Gasperini demands Roma response after Real Madrid's seven-minute Olimpico collapse
Gasperini demands Roma response after Real Madrid's seven-minute Olimpico collapse
Gian Piero Gasperini has urged his Roma side to put things right after a stunning Champions League defeat to Real Madrid, demanding a show of "strength, belief and energy" against Genoa on Saturday.
The Giallorossi were cruising at 3-1 up in the 82nd minute of their midweek home tie at the Stadio Olimpico, only for Madrid to score three goals from corners in a devastating seven-minute spell that flipped the result and secured all three points.
Excluding games that went to extra time, it was the latest that an away side had been behind by at least two goals in a Champions League match and gone on to win. The loss also marked Roma's first defeat of the season across all competitions, while they have drawn their last two Serie A matches.
"We need to work on that and put it right"
Gasperini is seeking a big response when Roma host Genoa in Serie A on Saturday, and the coach was blunt about the psychological damage inflicted by the collapse.
"The psychological blow came when the score became 3-2. We need to work on that and put it right," Gasperini said.
"This team must not feel that it necessarily has to win the Champions League, the league title, or who knows what else. This team needs to express itself. If you concede a goal, you cannot let your morale drop. In my opinion, performance always matters.
"We know that matches are often decided in the closing minutes, but we decided them ourselves against Parma and Atalanta. We probably suffered the opposite against Inter, Juventus and Real Madrid.
"[On Saturday] we need strength, belief and energy. We are returning to the league as one of the leading teams. We will have the spirit, mentality and energy to try to win, because winning validates the players."
Prior coverage this week underlined the scale of the setback. On 15 October, Gasperini had hailed the long-awaited return of Champions League nights to the Olimpico — Roma's first home fixture in the competition in more than seven years — and on 16 October he described the three late set-piece goals conceded to Madrid as an "anomaly" while again calling for a deeper squad to cope with three competitions.
De Rossi returns to the Olimpico
The fixture carries extra spice given the identity of the visiting coach. Genoa boss Daniele De Rossi managed Roma in 30 matches between January and September 2024 (W13 D10 L7), and is a club legend as a player, making 616 appearances and scoring 63 goals for the Giallorossi. He ranks second for most official appearances in Roma's history, behind only Francesco Totti (786).
Roma slipped from first to third in the table last weekend, while Genoa sit 17th in Serie A, though they won 2-1 against Fiorentina last time out — their first victory after ten consecutive league matches without a win (D3 L7). The Grifone could secure back-to-back Serie A wins for the first time since last April (against Sassuolo and Pisa).
Players to watch
Roma — Matias Soule: With top scorer Donyell Malen suspended and Paulo Dybala sidelined with injury, the 23-year-old has the chance to prove his worth. Soule impressed against Madrid, recording two assists before being replaced in the 63rd minute while Roma led 3-1.
Genoa — Milutin Osmajic: The striker has scored three goals in five Serie A appearances for Genoa. Only three players have netted at least four goals in their first six games for the Grifone in the three-points-for-a-win era (since 1994-95): Krzysztof Piatek (eight), Diego Milito (five) and Marco Borriello (five).
The numbers behind the clash
Roma have won 14 points in Serie A this season, one fewer than they had after their first six matches last term (15); they could collect at least 17 points after their first seven league games for the first time since 2014-15 (18 in that season).
The Giallorossi are unbeaten in their last 15 home Serie A matches (W11 D4), with their last home defeat in the competition dating back to 30 November 2025 against Napoli. Roma are also unbeaten in 39 of their last 40 home Serie A matches against Genoa (W33 D6), including all of their last 23 home games (W19 D4). Genoa's last top-flight away victory against Roma dates back to January 1990 (1-0, with a goal from Carlos Aguilera at the Stadio Flaminio).
Opta gives Roma a 60% win probability, with the draw at 21.7% and Genoa at 18.3%.