Malen Faces Former Club Manchester United Tuesday
Roma striker Donyell Malen meets Manchester United at Old Trafford in Champions League action on Tuesday.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Soccer
Roma forward Donyell Malen is set to face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Tuesday in the Champions League. Malen joined Roma from Aston Villa at the turn of the year and has scored 11 goals in 12 games this season.
Why it matters
Manchester United, still without a win in nine games, is looking to recover after a 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como. Malen's scoring form makes him a key threat for the Italian side.
Malen has 11 goals in 12 games this season and scored 15 in 20 appearances on loan last term, while Roma triggered his buy option for around £21 million. Malen's availability for Tuesday's match is not confirmed.
The players
Donyell Malen
Dutch forward who has been a prolific scorer for Roma after joining from Aston Villa.
Manchester United
English Premier League club based at Old Trafford in Manchester, one of the most storied teams in English football.
The details
Roma opted to trigger their buy option in the summer, signing Malen permanently after his loan spell. He began the season with a Serie A hat-trick against Fiorentina, and Corriere dello Sport reported that Manchester United was among several Premier League clubs interested in him last summer.
Timeline
Summer 2025: Roma triggered Malen's buy option for around £21 million.
Turn of the year: Malen joined Roma from Aston Villa.
Tuesday: Roma face Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Champions League.
Season Trajectory
The Champions League league phase places Manchester United's nine-game winless run under added pressure, since a fourth-place finish in the standings is needed to secure a direct knockout berth. Roma, meanwhile, rely on Malen's scoring to keep their own European campaign on track.
Malen's 11 goals in 12 games make him a strong option for fantasy rosters this week. Manchester United's winless run of nine games also gives fans a clear read on how tight their Champions League standing is.
The takeaway
Malen's form has turned a permanent Roma move into a strong early return, and Tuesday's match will test whether he can keep scoring against top European opposition. Watch his output in the big games for a clearer picture of his value.
What happens next
Roma face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Tuesday in the Champions League.
Further reading
Follow the latest from across the Soccer section for more context on the Champions League.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Mirror.
