

FolioPitch.com – 08 August 2026 | The Friendly Brighton 3-0 Roma Another defeat for the Giallorossi in the UK marked a disappointing end to Roma’s pre-season tour of the UK. The Italian side suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Premier League opposition Brighton on Saturday afternoon, with goals from Georginio Rutter and Yasin Ayari (x2) sealing the win for the hosts.
This was Roma’s final friendly of their mini pre-season tour of the UK, which also included a surprise 4-1 defeat against Cardiff City and a 4-1 victory over Newport County. The last time Roma and Brighton met came in the 2023-24 Europa League Round of 16, which Roma won 4-1 on aggregate thanks to a 4-0 victory at the Stadio Olimpico in the first leg.
Gian Piero Gasperini named a strong Giallorossi XI on the English South Coast, opting for a front three of Donyell Malen, Paulo Dybala, and Matias Soule. Neil El-Aynaoui partnered Bryan Cristante in midfield with Wesley and Devyne Rensch at wing-back. Summer signings Santiago Castro and Konstantinos Koulierakis were named among the substitutes.
Mile Svilar was called into action to save the first shot on target of the game six minutes in, getting down low to deny Georginio Rutter on his near side. Georginio almost wheeled away celebrating the spectacular 10 minutes in, bending a wicked strike towards the top corner from the edge of the area, which drew a top-tier save from the Giallorossi stopper.
The Friendly Brighton 3-0 Roma Another defeat for the Giallorossi in the UK was a testament to Brighton’s attacking prowess, with Georginio Rutter and Yasin Ayari causing problems for the Roma defense throughout the game. The hosts took the lead in the 29th minute through Georginio, who curled a delightful effort into the upper corner of the net beyond a helpless Svilar.
Defensively, Roma were in a mess for Brighton’s second. Initially, Wesley had done well to match the speedy Yankubah Minteh in a foot race across half the length of the pitch when Brighton broke on the counter, but a combination of him, El-Aynaoui, Cristante, and Gianluca Mancini were all unable to stop Ayari from poking the ball home for 2-0.
The Friendly Brighton 3-0 Roma Another defeat for the Giallorossi in the UK continued to go from bad to worse for Roma, with Brighton adding their third of the afternoon just three minutes into the second half. The two previous goalscorers combined as Georginio squared to Ayari in the area to convert past Svilar.
The Friendly Brighton 3-0 Roma Another defeat for the Giallorossi in the UK marked a disappointing end to Roma’s pre-season tour of the UK, with the Italian side suffering two defeats in three games. Despite the disappointing result, Gasperini will be looking to take positives from the game and work on improving his team’s defense ahead of the new season.
In conclusion, the Friendly Brighton 3-0 Roma Another defeat for the Giallorossi in the UK was a disappointing result for Roma, but it also highlighted the team’s areas for improvement. With the new season just around the corner, Gasperini will be looking to shore up his team’s defense and get his players ready for the challenges that lie ahead.
You know that friend who can spend hours debating campus politics, then turn around and dissect the latest smartphone like a tech reviewer? That’s Sheridan Olubayo Sheridan—a former student activist from Surabaya who’s been juggling social media critiques and gadget obsessions since 2009, often in the same breath.
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website and to comply with privacy regulations (GDPR). By continuing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.