Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini deliberately avoided watching Donyell Malen take a contentious late penalty, as the Giallorossi snatched a dramatic 3-2 victory away at Parma. The win pulled Roma level with Milan in fourth place in Serie A, intensifying the battle for Champions League qualification.
With only two matches left in the season, the race for a top-four finish remains wide open. Roma’s comeback triumph continued on Sunday, while their direct rivals Milan suffered a 3-2 home defeat to Atalanta. Both sides now share the same points tally, separated only by goal difference heading into the final stretch.
Roma’s winning goal arrived deep into stoppage time, scored from the penalty spot by Malen in the 101st minute. The decision sparked strong protests from the home side. Gasperini, visibly nervous, turned his back as the Dutchman prepared to take the kick, but he had already started smiling before the former Aston Villa forward converted the decisive spot-kick.
The penalty was awarded after a VAR review following a tangle between Roma defender Devyne Rensch and Parma’s Sascha Britschgi inside the box. Both players fell to the ground after grappling with each other, and the referee pointed to the spot—a call that Parma coach Carlos Cuesta deemed unjust.
PARMA, ITALY – MAY 10: Gian Piero Gasperini, Head Coach of AS Roma, looks on pose for a team photograph prior to the Serie A match between Parma Calcio 1913 and AS Roma at Stadio Ennio Tardini on May 10, 2026 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
“At Parma, we try to be ourselves and treat people with respect,” said Cuesta after the match. “But sometimes you have to ask why things happen. From 2-1 to 2-3, obvious things occurred, and it’s not just about the penalty area—it’s the entire situation that leaves me feeling this way. They showed disrespect toward us. There were events that heavily influenced the flow of the game. Against Napoli, I was the first to admit it wasn’t a penalty, but today I saw many small things I didn’t like.”
The victory keeps Roma’s Champions League hopes alive, while the controversial spot-kick is set to fuel debate for days to come.
