A match that promised fireworks instead ended goalless, but Roma's 0-0 draw with Como was anything but short on controversy. Gian Piero Gasperini was left fuming after Donyell Malen's dismissal changed the course of the game, while Cesc Fabregas insisted the referee had made the right call.With two attack-minded coaches on opposite sides, the meeting between Gasperini's Roma and Fabregas' Como had the ingredients for a thrilling contest. 🚨𝗗𝗘𝗕𝗔𝗧𝗘: Donyell Malen was shown a straight red card following this challenge. 🟥 https://t.co/wTsM5umgJr— Goals Xtra (@GoalsXtra) October 11, 2026 Instead, the decisive moment arrived in the 53rd minute, when Malen lost possession before launching into a heavy challenge on Como full-back Caqueret. Referee Michael Fabbri showed the Dutchman a straight red card.Roma had looked the more threatening side before the dismissal, but being reduced to 10 men forced the visitors onto the defensive – much to Gasperini's frustration."There was a foul on Malen before the sliding tackle, and it happened again just before the challenge," the Roma coach argued. "To say Malen played in a violent way is absurd. He was pulled back and was carrying his momentum. The jump was certainly heavy, but there was no intention to hurt anyone."##EDITORS_CHOICE##Gasperini then aimed to use video freeze-frames to judge such incidents, becoming even more animated when shown a replay of the tackle."It's useless to stop the frame. Football isn't made up of freeze-frames. You can justify anything that way, but there was no intention to injure anyone," he said. "What matters is the essence of the incident. Stop using these still images because they distort reality. This year, we're finally seeing football that looks more like the real game. Please, let's not go backwards."I don't know how it would have ended 11 against 11, but we were confident. Given the circumstances, a draw is acceptable."21.45: (6.00) Cagliari (3.90) Juventus (1.60)Fabregas, however, offered little support for his opposite number's argument. The Como manager said he respected Gasperini's opinion, but believed the challenge warranted a dismissal."That's his personal view, and I respect it. It's difficult to speak to the media after a match like this. Everyone has their own opinion, and others see things differently," Fabregas said."I was once sent off for a bad tackle just like this one. If you watch the footage and see how he went into the challenge, it's a red card."Mette sees red as Tusker begin new season with win over Ulinzi StarsThe Spaniard also suggested Roma could have faced another dismissal, arguing that Wesley should have been sent off for a foul on Assane Diao because Evan Ndicka would not have been able to reach the ball."There are plenty of different opinions. I'd rather stay quiet so I don't open up more controversy," Fabregas concluded.SERIE A – MATCHDAY 6SaturdayGenoa – Fiorentina 2-1 (2-0)/Osmajic 7, Messias 15 – Vasquez 73 og/Inter – Parma 3-0 (3-0)/Sucic 13, Calhanoglu 18 pen, Thuram 31/Napoli – Frosinone 3-0 (2-0)/De Bruyne 29 pen, 90+4, Lang 32/SundayComo – Roma 0-0Lazio – Monza 3-1 (2-0)/Tavares 3, Isaksen 23, Pinamonti 88 – Goglichidze 46/Lecce – Bologna 1-2 (0-1)/Fatah 64 – Orsolini 17, Enem 75/Sassuolo – Milan IN PROGRESS21.45: (6.00) Cagliari (3.90) Juventus (1.60)Monday19.30: (1.55) Atalanta (4.20) Venezia (5.90)21.45: (2.35) Torino (3.30) Udinese (3.10) ***odds are subject to change***
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