AS Roma striker Donyell Malen received a straight red card shortly after halftime during a 0-0 draw against Como, while an increasingly Dutch-influenced Lazio climbed into joint-first place alongside Internazionale after defeating Monza.
Red Card for Malen Halts Roma at Como
AS Roma entered the international break in poor form after blowing a 2-0 lead against Internazionale to draw 2-2, while Como saw their ten-match unbeaten run across all competitions snapped by a 2-0 defeat against Frosinone, as reported by NOS. Despite both sides experiencing recent setbacks, Roma immediately pressed for the opening goal at the 14,000-capacity Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia. Paulo Dybala missed an early chance following a setup from Malen, and Lorenzo Pellegrini struck the goalpost. At the other end, 22-year-old Nico Paz—viewed by Argentine fans as a successor to Lionel Messi—was denied by Roma goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini.
The match turned in the 53rd minute when referee Michael Fabbri dismissed Malen with a straight red card for a heavy challenge on Como’s Kaiki during a fifty-fifty ball dispute. Playing with a numerical advantage, Como struggled to break down the visiting defense. Paz tested Gollini from distance, but the goalkeeper stood firm. Roma introduced Marten de Roon for his first start and brought on Devyne Rensch late in the game to preserve the clean sheet. The 0-0 stalemate leaves Roma two points behind league leaders Internazionale in the Serie A standings.
Dutch-Influenced Lazio Rises to Joint-First in Serie A
Lazio capitalized on the top-tier congestion by securing a 3-1 victory over Monza to join Internazionale at the summit of the table. The Biancocelesti featured Dutch-connected players Danilho Doekhi, Kenneth Taylor, and Tijjani Noslin in their starting lineup. Noslin played a pivotal role in the attack, providing the assist for Nuno Tavares’s opening strike and Gustav Isaksen’s curling second goal. Noslin was later brought down by Lorenzo Lucchesi while breaking clear on goal, resulting in a straight red card for the Monza defender.
Monza reduced the deficit early in the second half through a header from Saba Goglichidze, but Andrea Pinamonti sealed the three points for Lazio with a late finish. With the victory, Lazio and Internazionale both hold two points more than AS Roma in the Italian top-flight title race.
Juventus and AC Milan Held to Draws
Juventus played out a 1-1 draw against Cagliari in Turin. Without Teun Koopmeiners in the starting XI, Juventus fell behind after twenty minutes when Daniel Maldini—son of Italian football legend Paolo Maldini—scored for Cagliari. Randal Kolo Muani secured a point for Juventus in the 81st minute by heading in an inswinging cross from Kerim Alajbegovic. Koopmeiners appeared as a late substitute in the closing stages.
AC Milan also dropped points on the matchday, finishing 1-1 away against Sassuolo under manager Ruben Amorim.
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