On a chilly Roman evening at the Stadio Olimpico, the Coppa Italia round of 16 delivered a dramatic and youthful spectacle as Roma fell 3-2 to Torino, ending their cup run in a match packed with twists, emerging talents, and a late heartbreak. The Giallorossi, led by Gian Piero Gasperini, fielded a heavily rotated lineup and showcased the promise of their next generation, but ultimately couldn’t overcome a clinical Torino side determined to make their mark.
Roma’s cup campaign, their first of the 2025-26 season, began with a bold selection. Leon Bailey, making just his second start for the club, joined Matias Soule and Stephan El Shaarawy in an unorthodox front three. Injuries to Evan Ferguson and Artem Dovbyk, plus the decision to rest Paulo Dybala, forced Gasperini’s hand. The backline saw further reshuffling: Gianluca Mancini and Mario Hermoso were initially rested, with Jan Ziolkowski and Zeki Celik stepping in, while Daniele Ghilardi anchored the defense as Evan Ndicka was away on AFCON duty. Bryan Cristante replaced Manu Kone in midfield, partnering Nicolo Pisilli, and Wesley returned at wing-back in place of Kostas Tsimikas.
Torino, meanwhile, made fewer changes but crucial ones. Giovanni Simeone and Ché Adams returned to the Granata attack, replacing Duvan Zapata and Cyril Ngonge. The visitors’ lineup featured Paleari in goal, a back three of Tameze, Ismajli, and Coco, and a midfield quintet marshaled by Lazaro, Ilkhan, Gineitis, Vlasic, and Aboukhlal. Adams and Simeone spearheaded the offense, with the clear intent to trouble Roma’s makeshift defense.
The stakes were high: the winner would earn a coveted quarterfinal clash against Serie A leaders Inter in February. From the opening whistle at 20:00 GMT, both sides played with urgency, but it was Torino who struck first. In the 35th minute, Ché Adams collected the ball 25 yards from goal and unleashed a shot that took a slight deflection off Ziolkowski, nestling into the bottom corner to put Torino ahead. Roma’s attempts to respond before the break were stifled, and the halftime whistle saw the visitors leading 1-0.
Gasperini wasted no time making adjustments. At the interval, Mario Hermoso and Evan Ndicka were introduced for Ziolkowski and Rensch, signaling a renewed defensive intent. The change paid immediate dividends: barely 30 seconds into the second half, Bailey surged forward and fed Hermoso on the overlap. The Spanish center-back finished with the composure of a seasoned striker, driving the ball into the bottom corner to level the score at 1-1. The Olimpico erupted—was this the turning point?
Torino, however, refused to wilt. Just six minutes later, Tameze’s cross from the right took a deflection and fell kindly to Nikola Vlasic, who deftly laid it off for Adams. The Scottish international made no mistake, slotting home his second of the night and restoring Torino’s lead at 2-1. Roma, undeterred, pressed forward. Gasperini brought on Kone and Dybala in the 57th minute for Pisilli and Soule, injecting fresh creativity and experience into the side.
The match became a frenetic contest, with both teams trading blows. El Shaarawy saw a golden chance go begging after a brilliant cross from Rensch, and Torino’s defense was forced into last-ditch challenges to keep Roma at bay. The Giallorossi’s youthful exuberance was evident, but so too were their nerves. Bailey, lively throughout, played out of position but still managed to trouble the Torino backline, drawing a yellow card from Aboukhlal for a counter-attack foul and nearly breaking through on goal himself.
As the clock ticked down, Roma’s persistence was rewarded. In the 81st minute, 16-year-old Antonio Arena—making his senior debut—latched onto a cross from Wesley and finished with remarkable poise to bring Roma level at 2-2. The home crowd roared for the teenager, whose composure belied his age and whose goal seemed destined to send the tie to extra time.
But football’s scriptwriters had other ideas. In the dying moments, Torino won a corner. As the ball was whipped in, a lapse in Roma’s marking proved costly. The visitors capitalized, snatching a dramatic winner in the 90th minute, breaking Giallorossi hearts and sealing a 3-2 victory. The goal, coming from a set piece, left Gasperini and his players crestfallen—so close to forcing penalties, yet undone at the last.
After the match, Gasperini reflected with a mix of pride and disappointment. “I saw a lot of good things; the boys came back twice. We rotated the squad a lot; there were chances even with Arena, and we could have won. The goal conceded from a corner leaves us disappointed; we thought we were going to penalties,” he told Sport Mediaset. Yet, the manager’s focus quickly turned to the positives, especially the emergence of Arena. “He’s incredibly competitive, has tons of strength, and is fearless. He also plays for the national team’s youth teams. We’re talking about very young players, and that should be the principle. It’s not true that I’m disappointed; I’m very satisfied. I’m disappointed by the goal we conceded in the 90th minute, otherwise it would have been a positive match for the spirit shown on the pitch and for these young players.”
Gasperini also highlighted the club’s long-term vision, referencing the recent signing of Robinio Vaz, who was present in the stands. “It’s part of the vision of a team that thinks from a long-term perspective. There’s a very long-term project here.” He emphasized that the team’s competitive spirit and willingness to trust youth would serve Roma well, even as they balanced immediate ambitions with player development. “If the goal is to develop the players, that’s fine, as long as it’s clear and we also let the 16-year-olds and the Primavera players play.”
The defeat ends Roma’s Coppa Italia journey for this season, but the night offered a tantalizing glimpse of the future. Arena’s debut goal, Bailey’s energetic display out of position, and the resilience shown by a rotated squad all provide reasons for optimism. Torino, meanwhile, march on to face Inter in the quarterfinals, buoyed by Adams’s brace and a gritty, opportunistic performance.
As the dust settles, Roma’s young guns can hold their heads high. The cup dream may be over, but for Gasperini and his emerging talents, the journey is just beginning.
