpness after the break. The match report ends with the group stage in mind, though the source does not state a next fixture. Roma's bench and fatigue remain the central talking points.

Leonardo Balerdi's two errors in the final minutes turned a comfortable Roma lead at Old Trafford into a painful defeat, with United coming back to win after Roma had been 2-0 up. Roma had dominated the first half under Gian Piero Gasperini, going 2-0 up through Soulé and a Malen penalty, with Balerdi outstanding at the heart of the defence, making ferocious interceptions, playing the ball out with authority and dominating his area. The match then followed the pattern of the recent defeat to Real Madrid: Roma stopped running, suffered constantly and let United back into the game. The decisive moment came in the 83rd minute. Balerdi was well placed to win the ball, an ordinary play for a player who had been the best on the pitch until then, but he slipped and missed it, allowing Cunha to score the 2-2 equaliser. Three minutes later he was again at fault, with the ball for United's 3-2 goal coming through his mistake, the second consecutive error that completed the collapse. Cunha was sent off for a second yellow card shortly afterwards, but the damage was done and Roma lost three points. Balerdi had been in a race for a starting place with N'Dicka until the last moment, but Gasperini preferred him for his dynamism and pace. He was not at full fitness, having not played in the last 180 minutes because of a knee problem. Gasperini deployed him as the central figure of a three-man defence alongside Mancini and Hermoso, specifically to mark Matheus Cunha, who was playing as a number nine for Carrick. Balerdi had earlier been impressive in a double against Napoli, which had convinced Roma to prepare a buy-back option worth over €11 million with Marseille, and he had previously been on Juventus's transfer radar. The article describes the result as leaving Roma battered, with the lesson that dominating like giants is not enough; the side must learn not to fall asleep at the crucial moment.

Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini has left uncertainty over the return of goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini, who has a back problem, ahead of Saturday's match against Sassuolo. Asked about his return, Gasperini replied: "Non lo so, vediamo" ("I don't know, we'll see"). The injury that kept Gollini out of the game against Manchester United could also affect the next fixture. Yesterday Devis Vásquez took his place in goal, making his first appearance in the Roma shirt. His performance is hard to judge. He made no serious mistakes, and his only fault came on Cunha's goal that made it 3-2. He also saved Fernandes's penalty, but the referee denied him the chance to enter Roma's history books. Vásquez could now be asked to play again on Saturday, with Gollini still uncertain and Mile Svilar also in the picture. The game against Sassuolo is on Saturday. Gasperini's cautious comments leave the starting goalkeeper choice open, and Vásquez's debut performance means he is in line for another start if Gollini is not fit.

Former Roma striker Pruzzo said Roma still have to develop to compete at the highest level, after a defeat to Manchester United in which a penalty decision changed the course of the match. Speaking to Radio Radio Mattino, Pruzzo said: "I don't know how United managed to get back into the match. The penalty episode affected how the game went. At 2-1 the difference emerged between a great side and one that still has to grow to compete at the highest levels." Torri, speaking on Radio Manà Manà Sport, placed the referee's performance at the centre of the result, saying it had a big influence. He added that Roma, given their situation with UEFA, had chosen to keep a low profile. Torri also questioned how Mourinho would have reacted: "Can you imagine Mourinho last night? He would have exploded." He argued that Roma have a short squad and that substitutions often fail to maintain the level of quality, adding that matches of this intensity wear players down mentally more than physically, so the right changes are essential. Torri said the absences of Koné and Svilar were devastating. Pruzzo was equally critical of the substitutions: "The changes brought nothing. In fact, they made the situation worse." He said Roma cannot beat sides of their own level in Italy, while losing to stronger teams in Europe. Orsi, also on Radio Radio Mattino, linked the problems to physical stamina: "Perhaps it is a question of physical endurance. In Italy the drop-offs don't show, abroad they hurt you." He called for some criticism of Gasperini, pointing to three goals from corners against Real Madrid and to yesterday's match and the one against Inter. "He is not untouchable, he too makes mistakes."

Former Roma striker Roberto Pruzzo has said the club still lacks what it needs to compete at the highest level, in comments gathered from Rome's radio stations. Pruzzo, speaking on Radio Radio Mattino (104.5), questioned how Manchester United, as the article renders it "lo United", managed to come back into the match, and said the penalty decision had shaped how the game went. He said: "At 2-1 the difference emerged between a great side and one that still has to grow in order to compete at the highest level. In Italy you can't beat teams of your own level, while in Europe you lose against the superior ones. The substitutions brought nothing. In fact, they made the situation worse." Piero Torri, of Radio Manà Manà Sport Roma (90.9), said the referee's performance had a big influence on the result, but argued that Roma, given the situation with UEFA, had chosen to play with a low profile. He also said the squad is short, and that substitutes often fail to match the quality of the starters. Torri added: "When you play matches of this level, which wear you down mentally more than physically, you need the right changes. The absence of Koné and Svilar is devastating." He also asked: "Can you imagine Mourinho last night? He would have exploded…" Nando Orsi, also of Radio Radio Mattino (104.5), offered a physical explanation: "Perhaps it's a question of physical stamina. In Italy the dips don't show, abroad they hurt you." He called for some criticism of Gasperini: "With Real Madrid, 3 goals from corners, not to mention yesterday and Inter. He is not untouchable, he too makes mistakes."

Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini has left uncertainty over the return of goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini, who has a back problem, ahead of Saturday's match against Sassuolo. Asked about his return, Gasperini replied: "Non lo so, vediamo" ("I don't know, we'll see"). The injury that kept Gollini out of the game against Manchester United could also affect the next fixture. Yesterday Devis Vásquez took his place in goal, making his first appearance in the Roma shirt. His performance is hard to judge. He made no serious mistakes, and his only fault came on Cunha's goal that made it 3-2. He also saved Fernandes's penalty, but the referee denied him the chance to enter Roma's history books. Vásquez could now be asked to play again on Saturday, with Gollini still uncertain and Mile Svilar also in the picture. The game against Sassuolo is on Saturday. Gasperini's cautious comments leave the starting goalkeeper choice open, and Vásquez's debut performance means he is in line for another start if Gollini is not fit.

Roma threw away a two-goal lead at Old Trafford, losing 3-2 to Manchester United in another late collapse in the Champions League, following the 3-4 defeat by Real Madrid. Leggo describes the result as another painful late capitulation after Roma had led twice. Roma were dominant in the first half and went 2-0 up within 17 minutes, with Mora and Soulé making the difference. Soulé scored the opener, then won a penalty that Malen converted with real authority. Malen had two chances to make it 3-0, but first fell asleep in the area and then saw a fine save from Lammens. Soulé also tried again with a long-range effort that struck the woodwork. The second half changed everything. United, on the brink, came out with a different attitude and were helped by referee Gil Manzano. He first awarded a dubious penalty for a minimal touch on Mancini. He then ordered the spot-kick retaken after Vásquez, who was in goal following Gollini's injury in the final minutes, had saved the first attempt. Bruno Fernandes scored at the second attempt. From that moment Roma suffered, with Mbeumo also hitting both posts. Roma held firm until seven minutes from the end, when a shocking mistake from Balerdi opened the way for Cunha. Gasperini's side were running on empty, and three minutes later Cunha struck the decisive third goal with a powerful shot across goal into the near post, before being sent off. The defeat leaves Roma with another painful lesson in Europe, following the collapse against Real Madrid, and Old Trafford has once again proved a place of nightmares for the club. Leggo said the late loss is another large regret for the Giallorossi, who controlled much of the match before fading after the break.

Roma threw away a 2-0 lead at Old Trafford, with Manchester United coming back to win in another painful Champions League late collapse for the Giallorossi. The result echoed the earlier defeat to Real Madrid, and the Old Trafford venue has become a source of nightmares for the club. Roma dominated the first half and were ahead within 17 minutes. Mora found the net and Soulé was the difference-maker, first scoring the 0-1 and then winning a penalty that Malen struck masterfully. Malen had two chances to make it 0-3, but first fell asleep in the area and then was denied by a fine save from Lammens. Soulé also went close, with a long-range effort striking the post. In the second half, however, everything changed. United, on the brink, came out with a different intensity and were helped by referee Manzano. He first awarded a dubious penalty for a minimal touch by Mancini. He then ordered the spot-kick retaken after Vásquez, who was in goal following Gollini's last-minute injury, had saved the first attempt, and Bruno Fernandes scored at the second attempt. From that point Roma suffered, with Mbeumo also hitting both posts. Roma held firm until seven minutes from time, when a disastrous slip by Balerdi opened the way for Cunha. The Roma side was running on empty, and three minutes later Cunha made it 3-2 with a fierce strike on the near post before being sent off. Gasperini said: "Ci servirà da lezione", meaning the defeat will serve as a lesson for the club.