Matías Soulé was Roma's standout figure in a first half at Old Trafford that ended well for the Giallorossi, before a collective drop-off after the restart. The Argentine wearing number 18 scored the opening goal with a well-timed run onto a pass from Mora, and his shot won a handball from Heaven, leading to the penalty converted by Malen. He needed just 17 minutes to dominate the match.
The display confirmed his importance to Gian Piero Gasperini's project. The article notes that Soulé was among the players linked by radiomercato with a possible exit just a few months ago, after a second half of last season affected and slowed by a troublesome groin problem (pubalgia). He has since regained his continuity. Soulé, the former Juventus and Frosinone player, is at his best when he starts wide on the right and cuts inside.
In the first half he also tried a Del Piero-style effort with his left foot, curling a shot towards the far post that narrowly missed the crossbar and sent the Roma fans in the Old Trafford stands into a murmur. After the interval, with Manchester United pushing forward and Roma pinned back, Soulé tried to win the ball and run at the defence alone. His efforts were admirable but fruitless, as the team was too deep and tired to support him, leaving him isolated.
Gasperini had praised him after the 3-3 draw at Napoli, ahead of the Roma-Cagliari match. He said: "The performance the other evening was extraordinary, but he has always played at a high level in the previous games too. He can play not only on the right but also on the left and as a full-back. The other evening he also played as a trequartista, found the goal and did important things. He is gaining maturity, confidence and security in his game. He loses many fewer balls than in the past, but there are still aspects where he can improve. We are convinced he has further room to grow and, above all, he is a young man who works very well every day to improve himself."
The article concludes that the English night left a bitter taste because of how the match ended, but Soulé's performance shows that Roma have found a player they can rely on.
Story Coverage4 sources on this story
Roma lost 3-2 at Old Trafford after dominating the first half, with Manchester United completing the comeback after the restart. Matías Soulé opened the scoring from a pass by Rodrigo Mora, and Malen converted a penalty to make it 2-0. Forza Roma says Soulé's shot forced a handball from Heaven, while Roma News says Soulé was fouled. Both agree the penalty came from Soulé's run into the area.
The collapse came after the interval. Mora was replaced by Pisilli at half-time, and Forza Roma suggests the change was either about managing the minutes of a young player or about giving the midfield more cover. Rensch went off injured in the first half and was replaced by Lulli. Forza Roma and Roma News both describe a defensive error by Leonardo Balerdi that led to United's equaliser. Roma's control then faded, and referee Gil Manzano awarded a penalty for a foul by Cunha, ordered it retaken, and Vásquez could not save it, leaving Cunha to score the winner. Forza Roma calls it the club's second Champions League collapse, following the defeat to Real Madrid.
Italian papers differed on the individual ratings. Corriere dello Sport gave Soulé 7.5, Gazzetta dello Sport 6.5, and most others 7. Balerdi, rated the worst Roma player by Forza Roma, received between 4 and 5. Gasperini was rated between 5 and 6. Roma News reports that Gasperini stayed calm afterwards, saying he was learning from the errors without making a drama of it.
AI synthesis of all sources below — always check the originals.
Testo Originale / Source Text
“Se c’è un’immagine che fotografa il primo tempo da favola della Roma all'Old Trafford, prima dell'amaro calo collettivo della ripresa che ha continuato a dipingere lo stadio di Manchester come un Teatro degli Incubi per la squadra giallorossa, è quella di Matías Soulé che semina il panico nella…”
Read the full article in Italian at Forza Roma.
