UCL | Man Utd 3-2 Roma: Another Giallorossi collapse in Europe
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 03: Matheus Cunha of Manchester United scores his team’s third 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 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.
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
— Prime Video Sport UK (@primevideosport) November 3, 2026
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.
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.
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.
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.
Soulé 11 (R), Malen pen 18 (R), Bruno Fernandes pen 58 (M), Matheus Cunha 83, 86 (M)
Sent off: Matheus Cunha 91 (M)
1st half
| 11' |  |
Matìas Soulé (Assist: Rodrigo Mora) | ||
| 17' |  |
Donyell Malen | ||
| Bruno Fernandes |  |
20' | ||
| 20' | Matìas Soulé | |||
| 35' | Emanuele Lulli | |||
| 42' | Donyell Malen |
2nd half
| Bruno Fernandes | 58' | |||
| Ayden Heaven | 70' | |||
| Harry Maguire | 78' | |||
| Matheus Cunha | 83' | |||
| Matheus Cunha (Assist: Shea Lacey) |
86' | |||
| Matheus Cunha | 87' | |||
| Matheus Cunha |  |
90+1' |
MUN
ROM
1
Goalkeeper
26
Defender
75'
2
Defender
5
Defender
88'
15
Defender
8
Midfielder
88'
20
Midfielder
51'
37
Midfielder
16
Attacker
75'
19
Attacker
10
Attacker
32
Goalkeeper
2
Defender
21'
23
Defender
75'
26
Defender
22
Defender
76'
43
Defender
4
Midfielder
15
Midfielder
86
Midfielder
46'
14
Attacker
78'
18
Attacker
11
Attacker
3
Defender
22
Goalkeeper
12
Goalkeeper
41
Defender
17
Midfielder
39
Midfielder
18
Midfielder
51'
6
Defender
75'
31
Attacker
75'
4
Defender
88'
7
Midfielder
88'
20
Defender
3
Defender
70
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