The controversy of Roma's draw and Paulo Dybala's involvement

The 0-0 draw between Roma and Como in Serie A on October 11, 2026, has drawn attention, partly because of Paulo Dybala's involvement. During the match, which saw Roma play most of the second half with one player fewer, the Argentine forward had a shot saved by Como's goalkeeper.

The draw in Como and the missed opportunities

The game, held at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium in Como, ended goalless, preventing Roma from retaking the Serie A lead. In addition to Dybala's saved strike, Donyell Malen hit the side net while trying to dribble past Jean Butez. Lorenzo Pellegrini also had a key chance, smashing the post with a shot before halftime. For Como, Pierluigi Gollini saved a powerful shot from Nico Paz, and Jesus Rodriguez shot wide.

Donyell Malen's red card

One of the pivotal moments was the dismissal of Donyell Malen, Serie A's top scorer, in the 53rd minute of the second half. The Dutch striker received a straight red after a challenge on Kaiki. According to Luca Marelli, a DAZN arbitration expert, the decision was correct. He noted that although Malen barely touched the ball, the tackle was reckless, with his foot above the ankle, knee locked, and at high speed. Malen protested, arguing a foul should have been awarded to him earlier in the play, as reported by journalist Davide Bernardi.

Interestingly, referee Michael Fabbri suffered an injury minutes after the red card and was replaced by fourth official Simone Sozza for the remainder of the match.

Gian Piero Gasperini's analysis

Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini expressed disappointment with the result but praised his team's "clarity and order" defensively after Malen's dismissal. He said Roma was forced to defend and did so with great organization, deeming the draw acceptable after playing 30 minutes a man down. Gasperini also lamented the excellent goal chances missed in the first half, highlighting that Roma gave the impression it could have taken the lead. The side recorded only nine shots on target, the fewest in a Serie A match this season, but achieved its fourth clean‑sheet game of the campaign—a league record—and has not conceded in the first half of its last 11 games.

Como's perspective on the league

For Como, coach Cesc Fabregas admitted his side did not fully exploit its numerical advantage, especially in possession, where they should have been more patient and moved the ball quicker. Nevertheless, Fabregas praised the young squad for preventing counter‑attack situations. Como matched its best Serie A start, adjusted to three points per win, accumulating 11 points from six matches and equalling its 1950‑51 performance.

With information from Football Italia, beIN SPORTS.