Matheus Cunha struck twice in three minutes and was then sent off as Manchester United came from two goals down against Roma at Old Trafford.
UEFA Champions League · League Stage – 4 · 3 Nov 2026
Manchester United3 – 2AS Roma
Bruno Fernandes 58′ (pen)
Matheus Cunha 83′
Matheus Cunha 86′Matias Soulé 11′
Donyell Malen 17′ (pen)
Half-time 0–2 · Venue: Old Trafford · Referee: Jesus Gil Manzano
Manchester United beat Roma 3-2 on Tuesday night in the fourth round of the Champions League league stage, overturning a half-time deficit of 0-2 for their first win in six matches in all competitions.
The victory also ended a three-game losing run for Carrick’s side, who had been beaten by Como, Bournemouth and Chelsea before this meeting at Old Trafford.
Soulé and Malen give Gasperini’s side a two-goal cushion
Roma were ahead after 11 minutes. Rodrigo Mora supplied the pass and Soulé finished it off. Six minutes later Malen converted a penalty to double the lead.
Referee Jesus Gil Manzano was kept busy before the break. Soulé and Bruno Fernandes were both booked for arguing in the 20th minute, Lulli was cautioned for handball on 35 minutes and Malen went into the book for a foul in the 42nd.
Mora played only the first half but still created 3 chances, earning a rating of 7.39, the best among the Roma players.
Matheus Cunha turns it round in three minutes
The recovery began in the 58th minute, when Bruno Fernandes scored from the spot following a VAR review. He finished the night with 5 key passes.
Heaven and Maguire were both shown yellow cards for fouls, in the 70th and 78th minutes respectively. Then came the decisive spell. Matheus Cunha equalised on 83 minutes and struck again three minutes later, this time set up by Lacey, who was on the pitch for 15 minutes.
The Brazilian’s evening did not end quietly. He was booked in the 87th minute and shown a red card in the first minute of stoppage time, leaving United to see out the win with ten men. His rating of 8.39 was still the highest on the pitch.
Over the 90 minutes the hosts had the better of the chances. United took 15 shots to Roma’s 7, produced expected goals of 2.78 against 1.66 and had 52% of the ball.
Roma’s five-match unbeaten run ends at Old Trafford
Defeat was Roma’s first in six games. Gasperini’s team arrived on the back of four wins and a draw, including a 5-2 victory over Udinese, a 4-2 success against Cagliari and a 3-3 draw with Napoli.
The scoreline had a familiar ring. When the clubs last met, in the Europa League in 2021, United won 6-2 at Old Trafford before Roma took the return leg 3-2 in Rome. This time the 3-2 went the English side’s way.
Roma return to Serie A at home to Sassuolo on Saturday 7 November. United, without the suspended Matheus Cunha’s contribution in Europe for now, host Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday 8 November.
Read also: Mora and Malen strike late as Roma beat Cagliari 4-2 at the Olimpico
