The story behind Castro's bib: why Gasperini kept Dybala on at Como

Gian Piero Gasperini and Como manager Cesc Fabregas share mutual respect but are not friends, a dynamic that played out both before and after their sides met on 11 October. Before kickoff, the two coaches spoke at length during the pre-match greeting, with Gasperini covering his mouth to conceal what he was saying—a detail reflecting the tactical caution between two managers conscious of keeping their plans hidden. The match itself ended in a draw, with Roma playing as the dominant side and rarely facing sustained pressure from Como. Donyell Malen's expulsion shifted the balance of play, but Gasperini reacted effectively to restore equilibrium to his team during a difficult period. After the final whistle, DAZN cameras captured the two managers continuing their discussion outside the stadium in a relaxed atmosphere. The encounter showed a cordial tone between coaches who had approached the fixture with deliberate restraint beforehand. Despite the match's anticipated intensity, the contrasting moods before and after—from guarded pre-game exchanges to genial post-match conversation—underscored the professional respect between the two.

Donyell Malen's dismissal in Roma's draw at Como has become a focal point of debate, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini arguing that referee Fabbri should have blown for a foul before the contact that led to the red card. Gasperini said: "Basta con i fotogrammi" (enough with the stills), emphasizing a straightforward point: had Fabbri whistled for a foul first, nothing would have happened. The decision proved costly, denying Roma the chance to return from Como with three points. Malen faces a one-match ban, possibly two. The dismissal has invited comparison to a second-round match between Como and Parma, where Caqueret committed what the article describes as a far graver foul but received only a yellow card from Colli. The inconsistency highlights what appears to be a disparity in officiating standards. Como manager Fabregas made no public comment on that incident. Roma delivered a spirited performance despite the numerical disadvantage, competing on level terms and holding firm to the final whistle. The focus now shifts to their next fixture: a meeting with Real Madrid.

Pierluigi Gollini spoke after Como's 0–0 draw with Roma on 11 October, reflecting on his first Serie A appearance in two years. The goalkeeper said he had approached the fixture with focused intensity, aware of the long absence from top-flight football. He praised Mile Svilar's professionalism and their relationship, saying: "I told Mile to stay calm and recover; we are all waiting for him. He is a great professional, we have an excellent relationship." Svilar had encouraged him before the match, telling him: "It is your moment, enjoy it." Gollini's return marks a significant moment for Roma's goalkeeping department. The 29-year-old has built a career worthy of respect, and he framed his opportunity as a reward for years of dedicated work. He acknowledged that doubts were natural after such a lengthy absence from Serie A competition, but insisted his mental preparation had been thorough and his confidence high during the week leading into the fixture. On his performance, Gollini credited mental clarity for his distribution and composure. "When you are in good shape mentally, everything follows," he said. "I felt good in the match. I felt fluid too, despite it being such a long time. Mental state makes the difference." He was questioned about a possible contact between Wesley and Como's Diao but had not seen the incident clearly from his position on the pitch. Regarding his positioning, he reflected: "Of course there would be doubts after two years without playing a Serie A match. I played the match in my head this week. During the match I felt good. This helped me."

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.

Gian Piero Gasperini defended Roma's 0–0 draw at Como and praised Paulo Dybala's performance after Donyell Malen's dismissal left the team playing more than 30 minutes with ten men. Gasperini said: "Credo che Dybala sia stato straordinario anche una volta in 10 nel secondo tempo a ripulire delle situazioni che non erano facili in inferiorità. Lui come i suoi compagni hanno fatto una gara di grande spessore. Non ricordo palloni persi, forte nello spunto peccato per l'occasione del primo tempo in cui poteva fare gol. Anche oggi prestazione straordinaria." The coach kept Dybala on the pitch rather than introducing Santiago Castro, saying the forward "gave us breathing room" and was "continuous for all 90 minutes." Gasperini disputed the severity of Malen's red card, criticizing the use of frame-by-frame analysis to adjudicate fouls. He argued there was "a foul repeated on him" beforehand and said: "Non c'è di sicuro l'intenzionalità… Questo è stato un episodio che ha imbruttito la partita, così lo è diventato un po' meno." When shown a still image of the incident, Gasperini became animated: "Fermando il fotogramma è facile! Il calcio è fatto di azioni così si può giustificare tutto Non c'è nessuna voglia e di fare male da parte di Malen, è ora di smetterla con i fotogrammi perché falsificano la realtà! Adesso si vede un calcio più vero, non torniamo indietro von questi fotogrammi assurdi." Gasperini also praised goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini, saying he "was good with his feet, attentive and precise," adding that "he is a goalkeeper who will know how to replace Svilar very well." Looking ahead, Gasperini acknowledged the difficulty of Roma's next fixture: "Il Real è una squadra di campioni incredibili, sia in campo che in panchina. Affrontiamo una delle squadre più forti in Europa." He reflected on José Mourinho's legacy at the club but noted his current squad is "another type of team" and that "the lads are giving me lots of satisfaction."

Gian Piero Gasperini held a post-match press conference following Roma's 0–0 draw at Como in the sixth round of Serie A. The match was decided by Donyell Malen's red card late in the game, which left Roma to defend with ten players for the final stretch. Gasperini praised Paulo Dybala's performance despite the numerical disadvantage, saying: "Dybala was extraordinary even with ten men, cleaning up difficult situations in numerical inferiority. Like his teammates, I believe he played a match of great substance. I don't recall lost balls and indeed he seemed strong again in his bursts. A shame in the first-half situation where he could have scored. But today too was an extraordinary performance." On the overall tactical adjustment, Gasperini explained: "He convinced me as we went, he began to catalyse several balls and give us breathing room, to help us get out. At one point there was a situation of possible counter-attack and danger. It was continuous for all 90 minutes. He was the one most penalised, having to dance between Como's two centre-backs but he did it with great intelligence and quality, like a player who knows football." Regarding the red card itself, Gasperini was critical of frame-by-frame analysis in refereeing. He stated: "There is a repeated foul on Malen. To say that Malen is playing violent football is difficult to sustain. He had a surge after being held and he also touched the ball. What is ugly is the jump, but there is no intent from Malen. Certainly it was an episode that made the match uglier. It was a beautiful game and so it was less so. Football is not made of frames but of actions, otherwise you can justify everything. There is no will or determination to do harm on Malen's part. It's time to stop with the frames, they falsify reality. We have suffered this thing for years, finally from this year you see truer football. Please, let's not go backwards." Roma did not face serious danger despite the numerical deficit, and Gasperini noted: "In the first half we had excellent situations to score and a couple important ones for Como, but we gave the sensation of being able to go ahead. Then obviously if you play two-thirds of the match in numerical inferiority against a strong team like Como, there is regret. I don't know how the match would have ended 11 against 11, but we were confident of having excellent chances." Gasperini also looked forward to Roma's Champions League fixture against Real Madrid on Wednesday, describing them as "a squad of incredible champions, both on the pitch and on the bench. We face one of the best teams in absolute terms, among the strongest in Europe, which made an extraordinary market." He reflected on his side's response: "I did not celebrate the draw but the spirit with which we played. It was not easy to play against this Como in numerical inferiority. Last year we lost, this year instead we did not."

Gian Piero Gasperini and Como manager Cesc Fabregas share mutual respect but are not friends, a dynamic that played out both before and after their sides met on 11 October. Before kickoff, the two coaches spoke at length during the pre-match greeting, with Gasperini covering his mouth to conceal what he was saying—a detail reflecting the tactical caution between two managers conscious of keeping their plans hidden. The match itself ended in a draw, with Roma playing as the dominant side and rarely facing sustained pressure from Como. Donyell Malen's expulsion shifted the balance of play, but Gasperini reacted effectively to restore equilibrium to his team during a difficult period. After the final whistle, DAZN cameras captured the two managers continuing their discussion outside the stadium in a relaxed atmosphere. The encounter showed a cordial tone between coaches who had approached the fixture with deliberate restraint beforehand. Despite the match's anticipated intensity, the contrasting moods before and after—from guarded pre-game exchanges to genial post-match conversation—underscored the professional respect between the two.

Donyell Malen has issued a public apology following his dismissal in Roma's away match at Como. The Dutch forward took to social media after the final whistle to express his regret and accept responsibility for the sending-off, addressing both his teammates and the Roma supporters. The red card poses a significant problem for head coach Gian Piero Gasperini in the coming fixtures. Unless the disciplinary judge rules otherwise, Malen faces at least one Serie A match ban as a result of the dismissal. Gasperini will need to assess his alternatives in attack to cover for the absent winger in Roma's next league fixture. Malen's message on social media demonstrated his awareness of how an expulsion can affect a team's performance during a match. The forward chose to communicate directly with the Roma faithful, taking full responsibility for the incident at Stadio Sinigaglia.

Donyell Malen has issued a public apology following his red card in Roma's match against Como. The Dutch forward was sent off in the second half for a foul on Kaiki at the Sinigaglia stadium. Malen posted on social media: "I apologise to the squad and the fans." The decision sparked debate, particularly because Roma had protested moments earlier for a foul committed against Malen himself that went unpunished. Rather than seeking justification or blaming others, Malen accepted responsibility for the incident. The gesture carries weight at Roma, especially for a player who has quickly endeared himself to supporters and become one of the main attacking references in Gian Piero Gasperini's squad. The dismissal will carry immediate consequences: Malen will miss Roma's next fixture against Genoa before becoming available again. The incident underlines his importance to the team and the standards the club expects from its key players. Malen's response reflects a direct approach—addressing teammates and supporters without excuses or deflection. He will be suspended for the Genoa match, after which he aims to return and resume the goalscoring form that has already made a significant mark on his Roma career.

Gian Piero Gasperini defended Roma's 0–0 draw at Como and praised Paulo Dybala's performance after Donyell Malen's dismissal left the team playing more than 30 minutes with ten men. Gasperini said: "Credo che Dybala sia stato straordinario anche una volta in 10 nel secondo tempo a ripulire delle situazioni che non erano facili in inferiorità. Lui come i suoi compagni hanno fatto una gara di grande spessore. Non ricordo palloni persi, forte nello spunto peccato per l'occasione del primo tempo in cui poteva fare gol. Anche oggi prestazione straordinaria." The coach kept Dybala on the pitch rather than introducing Santiago Castro, saying the forward "gave us breathing room" and was "continuous for all 90 minutes." Gasperini disputed the severity of Malen's red card, criticizing the use of frame-by-frame analysis to adjudicate fouls. He argued there was "a foul repeated on him" beforehand and said: "Non c'è di sicuro l'intenzionalità… Questo è stato un episodio che ha imbruttito la partita, così lo è diventato un po' meno." When shown a still image of the incident, Gasperini became animated: "Fermando il fotogramma è facile! Il calcio è fatto di azioni così si può giustificare tutto Non c'è nessuna voglia e di fare male da parte di Malen, è ora di smetterla con i fotogrammi perché falsificano la realtà! Adesso si vede un calcio più vero, non torniamo indietro von questi fotogrammi assurdi." Gasperini also praised goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini, saying he "was good with his feet, attentive and precise," adding that "he is a goalkeeper who will know how to replace Svilar very well." Looking ahead, Gasperini acknowledged the difficulty of Roma's next fixture: "Il Real è una squadra di campioni incredibili, sia in campo che in panchina. Affrontiamo una delle squadre più forti in Europa." He reflected on José Mourinho's legacy at the club but noted his current squad is "another type of team" and that "the lads are giving me lots of satisfaction."

Gian Piero Gasperini held his post-match press conference following Roma's 0–0 draw at Como in Serie A matchday six, where Donyell Malen was sent off in the first half. Gasperini defended his forward's dismissal, saying: "Saying that Malen plays violent football is hard to sustain. He had momentum after being held back and also touched the ball. What is ugly is the jump, but there is no intent on Malen's part. Certainly it was an episode that marred the match. It was a beautiful game and it became less so. Football is not made of stills but of actions, otherwise you can justify everything. There is no will nor determination to hurt from Malen. It's time to stop with the stills—they distort reality. We have suffered this for years, finally this year we see truer football. Please, let's not go backwards." Despite playing two-thirds of the match in numerical inferiority, Roma held firm defensively. Gasperini praised Paulo Dybala's performance in the second half after Malen's exit: "I believe Dybala was extraordinary once we went down to 10 in the second half, cleaning up difficult situations. I believe he, like his teammates, played a match of great substance. I don't recall him losing balls, a shame only for that situation in the first half when he could have scored. But today too it was an extraordinary performance." On his team selection, Gasperini explained he considered bringing Santiago Castro on for Dybala after Malen's dismissal but changed his mind: "Once Malen came off that was the ideal solution on the pitch. Dybala convinced me as we went along, he started to gather several balls, give us the chance to breathe and get out. There were a few situations where a counterattack could almost have started. He was the one slightly more penalized because he had to move between Como's two centre-backs but he did it with great intelligence and true quality as a footballer who knows the game." Gasperini also credited goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini's contribution: "Gollini was undoubtedly strong, also in distribution with both feet and hands. The squad put him in this situation, he was attentive and precise. The squad put him in the best conditions. He is a goalkeeper who will know how to replace Svilar very well." Looking ahead to Roma's next fixture against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League, Gasperini acknowledged the scale of the challenge: "Real Madrid is a squad of incredible champions, both on the pitch and on the bench. We face one of the best teams in absolute terms, among the strongest in Europe, which made an extraordinary market. Mourinho left a memory and extraordinary affection at Roma, but now our squad is another type—very different from the one that played with Mourinho, which is giving me great satisfaction."

Como and Roma meet in a high-quality fixture on 11 October as both sides look to test their ambitions early in the season. Gasperini's Roma face significant absences: Bryan Cristante and Mile Svilar are unavailable, with Marten de Roon and Pierluigi Gollini stepping in. Como manager Cesc Fabregas is without Kean, his backup striker. Pellegrini returns to Roma's lineup after six months out, wearing the captain's armband on the trequarti alongside Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. The fixture is early enough in the campaign to offer limited guidance on league position, but Gasperini will use it to gauge the squad's form and competitive level. Roma field a 3-4-2-1: Gollini; Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Molina, de Roon, Koné, Wesley; Dybala, Pellegrini; Malen. Substitutes: Vasquez, De Marzi, Balerdi, Ghilardi, Rensch, Lulli, Pisilli, Soulé, Castro, Mora. Como line up in 4-2-3-1: Butez; Couto, Ramon, Chalobah, Valle; Da Cunha, Perrone; Diao, Paz, Baturina; Douvikas.