Gasperini: Roma outclassed Real Madrid, but huge regret over three conceded corners
Quick summary
Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini said his side outclassed Real Madrid but expressed regret at conceding three goals from corners in the match.
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Attributed to original sourceGian Piero Gasperini hit out at Jose Mourinho, insisting Real Madrid ‘were outclassed’ by Roma until those three goals from corners. ‘We were far too passive, there is huge regret.’
It was a dramatic night at the Stadio Olimpico, where the Giallorossi showed the very best and very worst of themselves.
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They surged into a fully deserved 3-1 lead with a Marten de Roon strike and Donyell Malen brace, but some shocking defending on corners saw them concede three in a row from the 83 rd minute to the 90 th .
Carlos Espi, Endrick and former Roma defender Antonio Rudiger were all on target from almost identical goals, giving Real Madrid a 4-3 victory.
Gasperini regret at Roma errors ROME, ITALY – OCTOBER 14: Gian Piero Gasperini, Manager of AS Roma, looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD2 match between AS Roma and Real Madrid C.F. at Stadio Olimpico on October 14, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images) “They had taken corners in the first half too, but in the final minutes it was as if we were paralysed with fear on those corners, they scored too easily,” Gasperini told Sky Sport Italia and Amazon Prime Video Italia.
“There is huge regret, because a game played like that should not have ended with that epilogue.”
Real Madrid had just one shot on target in the entire first half and it was the Kylian Mbappé goal, whereas Thibaut Courtois was forced into several saves.
“We have to build on the positives, so even if this defeat weighs heavily, we need to shake it off quickly, otherwise we risk cancelling out all the good things we saw in this match,” insisted the coach.
“It is so hard to accept, but Roma certainly did some very good things, which we ruined at the end. Quite beyond Real Madrid’s capabilities on set plays, we were far too passive, and that is a pity.”
ROME, ITALY – OCTOBER 14: Donyell Malen of AS Roma scores his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD2 match between AS Roma and Real Madrid C.F. at Stadio Olimpico on October 14, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images) Jose Mourinho said to the media after the final whistle that Roma were ‘dead’ in the closing stages, but Gasperini took offence.
“If there was a team that looked like it had run out of steam, it was Real Madrid. We outclassed them in everything, they scored only on corners, but other than that we were certainly up to the task.
“It’s true we have to learn how to see games through to the end, those final minutes were decisive. We’ve got to build on our style of play and work on the negatives.”
ROME, ITALY – OCTOBER 14: Manu Kone of AS Roma receives medical attention after sustaining an injury during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD2 match between AS Roma and Real Madrid C.F. at Stadio Olimpico on October 14, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images) The night had more problems for Gasperini, because Manu Koné went off in tears after just 17 minutes with a fresh injury, then Paulo Dybala had to be replaced at half-time with a muscular issue.
They were already missing Mile Svilar with a fractured toe and Bryan Cristante thanks to that knee injury.
“Koné is certainly a muscular problem, Dybala felt the soleus muscle harden, so we have to wait and see. The Koné injury is certainly worse, that is a strain. You run the risk of injuries when playing at this level, but we had recovered well,” confirmed Gasperini.
Roma now have one point from two Champions League games, as they held Fenerbahce to a 1-1 draw in Turkiye.
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What happened
Following a Roma vs Real Madrid fixture, head coach Gian Piero Gasperini gave a post-match assessment in which he praised his team's overall performance, claiming they 'outclassed' the Spanish side. However, he singled out defensive vulnerability from set pieces as a major source of frustration, lamenting the three goals Roma conceded from corners. The comments highlight a disconnect between Roma's open-play dominance and their inability to defend dead-ball situations against elite opposition.
Chance analysis
When a manager uses the word 'outclassed' to describe his team's display against Real Madrid and still walks away disappointed, the message is clear: open-play performance was elite, but defensive set-piece structure broke down. Three goals conceded from corners is a recurring problem at the highest level, and Gasperini's public acknowledgment suggests it will dominate Roma's training focus in the coming days. For Roma supporters, the takeaway is that the ceiling looks high under Gasperini — but the margins against top opposition are decided in the details of dead-ball defending.
Roma's defensive vulnerability from corners is a documented concern that opponents will target, while the strong open-play display reinforces Gasperini's tactical project.