Rome Radio Debate: Gasperini Views Koné as More Expendable Than Other Squad Members

Donyell Malen's red card has become the subject of controversy, with pundits disagreeing over responsibility. A foul on the Roma forward went uncalled before Malen's challenge on Kaiki that resulted in his dismissal. Ciccio Graziani criticised Malen's response to the missed foul, saying on La Domenica Sportiva: "He should have gone down and taken the foul—that's part of a striker's craft. If you're fouled, take it. Instead he stayed on his feet and lost his composure. You shouldn't simulate, but if there's a foul, take it. He was pulled three times." Luca Adani disagreed with that assessment, countering: "The uncalled foul is a grave error by the referee."

Pietro Vierchowod, a double ex of Como and Roma, gave an interview ahead of today's fixture between the two clubs at the Sinigaglia. The former defender, who spent five seasons at Como and won the 1982–83 Scudetto in a single season at Roma, reflected on his career and offered his prediction for the match. Vierchowod recalled his year at Roma under Alfredo Liedholm with vivid detail. "I played the defence alone," he said. "Roma was the first Italian team to play a zonal system. The other defenders moved up; I stayed back with the goalkeeper. If I crossed the halfway line, Liedholm would shout at me: 'Pietro, go back!' I scored 20 goals in Serie A, but none at Roma. I wasn't even allowed to try." He also described an early embarrassment: before his debut he put on his match shirt, and Liedholm became furious because the manager was superstitious and distributed kits himself. "He said to me: 'What have you done? Let's hope nothing happens to you'," Vierchowod recalled. Asked which Como attacker he would like to mark, Vierchowod named Donyell Malen: "That would be a fine challenge. Quick players like him don't let it slip away from me—Romario, Careca." On Como's rise to the Champions League, he said: "I followed the whole journey, even in the dark years among the amateurs. It was thrilling. But last year surprised me. The city went mad." He praised the Roma squad of his era, singling out Roberto Pruzzo as "exceptional in the air and acrobatics", Bruno Conti for his dribbling, and Falcao for his sudden appearances in the box. On his prediction for today's match, Vierchowod said: "I hope for a draw, I can't choose. And I want few goals, because watching defences flutter around causes me too much pain. I'd like a 1–1. A 4–4 isn't football; it's just a pile of mistakes."

Pietro Vierchowod, who spent five seasons at Como and won Serie A with Roma in 1982–83, has divided loyalties ahead of the two clubs' meeting but offered a sharp analysis of both teams to La Repubblica. He praised Roma's defensive discipline under Gasperini. "The Roma surprised me," he said. "The whole squad defends and the whole squad attacks. Gasperini understood that if you don't concede goals you force others to expose themselves." Como, by contrast, he sees as vulnerable on the counter-attack, particularly at home, though he acknowledged their attacking play is effective. When asked which defender he would have fitted best with in Como's current setup, Vierchowod — himself a quick defender — said he would have enjoyed working with either Como manager Fabregas or Roma's Gasperini. He expressed admiration for Italian defenders Calafiori and Scalvini but lamented the scarcity of quick defenders in the modern game. "Even though I was sometimes behind, I recovered the position," he noted. Of the forwards, he singled out Roma's Malen as an appealing marking challenge, comparing him to the rapid attackers he faced in his playing days: Muraro and Careca. Como's Douvikas, he added, excels at ball-protection and movement, reminiscent of Graziani. Vierchowod expressed emotion at seeing both clubs in the Champions League — Roma after a lengthy absence and Como on their European debut. "The idea that Manchester United and PSG will arrive on the lake is incredible," he said, referring to Como's location. On the result, he remained neutral: "I hope for a draw, I cannot choose. And I want few goals, because watching defences go haywire hurts me too much. A 1–1 would be ideal. A 4–4 is not football but a pile of errors."

Roma held Como to a draw despite playing most of the second half with ten men following Donyell Malen's red card, demonstrating the mental fortitude Gian Piero Gasperini demanded in a match that tested the squad's character. Pierluigi Gollini kept a clean sheet on his seasonal debut, while Marten de Roon marshalled the midfield with authority after Bryan Cristante's absence. The result—a point earned rather than lost—came at the cost of Malen's dismissal, which altered the tactical balance but unified Roma's resolve in the closing stages. The match unfolded as a tactical study between two sides that largely cancelled each other out for long stretches. Como pressed with intent, particularly through Nico Paz, but Roma's defensive line held firm. Gianluca Mancini recovered from an early lapse in concentration to anchor the back four alongside Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso, each marshalling their zones methodically. When Hermoso departed in the 59th minute, Leonardo Balerdi seamlessly continued the work. Gasperini's substitutions tightened Roma's shape as Como intensified their assault; the manager made tactical withdrawals to reinforce the rear guard and limit the damage once numerical disadvantage took hold. Wesley battled constantly against Diao on the flank, Nahuel Molina invested considerable energy in both directions, and Paulo Dybala demonstrated leadership by rolling up his sleeves after Malen's dismissal to shoulder the burden. Gollini was tested early—he produced a strong save on Nico Paz within seconds but erred on timing with a second attempt, though he recovered to deny Caqueret. Dybala arrived at Como intent on unsettling the hosts and delivered a crucial ball recovery that unlocked the home defence and set up a Lorenzo Pellegrini shot. Pellegrini himself took ten minutes to settle into the flow but soon began advancing play in Roma's traditional fashion. Manu Koné struggled with accuracy and picked up an avoidable yellow card, while Matías Soulé entered at half-time but collected a caution himself during defensive duties. Malen's dismissal stemmed from a fierce recovery that Gasperini felt may have warranted an earlier stoppage for a preceding foul. The manager himself was far from serene on the touchline, frequently remonstrating with refereeing decisions in a match neither official found straightforward. Roma travel to face José Mourinho's side next week.

Roma emerged from the Sinigaglia with a hard-fought 0–0 draw against Como, but the result came at a cost: Donyell Malen was sent off in the 53rd minute for a late challenge on Kaiki, forcing the visitors to defend the entire second half with ten men. The point keeps Gian Piero Gasperini's side in the upper reaches of the Serie A table, two points behind Inter. Roma fielded an unusually depleted lineup after the international break. Mile Svilar was sidelined by a stress fracture of the foot, with Pierluigi Gollini stepping in. At the back, Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso formed the three-man defence, flanked by Wesley and Nahuel Molina. Bryan Cristante's absence meant Marten de Roon partnered Manu Koné in midfield. Paulo Dybala and Malen led the attack, with Lorenzo Pellegrini making his seasonal debut in support—a role he would abandon after 46 minutes when Matías Soulé replaced him. Roma created the clearer early chances. Dybala missed a golden opportunity in the opening minutes, shooting centrally when completely unmarked in front of Como's keeper Butez after a Mancini assist and Malen flick. Pellegrini struck the post with a first-time effort from the edge of the area ten minutes later. Malen then headed well but fired into the side netting from a tight angle. Neither side retreated an inch despite a slippery pitch, with both teams applying relentless man-to-man pressing. The first half ended scoreless after an intense display by both teams. The turning point arrived early in the second period. Fabbri showed Malen a direct red card for a late intervention on Kaiki in the 53rd minute. Como pressed their numerical advantage immediately; Perrone wasted a fine chance by shooting over the bar following Diao's run down the flank, and Douvikas's powerful effort struck the post. Gian Piero Gasperini replaced Hermoso with Leonardo Balerdi before the hour mark and later withdrew Molina for Devyne Rensch, prioritising defensive stability over attack. Gollini made decisive saves to deny Nico Paz on two occasions. The match was further disrupted when referee Fabbri suffered a knee problem at the 68th minute; fourth official Sozza took over for the remainder. Como dominated possession thereafter but could not break through Roma's resolute defensive block. Jesus Rodriguez fired wide late on as the hosts pressed for a breakthrough that never came. After seven minutes of added time, the match ended 0–0. Gasperini extended Roma's positive run and stayed within striking distance of the title race.

Roma sporting director Tony D'Amico spoke to journalists before kickoff in the sixth Serie A round at Como, addressing the squad's readiness and injury situation. "We expect a match between two strong sides," D'Amico said. "We haven't had much time to prepare it, but we have months of work behind us. We hope for a standout moment in football." The director confirmed that goalkeeper Mile Svilar and midfielder Bryan Cristante will miss a significant period through injury. "It's a great shame to lose an important player like Mile," D'Amico said. "But also Cristante. It's unfortunate because these are long injuries—they will miss quite a few matches. The squad members have great trust in the club, and everyone who has the opportunity to be on show should see that as motivation and not a burden." On the debut of Lorenzo Pellegrini, D'Amico expressed confidence in the midfielder's contribution going forward. D'Amico stressed that Pellegrini's arrival represented a significant acquisition for Roma. "For us it was a signing," he said. "We found him with his contract expiring—everyone who signed a renewal was among the first signings. Lorenzo has lived through difficult months and worked hard in the summer; for him this is a major motivation. We are convinced he can give a big hand to the group."

Roma faced Como at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia in the Serie A sixth round. Paulo Dybala was central to the match, hitting a straightforward chance that went straight to goalkeeper Butez. After Donyell Malen's red card, Dybala took control of Roma's attack and earned Gasperini's confidence, though the coach later revealed he had nearly substituted the Argentine for Santiago Castro before changing his mind. Gasperini had already called Castro to warm up and remove his bib ahead of Malen's dismissal. Once Malen was sent off, the coach reconsidered and kept Dybala on the pitch. Speaking after the match, Gasperini explained: "I believe Dybala was extraordinary once we were down to ten in the second half, clearing difficult situations. He convinced me as we went along: he began to pull in several balls, giving us breathing room and chances to break out. He was the one most penalised because he had to operate between Como's two centre-backs, but he did it with great intelligence and quality as a true footballer." Dybala was substituted in the 88th minute, replaced by Emanuele Lulli to add greater compactness to the side in the closing stages.

Roma earned a valuable point at Como despite being affected by a refereeing error, with Gasperini keeping his side compact and organized. For more than 85 minutes, the coach kept Paulo Dybala on the pitch as the focal point of the attack. Shortly after Donyell Malen was sent off, Santiago Castro removed his bib, ready to enter the match in what appeared to be Dybala's replacement. Gasperini changed his mind. "He was attracting the ball, helping us breathe," Gasperini explained after the match. "It was him who convinced me to keep him on." Dybala's ability to win possession cleanly and help Roma escape the press proved crucial at that moment, and the coach recognized the tactical need. Castro will have his opportunity coming up against Genoa, partly due to Malen's absence.

Roma earned a hard-fought point on the road at Como, holding a 0–0 draw on 11 October despite playing most of the second half with ten men after Donyell Malen's dismissal. The Dutch winger was sent off early in the second half by referee Fabbri, a decision the raters found excessive given the overall nature of the play, though Malen was noted as somewhat reckless in the challenge. The result counted toward the sixth matchday of the Serie A season. Pierluigi Gollini deputised in goal and drew particular praise for his work on distribution and his alertness to Como's limited chances, keeping the bench-warmer tag away from Mile Svilar. At centre-back, Gianluca Mancini and Evan N'Dicka formed an imposing partnership; Mancini earned a 7 rating for his battling quality and composure in the tackle despite rare lapses, while N'Dicka dominated a physical duel with Como's Douvikas. Mario Hermoso supported the backline with careful defending before Leonardo Balerdi replaced him in the 60th minute. Marten de Roon covered ground reliably in midfield, earning a 7 for consistency with Gasperini's system. Paulo Dybala was handed a 6, his performance marred by a glaring early miss that could have altered the match entirely. Lorenzo Pellegrini made his return to the pitch and was credited with important work and technical quality, including a shot that struck the post from the edge of the area, though his fitness remained not yet sharp. He gave way to Matías Soulé at the 46th minute. Manu Koné was not at his sharpest, rated 6, while defender Nahuel Molina (5.5) struggled with precision; Devyne Rensch entered in the 81st minute and impressed on arrival. Gasperini himself earned a 6.5, praised for keeping Roma organised and tactically sharp after numerical disadvantage forced him to abandon attacking ambitions and deploy personnel with calculated precision through his substitutions. With parity in numbers, Roma had appeared the superior side and more threatening side before the dismissal.