Rensch and Malen Save Roma in One of the Season’s Wildest Finishes

PARMA, ITALY - MAY 10: AS Roma player Donyell Malen celebrates during the Serie A match between Parma Calcio 1913 and AS Roma at Stadio Ennio Tardini on May 10, 2026 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Luciano Rossi/AS Roma via Getty Images) | AS Roma via Getty Images Thanks to consecutive victories over Bologna and Fiorentina (plus a little help from the table), Gian Piero Gasperini and Roma have thrust themselves back into the Champions League conversation. Entering today’s Round 36 fixture against Parma one point behind 4th-place Juventus and two points ahead of 6th-place Como, Roma had only one objective: victory.

With a starting lineup featuring Matías Soulé, Paulo Dybala, and the league’s hottest striker, Donyell Malen, Roma was well-prepared to repeat last week’s four-nil shellacking of Fiorentina. While Parma was slightly better on the table than the Viola, with a -18 goal differential, they stood little chance of slowing down Malen and the Giallorossi. While this match may have lacked the fireworks of last week’s four-nil victory, Roma seemed poised to cruise to another three points after Dybala and Malen combined to take the lead in the 22nd minute.

Donyell Malen runs through on goal and finishes coolly to put Roma ahead 💥 pic. twitter. com/1ZcBbM2rW3 — CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 10, 2026 After such a fluid goal, featuring a first-time assist from Dybala and an expertly placed finish by Malen, the smart money suggested Roma would walk away winners without breaking a sweat.

And while they weren’t able to compound Parma’s misery, they kept the Crusaders under their thumb, controlling the rest of the half and heading into the break with a one-goal lead. But the ensuing 45 minutes were among the craziest we’ve seen in several years. While another laugher wasn’t in store, Roma seemed poised to double their tally, park the bus, and head home with three points; a relatively safe assumption that was rendered moot almost immediately.