UCL | Man Utd 3-2 Roma: Another Giallorossi collapse in Europe

UCL | Man Utd 3-2 Roma: Another Giallorossi collapse in Europe Roma once again threw away a two-goal Champions League advantage in a 3-2 defeat to Manchester United, as after dominating the first half, they repeated past mistakes. The Giallorossi had a massive problem just hours before kick-off when Pierluigi Gollini hurt his back, so with Mile Svilar, Paulo Dybala, Manu Koné and Lorenzo Pellegrini already out, they had to draft in third-choice goalkeeper Devis Vasquez for his club debut. Rodrigo Mora, Devyne Rensch and Leonardo Balerdi showed this was an attack-minded approach. Manchester United were in crisis, without a win since September 10 and losing three on the bounce, including a 4-1 Champions League hammering at Como . Lenny Yoro returned from suspension, but Benjamin Sesko, Patrick Dorgu, Marcus Rashford, Manuel Ugarte and Luke Shaw were still out of action. See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog. MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 03: Matias Soule of AS Roma celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammates Donyell Malen and Rodrigo Mora of AS Roma during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD4 match between Manchester United and AS Roma at Old Trafford on November 03, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images) The deadlock was broken early when Roma’s trademark high press forced an error in midfield, then Rodrigo Mora floated a smart ball over the top to send unmarked Soulé clear to sweep past Sam Lammens at the near post. THAT DIDN’T TAKE LONG 😬 United fall behind after just 11 minutes as Roma score through Matías Soulé 🇦🇷 https://t.co/DtIOFJYZ6D Roma were devastating on the counter with another smart Mora pass for Soulé, but his shot this time was charged down by Heaven’s arm for a penalty. Donyell Malen sent Lammens the wrong way to convert for 2-0. It really should’ve been 3-0 moments later, but Malen’s first touch let him down when going clear on goal. Devyne Rensch then pulled up injured and was replaced by Emanuele Lulli. Wesley made a perfect tackle as Carlos Baleba went on the counter, while the same player curled just over Vasquez’s goal, but a desperate Yoro tackle prevented Rodrigo Mora turning in the Soulé pass at the end of a well-worked move playing out from the back. MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 03: Donyell Malen of AS Roma scores his team’s second goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD4 match between Manchester United and AS Roma at Old Trafford on November 03, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images) Malen forced Lammens into a low one-handed save at full stretch after the Bryan Cristante flick on, but Manchester United’s second half started in the worst possible way with Baleba sprinting down the right and about to shoot when he suffered a massive hamstring strain and crumpled to the ground in tears. However, Manchester United did get a lifeline when Mateus Cunha under pressure from Gianluca Mancini tripped over his own feet and the goalkeeper awarded a penalty for the light touch from behind. Bruno Fernandes saw his spot-kick parried by unexpected hero Vasquez, but as Cristante was inside the area and cleared the rebound, VAR ordered it be retaken for encroachment. At the second time of asking, Bruno Fernandes was able to fire it into the roof of the net. MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 03: Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United has his penalty saved by Devis Stiven Vasquez Llach of AS Roma during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD4 match between Manchester United and AS Roma at Old Trafford on November 03, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) Moments later, Manchester United almost equalised, as Mbeumo while slipping managed to get the shot away and it bounced off one upright, rolled along the line to bounce off the inside of the other post. Suddenly it was a different match, as Wesley needed a decisive goal-line clearance to deny Harry Maguire’s header on a corner, then on the next corner another goal-line clearance from Cristante kept out Diogo Dalot. Leonardo Balerdi made a series of strong tackles, but the goal for 2-2 was a gift from the Argentine, who horribly scuffed a clearance into the path of Matheus Cunha inside his own penalty area. MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 03: Matheus Cunha of Manchester United celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD4 match between Manchester United and AS Roma at Old Trafford on November 03, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images) Roma had thrown away a 3-1 lead against Real Madrid in seven minutes, and basically repeated the pattern here, as Matheus Cunha ran onto the Lacey through ball and surprised Vasquez at the near post, the shot going in off the inside of the upright. Matheus Cunha was booked for taking his shirt off to celebrate, so his wild lunge on Balerdi in added time was a second yellow card. Man Utd 3-2 Roma Soulé 11 (R), Malen pen 18 (R), Bruno Fernandes pen 58 (M), Matheus Cunha 83, 86 (M) Sent off: Matheus Cunha 91 (M)