Pisilli and Mora lead Gasperini's young Roma comeback against Cagliari

Roma have scored more late goals than almost anyone in Serie A this season, with only Inter having a better record in the closing stages of matches. Their latest late surge came against Cagliari, where Rodrigo Mora and Malen struck in the final five minutes. Roma have now scored seven goals after the 75th minute in nine league matches, two fewer than Inter, who beat the Giallorossi yesterday. The pattern marks a clear change from last season. Writing in Il Tempo, Lorenzo Pes noted that Gasperini's first Roma side struggled badly to overturn results and often lost games once they fell behind. This season's team attacks with order even when little time remains, and it has shown a hunger for major targets. The comeback at Napoli was followed by another late strike against Cagliari, and the squad has rallied in the closing stages of several games. Gasperini can now draw on important options from the bench, and the numbers show that substitutes have often decided matches. Two of the late goals came against Cagliari from Mora and Malen. Balerdi made the difference at Napoli, Soulé did so against Atalanta, and Pisilli did so in the first matchday against Fiorentina.

Roma's win over Cagliari has underlined how central the club's young players have become to Gian Piero Gasperini's project. The Giallorossi rely confidently on their Under-23 players, who have made decisive contributions at key moments of matches, as shown by the performances and goals of those who came through the youth sector and have been developed by the coach. Among the positives is the steady progress of Emanuele Lulli, who recently renewed his contract until 2031. The 2005-born defender scored his second consecutive league goal in front of the Curva Sud, and has established himself as a valuable asset and an important presence in the rotation. Alongside him, Niccolò Pisilli has become a consolidated certainty in midfield, combining consistent performances with a nose for goals. According to Il Tempo, the Olimpico clash was also the night of breakthrough for Rodrigo Mora. The 19-year-old Portuguese, who was initially greeted with scepticism over his market valuation, unlocked the match by scoring his first goal in front of the Roma crowd. Gasperini himself praised the young Portuguese's technical qualities after the game, stressing that his imagination is a fundamental factor for the season. The young group is completed by the gradual integration of players such as Koulierakis and Castro, who are asked to provide valid alternatives in a squad that blends the freshness of the youth ranks with the maturity of the senior players. For Gasperini's Roma, young players are no longer just a future prospect but a solid reality capable of making the difference.

Rodrigo Mora has taken off, and the Portuguese forward is now looking to take Roma by the hand. His goal against Cagliari was decisive in a heavy Roma win and has changed the outlook on his future at the club. He arrived on 19 August, when Roma invested 50 million euros in him (25 million up front and another 25 million the following year, with the option of a 50% share in any future resale), making him the most expensive signing in the club's history. Mora left Portugal and Porto, the club that had nurtured him for a long time, for the first time in his life. Andrea Pugliese, writing in La Gazzetta dello Sport, reports that many expected to see Mora start against Cagliari, but Gasperini preferred again to field three midfielders, with Pisilli deployed high alongside Soulé. Mora therefore began on the bench on Tuesday and came on early in the second half. Gasperini had publicly defended him and praised him often before the Cagliari match, but privately he had hoped for a different signal, a reaction. Mora scored with a header despite standing just 168 centimetres tall. Roma now travel to Udine, and Gasperini will need him again. Dybala will still be out, the three-midfielder system is not yet a viable option, and De Roon is clearly declining. That leaves Mora and Soulé as the only available attacking midfielders for Gasperini. Mora's margin for improvement is wide, perhaps as wide as the expectations placed on him.

Roma's win over Cagliari has underlined how central the club's young players have become to Gian Piero Gasperini's project. The Giallorossi rely confidently on their Under-23 players, who have made decisive contributions at key moments of matches, as shown by the performances and goals of those who came through the youth sector and have been developed by the coach. Among the positives is the steady progress of Emanuele Lulli, who recently renewed his contract until 2031. The 2005-born defender scored his second consecutive league goal in front of the Curva Sud, and has established himself as a valuable asset and an important presence in the rotation. Alongside him, Niccolò Pisilli has become a consolidated certainty in midfield, combining consistent performances with a nose for goals. According to Il Tempo, the Olimpico clash was also the night of breakthrough for Rodrigo Mora. The 19-year-old Portuguese, who was initially greeted with scepticism over his market valuation, unlocked the match by scoring his first goal in front of the Roma crowd. Gasperini himself praised the young Portuguese's technical qualities after the game, stressing that his imagination is a fundamental factor for the season. The young group is completed by the gradual integration of players such as Koulierakis and Castro, who are asked to provide valid alternatives in a squad that blends the freshness of the youth ranks with the maturity of the senior players. For Gasperini's Roma, young players are no longer just a future prospect but a solid reality capable of making the difference.

Pierluigi Gollini has won over head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and the Roma fanbase since taking over the goal after Mile Svilar suffered a foot fracture in early October. Across six matches, the 31-year-old has eased the doubts that surrounded his return to a starting role. Roma had not expected much from a goalkeeper who had not played regularly for more than two years, but Gollini has responded on the pitch. His early reliability came in Como, where Roma held on while down to ten men. His performance against Cagliari is considered his best in the giallorossi shirt so far. On Tuesday evening, with Roma struggling to contain the Sardinians, Gollini kept the team in the game with a series of decisive saves. He stopped Adopo's effort, then Deiola's long-range shot, then denied Mendy and Trepy. Roma won 4-2, and without him the score could have told a very different story. Gollini and Lulli were named the best players on the pitch, and Gasperini praised his goalkeeper as "strepitoso". The relationship between the two men has a history. Gollini and Gasperini clashed during their time together at Atalanta, where disagreements contributed to the goalkeeper's departure from Bergamo, so reuniting in Rome seemed almost like a twist of fate. Gasperini said that Gollini has grown considerably since those years, when he was more exuberant and less willing to work at improving himself. "Abbiamo rimesso un po' di puntini a posto," the coach admitted, adding that he had never doubted his technical qualities. Gollini is now described as a more mature goalkeeper, more aware of his abilities and his responsibilities. He will soon become a father, according to Gazzetta dello Sport, which reports that his personal life has also found new balance. At Atalanta he had reached the Nazionale and played in the Champions League as a key figure, and the problem was sustaining that level. He now appears to have found the right path again. This development also changes the outlook for Svilar's recovery. The Belgian remains Roma's first-choice goalkeeper and one of the best in Serie A, but his return no longer has to be a race against time. Tests scheduled for today will establish whether he can be available for the Champions League trip to Manchester United. Gasperini now has a reliable alternative, which allows Svilar to recover without the pressure of an emergency. The article raises the idea of giving Gollini the goal in the Coppa Italia, which would let Svilar manage his energy and keep Gollini in regular competitive football. Gasperini has not announced this choice, but the option is being considered in light of Gollini's recent displays.

Roma have scored 23 goals so far this season, more than double the 10 they managed over the same period last year, and 12 different players have found the net across all competitions. Corriere della Sera reports that the side under Gian Piero Gasperini has raised its attacking output considerably. Donyell Malen is the focal point of the attack. The Dutch forward has scored 10 goals in 11 appearances this season and has also provided 6 assists in 31 appearances in total. Roma's real strength, however, lies in the variety of its options and the involvement of the whole squad. The goals have come from strikers, defenders and midfielders alike. Pisilli has scored 4 goals, matching his tally from last season. Other scorers include Hermoso, Balerdi, Lulli and Koné. Gasperini's side is constantly evolving, combining the finishing of its main striker with a strong collective approach in play.

Roma have scored more late goals than almost anyone in Serie A this season, with only Inter having a better record in the closing stages of matches. Their latest late surge came against Cagliari, where Rodrigo Mora and Malen struck in the final five minutes. Roma have now scored seven goals after the 75th minute in nine league matches, two fewer than Inter, who beat the Giallorossi yesterday. The pattern marks a clear change from last season. Writing in Il Tempo, Lorenzo Pes noted that Gasperini's first Roma side struggled badly to overturn results and often lost games once they fell behind. This season's team attacks with order even when little time remains, and it has shown a hunger for major targets. The comeback at Napoli was followed by another late strike against Cagliari, and the squad has rallied in the closing stages of several games. Gasperini can now draw on important options from the bench, and the numbers show that substitutes have often decided matches. Two of the late goals came against Cagliari from Mora and Malen. Balerdi made the difference at Napoli, Soulé did so against Atalanta, and Pisilli did so in the first matchday against Fiorentina.

Roma's win over Cagliari has underlined how central the club's young players have become to Gian Piero Gasperini's project. The Giallorossi rely confidently on their Under-23 players, who have made decisive contributions at key moments of matches, as shown by the performances and goals of those who came through the youth sector and have been developed by the coach. Among the positives is the steady progress of Emanuele Lulli, who recently renewed his contract until 2031. The 2005-born defender scored his second consecutive league goal in front of the Curva Sud, and has established himself as a valuable asset and an important presence in the rotation. Alongside him, Niccolò Pisilli has become a consolidated certainty in midfield, combining consistent performances with a nose for goals. According to Il Tempo, the Olimpico clash was also the night of breakthrough for Rodrigo Mora. The 19-year-old Portuguese, who was initially greeted with scepticism over his market valuation, unlocked the match by scoring his first goal in front of the Roma crowd. Gasperini himself praised the young Portuguese's technical qualities after the game, stressing that his imagination is a fundamental factor for the season. The young group is completed by the gradual integration of players such as Koulierakis and Castro, who are asked to provide valid alternatives in a squad that blends the freshness of the youth ranks with the maturity of the senior players. For Gasperini's Roma, young players are no longer just a future prospect but a solid reality capable of making the difference.

Rodrigo Mora has taken off, and the Portuguese forward is now looking to take Roma by the hand. His goal against Cagliari was decisive in a heavy Roma win and has changed the outlook on his future at the club. He arrived on 19 August, when Roma invested 50 million euros in him (25 million up front and another 25 million the following year, with the option of a 50% share in any future resale), making him the most expensive signing in the club's history. Mora left Portugal and Porto, the club that had nurtured him for a long time, for the first time in his life. Andrea Pugliese, writing in La Gazzetta dello Sport, reports that many expected to see Mora start against Cagliari, but Gasperini preferred again to field three midfielders, with Pisilli deployed high alongside Soulé. Mora therefore began on the bench on Tuesday and came on early in the second half. Gasperini had publicly defended him and praised him often before the Cagliari match, but privately he had hoped for a different signal, a reaction. Mora scored with a header despite standing just 168 centimetres tall. Roma now travel to Udine, and Gasperini will need him again. Dybala will still be out, the three-midfielder system is not yet a viable option, and De Roon is clearly declining. That leaves Mora and Soulé as the only available attacking midfielders for Gasperini. Mora's margin for improvement is wide, perhaps as wide as the expectations placed on him.

Roma's centre-backs have been a major source of goals this season, accounting for almost 25 per cent of the club's total across all competitions, despite some recent lapses in league and cup outings. Gasperini's defenders have scored 31 goals in twelve matches in all competitions, making them a decisive attacking weapon as well as a source of solidity. Leonardo Balerdi scored a decisive brace at the Maradona, while young Ghilardi has quickly established himself as a valid alternative and has been a starter in recent games. Ndicka, Mancini and Hermoso also feature in the rotation, with Hermoso sidelined only by a physical complaint. The injury picture remains important ahead of a congested run of fixtures, with Udinese and the Champions League coming up in quick succession. Mile Svilar is ready to return from his finger injury, but while he works to regain his best form, Pierluigi Gollini will keep goal for the trip to Friuli. Paulo Dybala has no chance of a quick return. The Argentine forward suffered a new setback caused by an oedema that revealed a calf lesion, forcing him to miss the Champions League match against Manchester United at Old Trafford. The medical staff do not want to take any risks, and have set his target for a return to action for the Serie A match against Sassuolo.

Roma have lost their place as the best defence in Europe's top five leagues and in Serie A, after conceding three goals at Napoli and two against Cagliari. Yet the back line remains the team's most reliable unit and its main source of solutions, with all six centre-backs largely available throughout the season. Gian Piero Gasperini's starters are Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso, who have played 793, 807 and 727 minutes respectively across Serie A and the Champions League. Daniele Aloisi, writing in Il Messaggero, highlights the backups too. Balerdi has become a fixed point in a matter of weeks, with 468 minutes played and a decisive brace at the Maradona. He missed the last match after a knock suffered on Saturday, but he will be available for the trip to Udine. Balerdi said: "It feels like I've been here for two or three years," adding that he hopes to stay for as long as possible. His buyout clause is close to being triggered. If he plays 55% of matches (at least 45 minutes each), it will activate at 14 million, while playing between 40% and 55% would lower the figure by three million. Ghilardi has improved the most compared with last season. Last year it took him three months to make his first start, but he is now a valid alternative. Mancini has not made a positive start, and he is responsible for the goal by Maldini. What is most surprising is the attacking contribution of the defenders, with eight goals coming from Gasperini's formidable centre-backs.

Former Roma player Zibi Boniek believes Lazio's strong start to the season is helping to keep Roma sharp, given the rivalry between the two Rome clubs. Roma and Lazio are both sitting high in the table after the opening stretch of the league season, something that has not happened for several years. Speaking to 'Rete Sport', Boniek said: "The stronger Lazio go, the more Roma will maintain their level of concentration to do just as well, given the city rivalry." The Polish former player, a Serie A champion with Roma, praised Lazio's head coach Gattuso: "I adore him, because he is a real person who doesn't hide and says what he thinks: he is a good coach. If he gets too many points he becomes unpleasant (laughs)." On Lazio's play, Boniek added: "Lazio play well. I saw them yesterday against Sassuolo. They are a very fast team that always goes vertical with lots of overlaps, and they don't play any tiki-taka." Turning to Roma, Boniek described a match that looked closed before a late goal from Mora, whom he said had shown little before. "The Portuguese is a player with good individual technique, but his physical structure had not helped him. I hope this goal can raise his level of self-esteem." He said Roma started well but slowed in the second half, believing they could hold on, and conceded to Maldini. The immediate response from the giallorossi, he said, shows that players on the bench can make a difference. He praised Ghilardi for a cross and an overlap, despite playing little. Boniek noted that the first-choice defensive trio is Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso, but said that former Verona player Balerdi is a player of real calibre. He asked whether Mancini might move to the bench for Balerdi, adding that he has almost become the first striker. He also said there is much of Mancini in Pisilli's second goal, with Mancini's pass setting up Lulli, whose cross found Niccolò. On the team selection, Boniek said: "Yesterday he was tricked by Fadera, but I am not sending anyone to the bench. Clearly if there are 20 players of equal level, you have to assess who is tired, but Gasperini does this very well. He then brought on Ghilardi, who passed a decisive ball to Mora." Finally, Boniek spoke about Soulé, a 2003-born player: "He is changing. When you train with a good coach, you improve. He is also more resilient now. Players grow at 26-27, let alone at his age. Yesterday I liked him very much."