Como and AS Roma left the Giuseppe Sinigaglia with a 0-0 draw after a match that had chances at both ends and then turned on Donyell Malen's direct red card in the second half. Lorenzo Pellegrini had already hit the post before the break, while Nico Paz kept forcing Pierluigi Gollini into action.
Malen's dismissal changed the shape of the match
Malen was sent off directly in the 53rd minute for a serious foul, and the game narrowed from there. AS Roma were suddenly protecting a point rather than looking to win it, while Como kept pressing but could not find a finish.
The numbers on the night fit that story. Malen lasted 53 minutes, and his outing ended with a 5.92 rating. Gollini made 4 saves, which helped Roma stay level through the pressure that followed the dismissal.
Como's late pressure and Pellegrini's first-half chance
Como were the side asking more questions after the sending-off, with Paz finishing on 4 shots on target and 2 key passes. That kind of volume was enough to keep Roma busy, even if the final touch never came.
Pellegrini's first-half strike off the post was the other major opening in a game that stayed tight throughout. He returned to the starting line-up 184 days later and had 2 shots before the break. Michael Fabbri then had to leave the match in the 71st minute because of a knee problem and was replaced by Simone Sozza.
The draw leaves Como and AS Roma with a clean sheet each, but the decisive moment remains Malen's dismissal in the 53rd minute.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →
