Italian media rip into Roma's 'terrible' day at Cardiff City as heated exchange emerges

Cardiff put European giants Roma to the sword in a pre-season friendly on Saturday

Cardiff City's 4-1 demolition of Roma hasn't gone down too well in the Italian media.

The Bluebirds put their illustrious Serie A opponents to the sword in the Welsh capital in a perfect ending to Brian Barry-Murphy's second pre-season in charge.

Cardiff get their domestic season under way against Swindon in the EFL Cup next weekend before welcoming Wrexham to Cardiff City Stadium on Monday, August 17 (8pm). Join the Cardiff City breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community.

Saturday may have been a good performance and day out for Barry-Murphy and Cardiff supporters but back in Italy, Roma's display has been met with the opposite reaction

Under the headline "Conceded 4 goals by Cardiff, Dybala misses a penalty, Cristante and Soulè argue: Roma, a terrible day", Gazzetta dello Sport deemed the trip to south Wales "an afternoon to forget - immediately".

"An afternoon to forget," their report began.

"Immediately. Because after the disappointing 3-3 draw with Cannes (French Serie C), Roma suffered a 4-1 defeat in Cardiff against a newly promoted team from the Championship (English Serie B). Still reeling and on their feet, Gasperini's team barely got into the game.

"Meanwhile, Cardiff (further along in preparation, playing in the League Cup in a week) proved fresher and more responsive. Tanner sliced Hermoso to pieces on the right flank, and Cristante in midfield was never able to contain Ashford."

The paper went on to state that Roma's players only attempted to react to their poor start "when they felt they were being mocked, with the home crowd cheering every Welsh pass".

But it was after the fourth goal that the Italians really began to show the strain, Gazzetta added, with an argument breaking out on the pitch and some heated words exchanged.

"And that's when the Giallorossi's nerves also flared, with Cristante and Soulé arguing and Dybala then getting in the way, amidst pushing and a few too many 'f*** yous'. Then, in the final minutes, Ghilardi's header hit the post."

Football Italia wrote that "the worst news was not the result, but the sight of midfielder Bah being stretchered off the field utterly distraught.

"He was just returning from an anterior cruciate ligament injury, went into a challenge and crumpled to the ground clutching his right knee."

Corriere dello Sport reacted by stating: "Roma's first match in Wales wasn't a good one, having started the second phase of their summer preparations with a defeat.

"The Giallorossi were defeated by Cardiff City, the English EFL Championship side that scored four goals. After a 3-3 draw in their last "family" friendly against Cannes in France, Gasperini's team struggled again today despite Castro's starting debut and the arrival of Koulierakis at Ciampino."

Tuttosport, meanwhile, wrote of "a shock in Wales" in their match report headline.

"Roma suffered a heavy defeat in their fourth pre-season friendly, their first since their training camp in Wales. Gian Piero Gasperini's team lost 4-1 to Cardiff, a team that plays in the Championship, the second tier of English football."

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