After closing out 2025 on a high note with seven wins out of 10 matches, Roma’s good fortune carried into the new year as Gian Piero Gasperini’s group won four of their first five league matches in 2026. However, just as winter loosen its grip on the Northern Hemisphere, so too has Roma lost its hold on a top-four spot. Since beating Stuttgart 2-0 in the Europa League on January 22nd, the Giallorossi have gone into a downward spiral, winning only two of their last 10 matches: a 2-0 victory over Cagliari
and a 3-0 win against Cremonese.
If you’re looking for the proverbial canary in the coal mine, look no further than Roma’s gut-wrenching 3-3 draw against Juventus, where the Giallorossi squandered a two-goal lead down the stretch. And since Jeremie Boga’s 78th-minute goal at the Olimpico on March 1st, Roma has been outscored seven to three—and only one of those goals came in the run of play.
Needless to say, things aren’t going Roma’s way at the moment; a pattern that continued yesterday, where the club’s struggles against top-of-the-table clubs continued in a 2-1 loss to Como, who now sit in 4th place, three points ahead of 6th-place Roma.
Considering everything, today’s Sinners & Saints won’t be a joyful event, but we’ll start with two bright spots that you might have to strain to see — it was a pretty dull match, after all.
The Saints
Stephan El Shaarawy
Considering that Roma only saw 34% of the ball and mustered a pitiful three shots on goal, we have to stretch the definition of CdT Sainthood here. Still, Roma’s veteran winger and their star new signing were the only bright spots in attack yesterday. Making only his fourth league start of the season, El Shaarawy delivered an understated but effective performance. In 56 minutes, SES registered one successful dribble, played three balls into the final third, won five out of eight duels, contributed seven defensive actions, and of course, drew the penalty that gave Roma the early lead.
Donyell Malen
With only 11 touches in 67 minutes, there wasn’t much Malen could do to tip the scales in Roma’s favor, considering how passively the club played and how little assistance he received in the final third. Nevertheless, Malen continued his torrid run in Serie A, converting an early penalty to extend his scoring streak to seven goals in nine matches.
The Sinners
The Entire Midfield Four
For expediency’s sake, we’re going to lump Bryan Cristante, Manu Kone, Zeki Çelik, and Wesley into the same sad lot. With Roma ceding possession and initiative to Como after Malen’s early goal, these four were victims of circumstance, but they were notably plagued by fatigue, indecision, or worse, indifference. If Roma stands any chance of sneaking back into the Champions League race, let alone winning the Europa League, they need more action from the midfield.
Gian Piero Gasperini
I approached this season, the club’s first under Gasperini, as a period of transition. While Gasperini managed to turn Atalanta around fairly quickly, Roma presents a completely different challenge. Given the club’s tendency to cycle through managers and directors like sliced bread, Gasperini inherited a patchwork squad assembled for José Mourinho—who also had to work with a ragtag roster—and later Daniele De Rossi, along with some leftover pieces from Paulo Fonseca and Eusebio Di Francesco.
While I am confident Gasperini will find more success next season when he presumably has more players to his liking, he has enough experience to work with what he’s given. And lately, the results haven’t been encouraging, with the club appearing complacent, careless, and sometimes too compact; all of which were evident yesterday against Como.
I haven’t lost faith yet, but we’ve seen Roma swallow too many managers whole to think Gasperini is beyond reproach.
Stuck In Between
There’s only one SIB this week, and unfortunately, it’s Mile.
Mile Svilar
In many respects, Svilar was as sharp as ever last night, making 5 saves in the box to go along with one high claim and even 14 recoveries, but he made a crucial mistake on Taso Douvikas’s 59th-minute equalizer when the ball went right in between his legs. Not his finest moment, but he’s saved Roma more times than we can count, so we won’t hold it against him.
