Roma left Como with a scoreless draw that may prove more valuable than it first appears. Gian Piero Gasperini’s side spent the whole second half, including added time, with ten men after Donyell Malen’s dismissal, yet protected a clean sheet with Pierluigi Gollini making his first Serie A appearance in more than two years.
The point did not offer the reward Roma had sought from a trip to one of the division’s most admired teams, but it showed another side of a group still defining itself under its new coach. Before the red card, Roma had created more than Como without turning their opportunities into a goal, undone by poor finishing and a lack of precision in the decisive moments.
A different test for Gasperini’s Roma
Como, led by Cesc Fabregas, have earned widespread praise for their work this season and Roma’s result should be viewed in that context. Once reduced to ten, the visitors had little choice but to reshape the afternoon around resistance rather than ambition.
Gasperini’s changes increasingly reflected that reality. Roma absorbed Como’s pressure without losing their composure and saw out the match with a discipline that made the draw feel less like a missed opportunity than evidence of maturity.
It was a performance that moved through two identities: initially a side looking to build and impose itself, then a team prepared to defend its ground. That adaptability has become an encouraging trait for a squad with new technical qualities but familiar tactical foundations.
Dybala stays on to do the defensive work
Paulo Dybala’s role after Malen’s sending-off was one of the notable decisions of the match. Many expected him to be withdrawn as Roma prepared for a long spell without the ball, but Gasperini kept him on until close to the end.
Dybala is still seeking his sharpest edge in front of goal, but his contribution against Como was significant. He worked in a defensive capacity that might once have seemed unlikely, helping Roma maintain their shape and manage the final stages.
Gollini, meanwhile, came through an unexpected return to league action with the clean sheet intact. His presence added another layer to a day in which Roma had to rely on collective reliability rather than attacking fluency.
Real Madrid awaits
Roma now turn towards a far larger European appointment with Real Madrid, where José Mourinho will meet the club he once coached. The Spanish side will naturally begin as favourites, and Roma’s draw at Como offers no reason for grand declarations.
Yet the performance provided Gasperini’s players with a timely reminder of their own resilience. They arrive in Madrid not after a statement victory, but after demonstrating that they can compete, adjust and endure when a match turns against them.
For Mourinho, there will be no reason to underestimate his former club. Roma’s afternoon by the lake produced only one point, but it also revealed a team capable of working through an uncomfortable match with calm and conviction.
