AS Roma Analysis

Fabio Capello has said Inter remain the favourites for the Serie A title, while admitting he enjoys seeing both Rome and Milan at the top of the table. The former Roma manager spoke in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport. "I have always argued that Inter were the favourites, the best-equipped squad for the Scudetto, and at the moment I have no reasons to convince me otherwise. Seeing all of Milan and all of Rome up there, however, pleases me and takes me back to my past," Capello said. Capello also compared Roma with AC Milan, and he gave Gian Piero Gasperini's side the edge. "I see Roma in better shape, because they have an established way of playing, while the Rossoneri are still searching for their definitive identity. It is not a criticism: Gasperini has been working with his players for a year, while Amorim has only just arrived, and the difference on the pitch is noticeable." His comments point to the advantage of continuity at the Giallorossi, with Gasperini's methods now bedded in across the squad. For Roma, the praise from a former coach who knows the club well is a boost as the side keeps pace with the leaders. Capello's view is that the team are playing well, even though Inter are still the team he expects to win the title.

Several Roman radio pundits have weighed in on Roma's forward options ahead of the match against Cagliari, with former striker Roberto Pruzzo calling for a new attacker in January to replace Rodrigo Mora. Francesco Balzani of Teleradiostereo said he has long admired Matías Soulé, though he was disappointed by the Argentine last year. He said Soulé is now making the step he had hoped for, and added: "Sta concludendo un mese incredibile. Sarà la serata di Mora? Mi auguro di sì." Balzani said that if Soulé can produce around 15 or 20 matches like his display against Napoli by the end of the season, he will become the player he had hoped for. He added: "Poi non è l'ultima spiaggia perché è un ragazzo giovane, però è una chance importante. Questa dev'essere la partita in cui fa vedere qualcosa in più." Balzani was not sure Donyell Malen would start and said Santiago Castro could play instead. He pointed to a busy schedule ahead, with Udine, Manchester and Sassuolo still to come, saying: "devi capire qual è la sfida in cui puoi far riposare qualcuno e credo che questa sia la più adatta." Roma therefore need to pick the right game to rest players, and Balzani believes this fixture is the right one. Pruzzo said Cagliari are in freefall and in difficulty, and that Roma must take advantage. "È importante trovare i tre punti e con la qualità dei giocatori può farcela," he said. He also stressed that Roma must start picking up points in the Champions League against Manchester United. "La Roma a gennaio deve prendere un attaccante al posto di Mora." Piero Torri of Radio Manà Manà said Roma are in the sixth match of a run of nine and he feared the physical and mental fatigue of the previous games could be felt. "La Roma deve vincere per continuare ad aggiungere consapevolezza ed autostima e spero ci riesca senza faticare troppo."

Former Roma boss Fabio Capello has said it is pleasing to see Milan and Roma near the top of Serie A, a sight that takes him back to his own past. Speaking to the Gazzetta dello Sport, the 2001 Serie A champion analysed the early form of the title contenders and reflected on the return of the capital's and Milan's clubs to the summit. "Seeing all of Milan and all of Rome up there pleases me, and it takes me back to my past," said the coach, who has managed the giallorossi as well as Milan and Juventus. Capello still considers Inter the favourites, currently top of the table alongside Lazio. "I have always argued that they were the favourites, the best-equipped squad for the Scudetto, and at the moment I have no reasons to convince me otherwise." He also praised Lazio, who have won seven of their first eight matches, and singled out the work of Gennaro Gattuso, whom he credited with building a team that is solid, vertical and not prone to needless complications in possession. Roma and Milan sit four points further back, level in third place. Asked to compare the two, Capello had no doubts: "I see Roma in better shape, because they have a game that is already tested." He attributed that preference mainly to the continuity of Gian Piero Gasperini's work, in his second season in charge of the giallorossi, compared with Rúben Amorim, who joined Milan only in the summer. In Capello's view, the rossoneri are still searching for a definitive identity, while Roma can already count on established mechanisms and a recognisable organisation of play. Capello has voiced confidence in Gasperini's project before. In the first weeks of the season he had named Roma as one of the main alternatives to Inter in the title race. Roma's subsequent form, despite some setbacks, appears to have strengthened that conviction. Seeing the two great cities of Italian football back in the fight at the top, he added, brings him back to the great Scudetto battles he lived through first-hand.

Rodrigo Mora has a chance to make his mark against Cagliari, with Pellegrini out and Dybala likely to be limited to a place on the bench. Il Messaggero's Stefano Carina writes that Mora has been under constant scrutiny since arriving in the Capital. Those who defend him praise even a simple pass of three metres, portraying him as a prodigy when he still has everything left to prove. The other side of the coin is that he arrived with the tag of a 50 million signing, when in reality he cost half that, and nothing is forgiven him. Carina believes Mora feels and carries the weight of that situation. When he steps onto the pitch he is never at ease. Against Genoa he seemed to be playing with a desire to prove he is good, a mistake because he is good, with the technique of a futsal player. The underlying problem is tactical positioning. Beyond the flights of fancy, Mora is a pure trequartista: he can roam across the whole attacking line, but he is the man for the final pass and needs to touch and play as many balls as possible. Roma, however, currently play in a different way, and the Portuguese is forced to adapt, almost always finishing on the left. Carina argues that at 19 a player can be tactically moulded, but basic characteristics remain. Soulé is an example: he can play on the left when Dybala is available but is seen on the right, as in Naples, and it becomes clear how much he loses when shifted wide. Mora's situation is similar. With a low base position, he tried to adapt in his first outings, although he often becomes unmarkable on the first dribble.

Roma are among four Serie A sides still unbeaten after the first eight rounds of the 2026-27 season, a record that statistics show has never happened before in the competition's history. Inter, Lazio, Roma and Milan have all reached the eighth matchday without a defeat, with the figures showing it is the first time in Serie A history that these four clubs have done so at the same time. The start reflects the balance at the top of the table, with Gian Piero Gasperini's side among the main protagonists. The four teams have got there in different ways. Inter and Lazio have won seven matches and drawn one, collecting 22 points from the 24 available. Roma and Milan have won five and drawn three, with 18 points each. Neither Roma nor Milan has lost a match in the first eight rounds. The article also links to a separate story in which Gasperini responded to comments by Allegri, saying: "Allegri made an unfortunate statement, there is nothing in favour of his remarks."

Roma host Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday in midweek Serie A action, with both sides looking to bounce back from disappointing weekend results. Roma came from two goals down to draw 3-3 with Napoli at the Maradona Stadium on Saturday, while Cagliari lost 2-0 at home to Bologna. Gian Piero Gasperini's side remain unbeaten in Serie A (W5, D3) and have avoided defeat in their first eight league matches of the season for the first time since 2013/14. However, a third draw in their last four league outings has left the Giallorossi four points behind joint leaders Inter and Lazio. Roma are vying for their first Scudetto since the beginning of the century and will be desperate to return to winning ways against a Cagliari side they have enjoyed plenty of success against at the Olimpico lately. Fabio Pisacane's team face a stern test. Cagliari have suffered nine defeats in their last 11 league visits to Rome (D2) and have not scored in any of their four away league meetings with Roma since 2022 (L4), including a 2-0 defeat in the corresponding fixture last season. Bologna's win condemned Cagliari to back-to-back league defeats for the first time since April, and the Sardinians have slipped to mid-table after a promising five-game start (W4, L1). They are winless in three consecutive league games (D1, L2), following a 4-0 defeat at Monza on their last Serie A trip. Their defence has also struggled: after conceding just twice in the opening five rounds, they have let in seven goals in their last three league outings. Cagliari last beat Roma at the Olimpico in February 2013. Roma have been strong at home, winning three of their four home league matches in 2026/27 (D1) and scoring at least two goals on each occasion. They have lost only one of their last 11 home games in all competitions (W8, D2), the exception being a 4-3 defeat to Real Madrid in this season's Champions League. The Giallorossi have won six of their last seven Tuesday Serie A fixtures (L1) and have netted two or more goals in eight consecutive home outings. That feat has been managed in three of their last five home clashes against Cagliari. Gasperini's attacking football has not come at the expense of defensive stability, as Roma have conceded just one first-half goal in Serie A this season and have opened the scoring in 63% of their league matches. Cagliari have been much more impressive away from home, with three wins from four league games on the road (L1), just one shy of the four road victories they recorded in the whole of the 2025/26 season. Maintaining that form would significantly boost their chances of a first top-half finish in Serie A since 2008/06. Bryan Cristante has returned from injury at a good time for Roma, giving the team a major midfield boost, as Gasperini cannot call upon Lorenzo Pellegrini or Manu Kone. First-choice goalkeeper Mile Svilar is also sidelined, but Paulo Dybala could make the bench on Tuesday. For Cagliari, long-term absentees Riyad Idrissi and Mattia Felici remain out. Harry Winks had to come off early against Bologna and is unlikely to start, with veteran Roberto Gagliardini expected to take his place in midfield. Roma (3-4-2-1): Gollini; Balerdi, Ndicka, Koulierakis; Lulli, De Roon, Cristante, Molina; Mora, Soule; Malen. Cagliari (4-3-2-1): Caprile; Ze Pedro, Mina, Rodriguez, Obert; Adopo, Gagliardini, Romano; Fadera, Maldini; Mendy. Roma are the favourites, with the preview predicting a Roma win.

Massimiliano Allegri's post-match accusation that Roma were handed Champions League qualification after the Napoli-Roma game has drawn an angry response from the Giallorossi, and Corriere della Sera reports that the figures from last season refute the claim. Allegri said: "They were handed the Champions League on a plate and I paid for it." The analysis says Milan's failure to qualify for Europe was not caused by alleged refereeing favours for the capital side, but by the rossoneri's poor form at the decisive stage of the campaign. Five matchdays from the end of last season, Milan led Roma by eight points. A vertical collapse over their final ten games, with six defeats, three wins and one draw for an average of 1.0 points per match, cost them the target. In their last four home games at San Siro, Milan took just one point from a possible twelve. A draw in the final round against already-safe Cagliari would have been enough for fourth place, but the home defeat allowed Como to overtake them at the death. The slump prompted Milan's ownership to sack Allegri at the end of the season. The data also undermine his defence: across his last 18 Serie A matches in charge across both spells, Allegri averaged 1.16 points per game, with just four wins and ten defeats in total. For Roma, the row is a reminder of how closely the race for Champions League places was fought last season, when they finished third in Serie A and secured their place in this season's competition. The club's response shows it is unwilling to let the accusation pass without challenge.

Roma's Argentine contingent is taking on an ever-greater role under Gian Piero Gasperini, and the latest proof came in the dramatic comeback at the Maradona, where all three goals were scored by Argentines. Leonardo Balerdi and Matías Soulé have become key figures in the giallorossi side, and Paulo Dybala is set to return to the squad. Balerdi's rise has been the most surprising story. He arrived from Marseille in the final days of August, greeted with little enthusiasm given the doubts that had surrounded his spell in France. Gasperini and sporting director D'Amico nonetheless saw a modern, technical centre-back, quick in recovery, physically strong and with the personality of a leader. Roma took him on loan for around one million euros, with a redemption fee that, according to various press reconstructions, is between 14 and 16 million euros. It is a far less glamorous move than other summer investments, but it risks becoming one of the most successful deals of the window. His performances had already impressed, but his breakthrough came in Naples. Coming off the bench after the break, Balerdi scored first with a left-foot strike and then with a commanding header, earning two draws and stopping Roma from giving up. He does not merely protect his area: he pressures opponents, can play out from the back and is not afraid to join the attack, exactly the kind of defender Gasperini wants for an aggressive defence that plays far from its own goal. His redemption is therefore considered increasingly likely. Soulé, meanwhile, confirms the talent of a player who now appears to have found consistency and maturity. Only a few months ago his future looked far from certain, with a possible sale discussed concretely in the summer and Roma prepared to listen to important offers. The transfer market did not bring a departure, and that stay now seems to carry a completely different meaning. At 23, Soulé is showing clear growth in the consistency of his performances, his ability to make an impact and the personality with which he handles the toughest games. Against Real Madrid, Genoa and Napoli, the Argentine was among Roma's most dangerous players. In the Champions League he served two assists against the Blancos, while at the Maradona he reopened a game that seemed lost with a superb left-foot strike after a exchange with Malen. It is his third league goal, after those scored against Lecce and Atalanta. Beyond the numbers, his growth in possession and in taking responsibility stands out. Soulé no longer lives only on individual flashes: he looks for the decisive pass, takes part in build-up play and carries the weight of the attack on his shoulders. Starting from the right, where he can cut inside onto his left foot, he is becoming one of Gasperini's most valuable weapons. Nahuel Molina and Santiago Castro, who came on in the second half against Napoli alongside Balerdi, also helped change the face of the match with energy, aggression and fresh attacking options. Counting Dybala, that makes five Argentines, and they are giving Roma something beyond technical quality. Molina said after the draw at the Maradona: "Having five in the squad is beautiful, we give our blood, we always want to win even when we start from the bench." Dybala's return is now on the horizon. The Argentine responded positively to the latest tests on the pitch and yesterday resumed training with his teammates after the calf problem suffered against Real Madrid. According to Angelo Mangiante, the Joya will be called up for tomorrow evening's Roma-Cagliari, initially from the bench. His recovery is a valuable boost ahead of the trip to Udine on Saturday and, above all, the Champions League clash at Manchester United on 3 November. Dybala has yet to score this season, but before his injury he was one of the team's main attacking reference points, thanks to his ability to create chances and raise quality in the final thirds. His return also opens tactical possibilities. Gasperini can alternate Dybala and Soulé, manage their energy, or look for solutions that let the two left-footers coexist, adding unpredictability and quality in the final third. Behind them, Balerdi is claiming more space, while Molina and Castro offer important alternatives. This Argentine Roma is no longer just Dybala's: it has become a collective resource built on talent, personality and the grit that stopped the giallorossi from surrendering at the Maradona.

Roma's Argentine contingent is becoming increasingly decisive, with five South American players now providing the emotional force and decisive edge in the Giallorossi's play. While the Italian core of Cristante, Mancini, Pisilli and Pellegrini supplies structure, personality and tactical backbone, the Argentines are described as the team's emotional component and the factor that tips matches. Their performances are increasingly central to Gian Piero Gasperini's tactical plans. Leonardo Balerdi scored a brace in the 3-3 draw with Napoli at the Maradona, while Matías Soulé became more central to Roma's attacking play, scoring the goal that reopened the Napoli contest with a piece of high-class skill. Santiago Castro was decisive in unlocking the match against Genoa and provided the assist for Nahuel Molina's goal against Napoli, and Molina also scored in the European fixture against Slovan Bratislava. Paulo Dybala remains the technical reference point of the attack, capable of lighting up the team and guiding its ambitions. The five players differ in technical characteristics but share a common thread of temperament and determination. When Roma must dig in to find a reaction on the pitch, the contribution of the Argentine players turns suffering into opportunity, bringing quality, pride and tactical substance.

Leonardo Balerdi scored a brace last night, becoming Roma's 12th different goalscorer of the season in just 11 matches across Serie A and the Champions League. In Europe, with the same number of games played, only Brighton, Brentford and Real Sociedad have scored more. Roma's attacking threat, which was missing throughout 2025, now looks almost limitless and allows them to turn around even awkward evenings like last night's. The article draws a comparison between Gian Piero Gasperini's football and the "Total Football" of Rinus Michels, the Dutch coach who built Ajax and the Netherlands side of Cruyff in the 1970s and 1980s. Against Sassuolo-style defensive walls, Gasperini's side includes defenders in the build-up and in attack. At the moment of Wesley's cross for Roma's 3-3 equaliser, only Castro was in the box alongside the two centre-backs, Ghilardi and Balerdi. Goals from Hermoso, Mancini and N'Dicka are regularly part of this approach. Balerdi said after the match: "It is the first time I have scored a brace. The coach is teaching me to get forward like Mancini and Hermoso do, he gives me this freedom to push on and get closer to the opposition goal." The article admits Roma played a first half below their standard, conceding space, quick counterattacks and showing widespread tiredness in midfield, where they usually win many duels. Yet the team showed courage, changes that lifted the level, and a coach in Gasperini who had been criticised only a little over a week earlier for substitutions compared to those of Mourinho, when Bernardo Silva, Endrick and Arda Guler were left out of the starting line-up. A comeback draw away at Napoli is now seen as a missed opportunity, the article argues, a sign of how Gasperini has changed the club's mentality and built total symbiosis with the environment and the fans.

Referee Andrea Colombo booked Napoli defender Marin for a reckless challenge on Roma's Wesley early in the match at the Maradona. The Italian review shows the tackle recalls Donyell Malen's challenge at Como, but is worse, with Marin's studs held even higher than the Dutchman's. Marelli, however, had no doubts about the referee's decision, saying: "Giusto il cartellino giallo" ("The yellow card is right"). Roma go into the fixture determined to keep their title push alive and collect all three points. Gasperini believes his side can do it and wants to beat Allegri again to keep climbing the table. Colombo will be assisted by Bindoni and Rossi M., with Sacchi as fourth official. Aureliano is on VAR duty, with Meraviglia as AVAR.

Former striker Andrea Carnevale, who played for both Roma and Napoli, expects Roma to win at the Maradona when they face Napoli, coached by Max Allegri, at 18:00 in a big match that could carry weight in the race for the top. Carnevale told Gazzetta dello Sport: "La vincerà la Roma, ha qualcosa in più" ("Roma will win it, they have something extra"). Roma go into the fixture as favourites in his view, with Gian Piero Gasperini's side looking to take three points and send a message to the league. Carnevale also looked back at Roma's Champions League clash with Real Madrid, which Roma lost after leading 3-1. He said: "La scorsa settimana ho seguito la sfida dal divano, che partitone. E che grande delusione negli ultimi minuti... È stata spettacolare, peccato averla persa dopo essere stati avanti 3-1: probabilmente neanche i giocatori stessi se lo aspettavano. Però la Champions League è questa cosa qui. E la Roma ne farà tesoro" ("Last week I watched the match from the sofa, what a game. And what a disappointment in the final minutes... It was spectacular, a shame to lose it after being 3-1 up: probably not even the players expected it. But this is the Champions League. And Roma will learn from it"). Carnevale sees Roma among the main rivals to Inter and said: "Darà fastidio a tutti" ("They will be a nuisance for everyone"). Carnevale reserved particular praise for Gasperini, saying: "Attualmente è il miglior allenatore in circolazione. Mi piace tantissimo. È preparato, moderno, ha coraggio, mette in campo una squadra che ti viene sempre ad aggredire alto, fa giocare tanto i difensori. Propone un calcio armonico e bello da vedere" ("He is currently the best coach around. I like him a lot. He is prepared, modern, has courage, puts out a team that always comes to attack you high up the pitch, and plays his defenders a lot. He proposes harmonious and beautiful football to watch").

Former Roma midfielder Gigi Di Biagio, who made 140 appearances for the club and is now in Saudi Arabia, has told La Gazzetta dello Sport that Inter remain the favourites for the Scudetto, while insisting Roma can mount a serious challenge. The interview was given a few hours before Napoli v Roma. Di Biagio, who has also been Italy's U20 and U21 coach and interim head coach of the senior national team, praised Roma's progress this season. He said he had seen a clear improvement in the team compared with last year, and he singled out the squad's depth. "I always say that it is not the starting XI that wins championships, but the 25th man, the bench," he said. "And this year Gasperini certainly has more players he can count on. Roma entertain, dominate their opponents and involve the whole squad. That makes the difference." On the title race, Di Biagio said: "Of course Roma can fight for the Scudetto. However, I have to admit that Inter remain the favourites, and have been for five or six years. If they have not won every title in that period, it is because something happened that should not have. In terms of squad, they have no equals in Italy. That said, as happened with Napoli's Scudetti, if certain dynamics come together, why not? I am very attached to both teams." On the midfield, he acknowledged the impact of Manu Koné's absence. "The emergency is certainly there. But when you put play and mentality at the centre of the project, players who have never played together, like Pisilli and De Roon, can also do well. Koné and Cristante are players of the highest level and they are missed over the long run, but Pisilli is showing he is on that path and has an incredible understanding with the Dutchman." Di Biagio also expressed sympathy over the injury to Lorenzo Pellegrini. "I feel really sorry for him. I have a soft spot for him and I simply do not understand the criticism he has faced over the years. I saw him play brilliantly against Slovan and he could also play in that role in midfield. I hope he returns as soon as possible." Finally, asked whether Gianluca Mancini could be used in midfield after he was tried there in the closing stages against Slovan, Di Biagio offered an anecdote. "Very few people know this, but Mancio was playing in midfield at 16-17 years old. When I coached him in the Under-21s he could also play that role. He has total empathy with Gasperini and he would certainly not refuse, but we are talking about an emergency situation. He is at his best as a proactive and charismatic defender, which he is."

Roma need unconditional trust from the club, the coach and the squad as their title push continues, with a difficult trip to Napoli next on the schedule. Writing in Curva Sud for Il Messaggero, Paolo Liguori says the club's run depends on that faith, with travel, training and fatigue weighing on the squad, and injuries adding to the load for teams also playing in cup competitions. Napoli, coached by Allegri, have just found their form again and want to recover the points they have lost. Roma will be without Dybala and Koné, and the coach will set his side up to win. Malen is considered the best player in Serie A for the month of September. Pellegrini has been injured again just as he had returned to form and looked to have settled into Gasperini's system. Cristante is returning, which is excellent news given the dominant presence of McTominay for Napoli. Liguori argues that the squad's depth has been key. Players who have featured less often have stepped up when called upon, and Roma have shown their value at the right moment. The trip to Napoli is a demanding test, but the depth shown so far gives Roma reason to believe they can keep the chase going.

Napoli v Roma puts Aurelio De Laurentiis and Dan Friedkin face to face, two club owners linked by a love of film and the idea of the club as a family legacy, but very different in their finances and their approach to running a football club. The comparison, written by Marco Iaria in La Gazzetta dello Sport, shows that the pair are not economically comparable. De Laurentiis built his business around cinema before turning to football, while the Texan made most of his fortune elsewhere. Friedkin's main source of wealth is Gulf States Toyota, the exclusive distributor in five American states, which recorded sales of $14.5 billion in 2025. It is one of the most profitable independent Toyota distributors in the world. Those different financial bases are reflected in how the two clubs are run. De Laurentiis imposed self-sufficiency on Napoli from the start. He took over the club in 2004 from the bankruptcy receivership using a €32 million credit line from UniCredit, which the club repaid within three years. Between summer 2020 and December 2025, Friedkin invested €1,060 million in Roma: €199 million to acquire the majority stake from Pallotta, €37 million to buy the remaining shares on the stock market, and €824 million to fund the club's running costs. The accounts have always been in deficit, although the gap has been steadily shrinking. Looking ahead, the new Pietralata stadium has received final authorisation, with its opening scheduled for 2029. De Laurentiis, by contrast, is still behind schedule on his own stadium plans.

Massimiliano Allegri and Gian Piero Gasperini are set to face each other in Napoli-Roma, a clash the Italian press frames as a duel between two opposing coaching philosophies. Ten principles are laid out to contrast the two men's approaches, with Gasperini's side set against Allegri's in the dugout. The piece sets out how Gasperini runs his team. He is described as a coach who gives orders from the front: "Comanda uno solo e quello sono io" (only one commands, and that is me). Gasperini is portrayed as a stern, sole decision-maker. The article notes that at Roma he succeeded in bringing down a monument, Claudio Ranieri, the man who had brought him to Trigoria. Ranieri is a former manager of the club and is no longer in charge. On the training ground, Gasperini demands intensity greater than in matches. Training sessions are played at full tilt with no moment of respite, a modernised version of an old concept. His football is built on aggression: opponents must be hunted, bitten and worn down, and his teams are told to attack "come se foste dei lupi" (as if you were wolves). Build-up play from the back has no place in his system. The ball must always be played forward, and every recovery should be turned into an immediate vertical pass. Gasperini also makes no distinction based on age or reputation. Young and old players alike are picked on merit: what has been done matters less than what will be done, and age is treated as just a number. The article's ten rules are framed as the "leggi del gol" (laws of goal) that define each coach. Allegri, by contrast, is presented as a pragmatic, pop-style coach whose mantra is to keep calm, and whose overriding priority is winning, however it is achieved. The article notes his passion for horse racing and the idea of winning by a short head. He is described as a shield for his players, praising them publicly whatever the result and criticising them in private. The piece also quotes Sebastiano Vernazza of La Gazzetta dello Sport, writing: "Se ci avessero insegnato di meno, avremmo imparato di più" (If they had taught us less, we would have learned more), a line tied to Allegri's preference for players who play freely rather than rigid systems. The article frames the match as a meeting of opposites in the dugout, with the tactical and philosophical contrast between Allegri and Gasperini at the centre of the build-up to Napoli-Roma.

Napoli and Roma have met 156 times in Serie A, and the historical record favours the giallorossi. Roma have won 53 of those matches to Napoli's 48, with 55 draws, and have scored more than 190 league goals against their southern rivals. The fixture, known as the "Derby del Sole", has produced balanced contests, heavy Napoli wins, high-scoring games and tense draws, and it has established itself as a classic of Italian football. The two clubs have never met in the Europa League or the Champions League. They have, however, faced each other in other European competitions of the past, such as the Coppa delle Fiere, where the head-to-head record stands at two meetings with one win apiece. The statistics also highlight the individual duels that have defined the fixture. Roma's leading scorer in the series is Dino Da Costa, who netted 8 goals against Napoli. Edin Džeko and Francesco Totti follow with 7 goals each, and Amedeo Amadei has 6. For Napoli, Dries Mertens is the most prolific, with 9 goals against the Giallorossi, ahead of Antonio Vojak and José Altafini on 7 apiece. The article also looks at Massimiliano Allegri's long record against Roma. His meetings with the club span almost two decades and include spells on the benches of Cagliari, Milan and Juventus. Overall, Allegri has faced Roma in 30 official Serie A matches. His first match against the club as a coach came on 31 August 2008, when Cagliari drew 1-1 with Roma at the Stadio Olimpico. Daniele De Rossi scored for Roma and Joaquín Larrivey for the Sardinian side. Among the most memorable meetings was a 1-0 Roma win at the Olimpico in February 2013, decided by a strike from outside the box by Francesco Totti against his former club Milan, as well as the hard-fought Scudetto clashes from Allegri's years at Juventus. The piece also notes players and coaches who have worn the shirts of both clubs since the 2000s. They include coach Luciano Spalletti, midfielders Amadou Diawara and Morgan De Sanctis (in goal), and strikers Daniel Fonseca, Claudio Caniggia and Andrea Carnevale, as well as defender Kostas Manolas.

A column revisits the players Roma linked with last summer and how they have fared since, with the author noting that a winger Gasperini wanted is expected to arrive in January. The piece argues that some of those former targets are now tied down to new contracts and out of reach, making a return unlikely. Jamie Leweling was the most recent name to be discussed before he reportedly pulled back at the end of August, after a couple of weeks of uncertainty that affected his start to the season at Stuttgart, currently fourteenth. He has made only 2 starts in 6 Bundesliga matches, but has regained the trust of Sebastian Hoeness after the international break. In the Champions League he has started 2 of 3 games and scored in the last round at Atlético Madrid. His performances hover around the level of acceptable. Crysencio Summerville chose the Saudi route on 21 July, leaving Roma to sign for 17.3 million euros a season including bonuses. He had been one of Gasperini's favourites. He has 3 goals and 3 assists for Al Hilal in the Saudi league, and was sent off in his only appearance in the Champions League Elite. The author argues Middle Eastern football is not a good yardstick for judging players who choose money over the centre of the sporting world. Endrick has had a limited start to 2026-27. He came on in the last half hour against Roma for Real Madrid under Mourinho and started once, last weekend against Sevilla, before returning to the bench midweek in the Champions League. In total he has played 75 minutes in the league across 2 appearances and 35 minutes in Europe across 2 appearances. Mason Greenwood, rehabilitated at Marseille, has joined Fenerbahçe on a deal worth 11.5 million euros net, including bonuses. He has 4 goals and 2 assists in 8 Süper Lig games, and in the Champions League he scored 1 goal against Slavia Prague and set up 1 against Roma. The author says his quality is not in question, but his choice is. Malik Fofana, whose price was 35 million euros with wages of 3.5 million euros a season including bonuses, has yet to start for Sunderland and has no goals or assists in 120 minutes. The author judges the praise that surrounded him when Roma enquired to have been unjustified. Antonio Nusa is a regular starter at Leipzig, with 9 appearances of 80 minutes each, 6 of 6 in the Bundesliga with 3 goals and 3 assists, and 3 of 3 in the Champions League. The author finds it surprising that English and Spanish clubs have not invested, given the reported 55-60 million euro asking price, while noting he has been inconsistent, with 5 appearances of 12 minutes each. Alejandro Garnacho is struggling to regain form. Emery has described the physical gap with his teammates as still too wide. He has played 35 minutes in 3 Premier League matches and 33 minutes in 2 Champions League games. Gabriel Martinelli was offered to both Roma and Napoli in July and August at around 7 million euros a season plus bonuses. Both clubs considered him without committing. Al Hilal then offered 23 million euros a year. He has 5 goals in 5 league matches and 2 appearances in the Champions League Elite, and the author has no regrets about the figures involved.

Former Napoli and Roma player Luciano Marangon has spoken to Retesport, praising Gian Piero Gasperini's coaching and saying Roma have shown they are stronger than Napoli. Marangon said Gasperini has transmitted his footballing mentality, as he did at Atalanta, which he has taken to extraordinary levels. He added that Gasperini is a man of football who gets the best out of his players, calling it the strongest part of his game, and said he reminds him of Bagnoli from his own era. Looking ahead to Napoli v Roma, Marangon said Gasperini's side have proven they are strong enough to be fighting for first place. He described the match as a test for Roma given the many absences. He also noted that Napoli, coached by Allegri, are facing many problems, though he said he cannot know exactly what they are because he is not inside the club. On Lulli, Marangon said the coach does not worry about the age of his players and will give a game to a young player if he sees quality. He said in Italy a player must be given minutes at the right moments without being made to feel untouchable. He added that Lulli now has the perfect coach to build prospects with the Italian national team. Asked about a Serie A player he identifies with, Marangon said: "No, I haven't seen one for several years."

Former Roma goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg has praised Roma's Dutch duo Donyell Malen and Marten de Roon and assessed Mile Svilar's standing among Europe's top goalkeepers. Speaking to Corriere dello Sport at the Amsterdam stop of the EA7 World Legends Padel Tour, the 2011–2013 Roma keeper said he follows all his former clubs. Stekelenburg said: "Seguo tutti i miei ex club anche se non sono un tipo che sta a casa a vedere il calcio, devo dire che ho tante cose da fare." Translated: "I follow all my former clubs, even though I'm not the type who stays at home watching football. I have a lot to do." He was full of praise for the two Dutchmen in Gian Piero Gasperini's side. Stekelenburg said: "Ma de Roon e Malen sono perfetti per la Roma, Donny in particolare ha trovato la sua dimensione ideale. Malen è molto veloce e gioca sempre sul filo del fuorigioco. E devo dire che appena ho saputo che sarebbe andato alla Roma l'ho immaginato con gli assist di Dybala e ho pensato che sarebbero potuti essere una bella coppia. Spero continui così come sta facendo ora, è preziosissimo per la Roma." Translated: "But de Roon and Malen are perfect for Roma. Donny in particular has found his ideal role. Malen is very fast and always plays on the edge of offside. And I have to say, as soon as I heard he was going to Roma, I imagined him with Dybala's assists and thought they could be a good pair. I hope he keeps going the way he is now, he is extremely valuable to Roma." On goal, Svilar is currently unavailable, so Pierluigi Gollini is stepping in as first choice. Stekelenburg said: "Mile sta facendo molto bene, non conosco così tanto Gollini ma penso che possa sostituirlo in questo periodo." Translated: "Mile is doing very well. I don't know Gollini that well, but I think he can stand in for him at this time." Asked whether Svilar could already be counted among Europe's top five goalkeepers, he said: "Se dovessi inserirlo tra i primi cinque… no, non ancora. Dopotutto ci sono Courtois, Neuer e altri. Ma è un ragazzo giovane e sta facendo un ottimo lavoro. Deve solo continuare a crescere." Translated: "If I had to put him in the top five... no, not yet. After all, there are Courtois, Neuer and others. But he is a young lad and doing an excellent job. He just needs to keep growing." The interview also touched on his memories of Luis Enrique, the coach who brought him to Rome fifteen years ago and who now manages Paris Saint-Germain.

Roma are reportedly eyeing a left-sided option, and Giallorossi.net's transfer column "Consigli per gli acquisti" has picked Union Berlin left-back Tom Rothe as its latest profile. The column is looking for a left-footed, athletic, physically robust player who can operate across the full flank in Gian Piero Gasperini's system, and Rothe is presented as fitting that brief. Born on 29 October 2004, Rothe is 21 and a natural left-footer standing 1.93 metres and weighing 85 kilos, which is unusually big for a flank player. He came through at St. Pauli and Borussia Dortmund, making his Bundesliga debut for BVB at just 17 and scoring straight away. After a loan spell at Holstein Kiel, where he finished with 4 goals and won promotion to the Bundesliga, Union Berlin bought him in summer 2024 for around 5 million euros. His natural position is left-back, but he can play as a wing-back and could be developed as a left-sided centre-back in a three. The article describes Rothe as more of a physical presence than a typical winger. He is strong in the air, holds his ground in duels and has a long stride, though he is not a pure sprinter, with a top speed of around 31.5 km/h. His main asset is the ability to run the flank continually, carry the attack and offer a physical presence in both phases. The writer argues this mix suits Gasperini's emphasis on one-on-one duels, and that at 21 he has considerable room to grow, so Roma would be buying a player to develop into a starter in the coming years. Rothe is not yet a finished product. He needs to improve the quality of his final pass, the accuracy of his crosses and his attacking one-v-one play. He creates more through physicality, running and runs into the box than through dribbling. He also had a fairly long lay-off between December and March last season. The article finds no pattern that would make him a particularly fragile player, but it is still an aspect to monitor. Union Berlin paid around 5 million euros for him, and his market value is now put at around 10 million euros. Taking into account his age, first-team status and potential, the German club would presumably ask for more, but the deal would still sit within a plausible economic range for Roma. One detail needs checking: when Union signed Rothe, Borussia Dortmund kept a buy-back right. Before any negotiation, it would be necessary to establish whether that clause is still valid and on what terms. The writer concludes that Rothe is not yet ready for a major European club, which is precisely what makes him interesting now. He is 21, left-footed, 1.93 metres tall, a regular in the Bundesliga and part of the Germany Under-21 set-up. Compared with Oosterwolde, he is less explosive but taller and has greater room for growth. The column wants to highlight young, physical players who remain affordable before they become too expensive.

Former Roma striker Ciccio Graziani has said Donyell Malen would be his choice over Højlund, speaking to Romanews.eu on the eve of Napoli-Roma at the Maradona. Asked which of the two he would sign as a sporting director, Graziani said: "Malen without thinking twice. Hojlund I like a lot, and sometimes he seems to me like a 'little Lukaku' the way he runs the attack and the hold-up play he takes, and he also has a great sense of goal; but Malen is my ideal striker, for the way he attacks space, his dribbling, the acceleration he has in the last twenty metres, and because he can roam across the whole front line." The match carries weight for both sides. Graziani noted that a win would mean a fresh start for Napoli after their Champions League success, while for Roma it would mean continuing to push for the top. He said Napoli's recent form had been shaky, pointing to a defeat at Venice that had left them on the brink, before they managed a tricky cup game against Bodø Glimt. He added that this showed the team wanted to bounce back and that its senior players had not given up on Allegri. On Roma, Graziani said: "Both sides risk something, as every time teams of this level meet. Roma are strong thanks to their team identity, which goes beyond the names Gasperini can pick." Asked whether injuries had left Gasperini's squad stretched, Graziani said: "I'm very sorry for Pellegrini, it seemed the injury was less serious. That said, Cristante's return is fundamental, while we wait for Dybala too, then Svilar and Koné in chronological order. Back to the word I used before: identity. Roma have it, and that makes them dangerous even with the forced rotations the coach has to resort to." Graziani also compared the two coaches. He said: "Allegri has a trophy cabinet that speaks for him and a past at the highest level, between scudetti and Champions League finals. Gasperini is someone who shapes teams around his principles of play, and when you have to face him you must be careful both with the collective identity and with the form of each individual, because with him players improve, as we have seen for years. Allegri we could call a 'manager of minds', since he has often governed dressing rooms full of great players; Gasperini instead produces ideas, which the players then turn into performances. It is a clash between two coaches whom the facts speak for."

Former Roma midfielder Matteo Brighi has said Gian Piero Gasperini's side are title contenders, describing them as the most consistent team in the league so far and the one playing the best football. Brighi, who played 140 matches for Roma and scored 13 goals, spent his career at the club from the summer of 2007 after three years on loan at Chievo. He became a dependable midfield presence under Luciano Spalletti, competing for a starting place alongside De Rossi, Pizarro and Perrotta, and went on to win the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana in his first season. In 2008-09 he scored three decisive Champions League goals, including a brace against Cluj, which earned him a recall to the senior Italy squad. Under Claudio Ranieri in 2009-10 he was a quiet but irreplaceable pillar as Roma came close to a historic Scudetto against the Inter side of the Triplete. On the current season, Brighi said: "So far it has been the most consistent team and the one that plays the best football. Inter are strong but have had some ups and downs in matches, whereas Gasp's side haven't, at least in the league. Injuries and condition will be decisive, and they will certainly be a nuisance until the end. I am sure of it." Asked about the midfield, where Koné and Cristante are missing or doubtful from the start, he said: "Koné and Cristante are two pillars of Gasperini's game, but the other pairing has shown it has done very well. The secret of this team is cohesion, everyone knows what they have to do. De Roon knows Gasp well and Pisilli is growing enormously." Brighi also addressed Gasperini's use of Mancini in midfield: "Gasperini tried it, but that was with the game already decided against Slovan. It's fine to try different things, but we are talking about an emergency situation. It's fine for the coach to experiment given the situation." On Niccolò Pisilli, whom he coached in the Under-21s over the past two seasons, he said: "I know Niccolò well. He is a modern midfielder who can do everything. He is proving useful in every zone. I hope he gets closer to Perrotta than to me (laughs), also in terms of his path with the national team. He is a guarantee and Gasperini is counting on him a lot." On the squad, he added: "I'm very sorry for Pellegrini. Unfortunately, with so many matches a wide squad is needed. Gasperini knows how to manage both plenty and difficult moments. The decision rests only with the coach. If he thinks other players are needed, then returning to the market is the right thing to do."

Former Roma defender Antonio Carlos Zago has said Roma would have been certain winners against Napoli had the match been played at the Stadio Olimpico. Speaking to Il Tempo ahead of the trip to the Stadio Maradona, he said: "If the match had been at the Olimpico, I would have told you Roma would win 100%. At the Maradona it will be a bit more difficult, as Napoli will do everything to get out of this difficult situation. For them it could be the match that turns things around." Zago praised head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who he said has brought a winning mentality to the club. He said: "Gasperini works tremendously hard and bases his game on intensity and triangular passing. I consider him one of the three best coaches of recent years." Zago also judged Roma's summer transfer business to have been excellent. Asked whether Gasperini should keep trusting Mora even in Naples, Zago replied: "I believe Mora can be the ideal replacement for Dybala. He has started well, showing he is a strong player." On Endrick, Zago said: "He still has to fully prove his value and find his ideal role on the pitch. He would be useful to Roma, and I have no doubt he would grow a lot working with Gasperini."

Paulo Dybala's right calf has shown a clear improvement and the discomfort has almost disappeared, good news for Gian Piero Gasperini. The Argentine could return to the bench as early as Tuesday against Cagliari, possibly for a late cameo. The initial target had been the Udinese-Roma fixture, but the recovery could therefore be brought forward. Gasperini is hoping to have him back as soon as possible following the injury to Lorenzo Pellegrini. Roma are also being talked up as genuine title contenders. Former defender Zago believes the club are fully in the race for the Scudetto, saying: "It is a strong team in every department and, together with Inter, it is the favourite for the Scudetto." He has also praised Gasperini, saying: "He has brought a winning mentality. I consider him one of the three best coaches of recent years." Zago's view is that the side can get something from the trip to Napoli, where Roma face a Napoli side in the league, given the way they have been playing recently: "If Roma play the way they have been lately, they can pull it off." The flash column, which gathers short news items, rumours, anecdotes and behind-the-scenes details from across the Giallorossi world, is published on Friday 23 October 2026. The report on Dybala's fitness comes from Corriere dello Sport, while Zago's comments were reported by Il Tempo.

Donyell Malen has scored 24 goals in 29 appearances for Roma, a rate of 0.83 per game, as the Dutch forward prepares for the trip to Napoli. He has not scored in Serie A for five weeks, since his goal against Torino on 14 September. Malen's first goal under Gian Piero Gasperini came against Roma. On 6 August 2025, in a friendly at Walsall, he came on for Aston Villa in place of Watkins and scored the final goal of a 4-0 win. At Villa he struggled to find space and, above all, the role he wanted. Five months later Gasperini made him the centre of his Roma side, having watched him closely that night. Since joining Roma on 16 January, Malen has scored 24 goals in all competitions, the same number as Mbappé, Haaland, Raphinha and Yamal. Among players in the five major European leagues, only Kane, on 39, has scored more. The difference is timing: he controls, moves the ball and shoots before the defender can get set, and his first touch often prepares a quick, powerful strike. Gasperini wanted him as a centre forward for this and for the quality of his movement. He cuts in behind the centre-backs, drops to receive, and turns to attack the goal again, while also laying off passes that open space for the players behind him. Roma initially paid just €2m for him. Aston Villa accepted an onerous loan with an option to buy at €25m, which would become an obligation if two conditions were met: qualification for the Champions League or the Europa League, and at least 50% of appearances. Both have been satisfied, and the purchase has been completed.

Rodrigo Mora is facing criticism over his attitude and errors in recent matches, particularly against Genoa and Slovan Bratislava, but he is not yet considered a problem, according to Gazzetta dello Sport journalist Francesco Balzani. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini, however, cannot fully trust the Portuguese midfielder at the moment, especially for a difficult and delicate fixture away to Napoli tomorrow. Mora, a former Porto talent, had expected to play more after receiving praise for his performances against Fiorentina, Lecce and Atalanta. Instead, he has been overtaken by Matías Soulé. Roma signed Mora permanently for 25 million in a fairly complex deal. The Friedkin Group holds an option to acquire the remaining 50% of the player's economic rights for a further 25 million. Otherwise, should the player be sold, those rights would pass to Porto.

Napoli and Roma meet on Saturday at 18:00 at the Maradona in Serie A matchday eight, both sides coming off Champions League wins earlier in the week. Roma arrive seven points clear of Napoli, who have stumbled through a start to the season that has included more slips than they would like. Attack and midfield quality are the headline strengths for both teams, but this fixture is also about experience and solidity at the back, where the two central defenders are Amir Rrahmani for Napoli and Evan N'Dicka for Roma. Rrahmani remains a fixed point in the Napoli back line under Allegri, prized for his physical presence, experience, positional sense and consistency. The Kosovan centre-back is especially effective in marking, in the air and in reading situations inside the box, while also being one of the first options when Napoli build from the back. In Serie A this season he has been virtually irreplaceable, starting all seven matches and playing 630 minutes, always on the pitch from first whistle to last. He has done the same in the Champions League. His passing accuracy is close to 90 per cent, with roughly 60 successful passes per 90 minutes, alongside 12 tackles and a notable 53 defensive clearances. That last figure underlines his ability to intervene when opponents press hardest. Against Roma he will be asked above all to control the movement of Malen and the late runs of Roma's attacking players. N'Dicka's strengths are physicality, pace and the ability to defend well away from his own area. Under Gian Piero Gasperini he has become a central figure in Roma's defence, able to operate in several positions within the three-man back line. He is particularly effective in duels and in covering the space behind his team-mates. In Serie A he has made five appearances for 367 minutes, and his numbers show a decisive impact: he is Roma's best performer for defensive clearances per 90 minutes, at 7.1, and averages 10.5 defensive actions per 90. His distribution is also significant, with a pass completion rate above 94 per cent and about 49 completed passes per 90 minutes. Against Napoli, his capacity to hold his own in individual duels and to step out aggressively onto the striker could be one of the keys to Roma's defensive phase.

Bryan Cristante is reportedly close to a return to a more advanced role behind the strikers for Roma, with Gian Piero Gasperini considering using him as an extra option in the trequarti as the club continues to struggle with injuries. The move would see Cristante operate in the position behind the front men in a 3-4-1-2, a role he could share with Niccolò Pisilli. The idea would mark a return to a formation Gasperini used in previous meetings with Milan, when Massimiliano Allegri's side lined up with a back three. In the reverse fixture on 25 January, Gasperini, having Donyell Malen available, deployed Matías Soulé behind the centre-forward and Paulo Dybala, a display that gave Roma plenty of the play but ended in a 1-1 draw. The opponent has changed, but the thinking has not. Milan have since switched from a back three to a 4-3-3 under Allegri, but against a flat back four Gasperini has often played a trequartista, and the same approach is not ruled out against Napoli. The key message for supporters is that the trequarti role is firmly on the table for the coming fixture, with Cristante the likeliest option to fill it. Gasperini has used the flexibility of the system to adjust his attacking shape, and the change would give Roma an additional creative presence between the midfield and the front line.

Rodrigo Mora's form has been a mix of highlights and lows, and the article argues that the Portuguese midfielder now needs to take off and show his full potential for Roma. Mora is a current squad member who joined the club as part of the existing squad, and the piece by Pierluigi Franza, published on 22 October 2026, weighs his performances so far this season. The assessment comes as Roma's coaching staff and supporters look for consistency from the midfield. Mora is one of several options in Gian Piero Gasperini's squad, and the article frames his next steps as a key test for the team's options in the centre of the park. The article's remaining material focuses on Mora's individual displays, the balance between his strong moments and his weaker ones, and what Roma need from him in the coming weeks as the campaign continues.

Roma's central defenders Hermoso, Balerdi and Ghilardi have been named in Sofascore's Team of the Week for the latest Champions League round, after a performance that kept Slovan Bratislava out completely. The three Roma defenders gave away nothing to the side coached by Yaya Touré. Roma have conceded only three goals in their first seven Serie A matches, a record built on a back line that is growing more solid despite the absence of several players who were fundamental in recent years. The arrivals of Balerdi and Koulierakis, and the continued development of Ghilardi, have given Gasperini the option to rest two first-team regulars, Ndicka and Mancini. Sofascore's selection was described as deserved. The Team of the Week's defence, drawn from the best side in the League Phase, was dominated by Gasperini's Roma backline. The selection also includes attackers Doué, Nico Paz, Foden and Ngumoha from the wider group of top clubs in the competition.

Roma's radio pundits are debating how Gian Piero Gasperini should line up against Napoli, with Mora, Soulé, Malen and Castro at the centre of the discussion. Rete Sport's David Rossi backed keeping Mora in the side alongside Soulé and Malen, arguing that Mora deserves more consecutive games to gain confidence and to win over the Roma crowd, and that playing away from home would ease the pressure on him. He also suggested a more natural role for Mora than the one Gasperini gave Pellegrini against Slovan, when Pellegrini was deployed on the right, a position that is not his. Rossi said: "Contro il Napoli o metti dentro tutti i centrocampisti, con uno tra Pisilli e Cristante alto sulla trequarti, oppure confermi Mora con Soulè e Malen, che è la cosa che farei io." Fabio Petruzzi, also on Rete Sport, proposed Rensch in front of Spinazzola with Wesley on the left, and expected Gasperini to keep faith with Mora but not to rule out Malen and Castro up front together. Tiziano Moroni was more critical, saying Mora had been insufficient in the last match and had created nothing, while noting he is only 19 and urging patience with Gasperini. Gianluca Piacentini raised the idea of Wesley pushed forward in the emergency, but said he would go for the classic line-up against Napoli, with Mora and Soulé behind Malen. He said: "Mora è arrivato da due mesi e per questo gli darei un po' di tempo. Facciamogli fare dieci partite consecutive." He added: "Però se ogni volta deve giocare con questo mattone addosso, che al primo errore viene fustigato, diventa dura…" On Tele Radio Stereo, Mario Corsi said Mora should be given time despite criticism, pointing out that Diomande is also 19. Francesca Ferrazza argued that Roma are not a side in difficulty, that the atmosphere in the stadium is the best it has been, and that Champions League matches drain energy but are tests of strength. Lorenzo Pes reported that Pellegrini, even with a mild injury, will not return before the break, and that what had filtered out suggested a month out with a more significant tear in the same spot where he had surgery. He said Gasperini must hope to recover Dybala soon, with recent reports pointing to an attempt for Udinese, and suggested Cristante move forward with Pisilli in midfield. Alessio Nardo joked: "Il giorno in cui la Roma acquisterà l'esterno sinistro titolare di piede destro faremo una festa in città, perchè finalmente sfateremo un tabù. Sono due anni che cerchiamo questo giocatore senza riuscire a trovarlo…" Piero Torri said Saturday's match against Napoli would be far from easy, and that Cristante was unlikely to start, though he could come on during the game in either the No.10 role or midfield. Roberto Pruzzo said he did not expect Mora to play against Napoli, suggested Castro could partner Malen, and believed Pisilli could operate in a dual role. Nando Orsi argued that Mora must play whenever he has the chance, otherwise he never gets the opportunity to settle in and understand the system. He said: "L'esborso economico deve essere confermato, e quando c'è la possibilità deve giocare." On Castro, he said: "Pensavo a Castro: poverino, non giocherà mai." He noted that Castro has been a starter for three or four matches this season, since Malen usually starts, and that coming on from the bench is very different from starting from the first minute.

Roma head to the Stadio Maradona on Saturday aiming to return home with three points, with Gian Piero Gasperini looking to exploit a Napoli defence that has struggled for consistency under Massimiliano Allegri. The exchange between the two coaches on Tuesday set the tone, with Gasperini greeting his counterpart with "Arrivo, Max" before the match. Napoli have returned to winning ways, but the three goals they conceded have exposed a backline that gives away too much, even when it is well set up. Napoli drop too deep, allow balls to filter into the box and struggle to read the moves of their opponents. The pressure on Napoli is mounting. They suffered a defeat at Venezia in Serie A, lost their first two Champions League matches, and Allegri is under pressure himself. Allegri raised the alarm after the 4-3 win over Bodø/Glimt, saying his side is fragile. Roma arrive in Naples with big-club ambitions and a clear plan: attack the spaces before Napoli can regroup. Gasperini's first thought, the article suggests, is to exploit those cracks in order to keep Roma's Serie A title hopes alive. In Gasperini's plan, Matías Soulé can operate between the lines, Rodrigo Mora can add unpredictability to the build-up, and Donyell Malen can run in behind and turn every through ball into a goal. Malen is looking to score in Serie A for the first time since 14 September. The quality of the individual players could make the difference, but the speed of Roma's combinations will be the real test for Allegri's back line. Against a side that drops deep and struggles to read the game, every vertical pass becomes a threat. Napoli are searching for answers, and Roma can provide them.

Roma have conceded fewer goals since August than any side in Europe's top five leagues. They have let in just three goals in seven Serie A matchdays. Including the Champions League, Tuesday evening's 2-0 win over Slovan Bratislava (hmm)

Roma have conceded the fewest goals of any team in Europe's top five leagues since August, letting in only three in seven Serie A matches so far. The Giallorossi's defensive record has been built on a unit that also contributes in attack, according to Corriere della Sera's Simone Valdarchi. The three league goals conceded came from Lautaro's brace in the Roma-Inter match and a short-lived Atalanta lead at the Olimpico. Across all competitions, Roma's win over Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League on Tuesday evening took them to six matches out of ten without conceding. The last three clean sheets came with Pierluigi Gollini in goal. He has stepped in after Mile Svilar suffered a fracture, and the article credits the backup keeper for answering the call. The article describes the defence as a reliable unit, and the centre-backs follow their men wherever they go, helping the team's first high press. Roma are among the most efficient sides in the immediate recovery of the ball. The wide defenders have also been productive going forward. Since the start of the season, they have contributed four goals and six assists to 10 of the 24 goals Gasperini's side have scored. The defensive work follows Gasperini's instructions, with the unit both protecting the goal and supporting the attack.

Gian Piero Gasperini is studying a new tactical option to address Roma's attacking shortage: pushing Wesley up into the forward line. The idea is one of several being considered as injuries and absences thin out the club's forward options. Wesley was again among Roma's best players against Slovan Bratislava, and his ability to break forward, attack the space in behind and arrive consistently in the final third could persuade the coach to deploy him even closer to goal. The problem stems mainly from absences. Manu Koné is still out, while Cristante is back available but is expected to start on the bench against Napoli. Up front, Gasperini must also contend with the injuries to Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini, and with alternatives whose numbers are shrinking. Several possibilities are under consideration. One would still see Rodrigo Mora deployed in the number ten role, despite a below-par performance in the Champions League. Another would involve using Donyell Malen and Santiago Castro together, a solution Gasperini has already considered himself. The most intriguing variant, however, concerns Wesley. He could be advanced into the attacking line, leaving Lulli and Molina to occupy the lower flanks. The move would add pace, one-on-one ability and a capacity to attack space without Roma having to give up their usual structure. It would not be a complete departure. Wesley, although he starts as a wide player, already plays the role with great freedom: he drifts into the centre, supports the action, attacks the box and often finds himself in very advanced positions. Pushing him a few metres further forward would simply take to an extreme traits Gasperini is already exploiting. The trip to Napoli could therefore represent a new tactical laboratory. With Pisilli and De Roon again asked to work overtime in midfield and few natural alternatives in the number ten position, a more advanced Wesley could become more than a passing suggestion. Gasperini has always looked for solutions within the squad before turning to the transfer market, and with the forwards beginning to run short, Wesley could be the next card to play.

AS Roma have reached 102 goals in 59 matches across Serie A and European competitions under Gian Piero Gasperini, a statistical milestone reached with their Champions League win over Slovan Bratislava. The club have scored those goals over 423 days of attacking football, starting with Wesley's first goal in the match against Bologna on 23 August 2025. Corriere dello Sport reports that Donyell Malen is the symbol of the team's attacking output, with 24 goals in 19 appearances in all competitions since he joined Roma. The Dutch striker's arrival in mid-January brought a decisive change, turning the side's control of games and chances created into important goals. Matías Soulé sits behind him with 7 goals this season. Lorenzo Pellegrini tops the club's scorers for the season, with Niccolò Pisilli also on 7. Gasperini's system has spread the scoring across the whole squad: 14 players have found the net so far this season. Gianluca Mancini has reached 5 goals from defence, and there have also been contributions from Molina, Castro, Rodrigo Mora, Lulli and de Roon. The team scored 24 goals in their first ten games of the season, yet the coach wants more ruthlessness in front of goal. He is asking his side not to "look at themselves in the mirror too much" and to close out matches sooner.

Marten de Roon is quietly becoming one of the most influential players in the Roma squad, and his form has been impressive. The 35-year-old Dutchman played 170 minutes over the last three matches, spread across six days, and scored against Real Madrid. It is his first goal in the Champions League. The midfielder leads all Roma midfielders for balls recovered, with 7, and is also first for attempted disimpegni (2). He is second among the club's midfielders for distance covered, with 22.7 km in 171 minutes, behind Pisilli, who has run 28.5 km but in 201 minutes. Roma's attacking output also improves when he is on the pitch, with the team averaging 3.68 goals scored per match when de Roon plays. He was short of match fitness after being left out of the team earlier in the season, which had prevented him from playing for Atalanta, his former club. De Roon's numbers, taken from FBref, FotMob and UEFA, show a player who has returned to full condition quickly. Daniele Ghilardi, however, is the bigger talisman by the same measure, with an average of 4.00 goals scored per match when he is on the pitch.

Roma currently sit on 4 points in the Champions League, but simulations have already mapped out their possible European path. Data compiled by Football Meets Data, produced by a supercomputer model, projects Roma finishing 20th in the league phase. That position would be enough to reach the playoffs, which are reserved for teams placed from ninth to 24th. In this scenario, PSV Eindhoven would be Roma's likely playoff opponent and the first obstacle on the road to the round of 16. The model's outcome would become even tougher if Roma won the playoffs. The simulation suggests Roma could then face either Manchester United, who are already in Roma's league-phase group, or Borussia Dortmund in the last 16. Both are clubs with long European traditions. The projection is purely statistical and not a confirmed pairing. The final league-phase table and the draw will determine the actual matchups.

Roma's pundits on Rome's radio stations were largely positive about the club's recent results, but they were divided over Mora and the January market. Roberto Pruzzo, speaking on Radio Radio, said: 'Mora is absolutely not ready for this stage, and Roma must sign Lookman. Do a six-month loan.' He also said Castro does not play when Malen is fit and that Mora did not take advantage of his chance, adding that a striker is needed in January. Mario Corsi of Tele Radio Stereo was more worried: 'I said Mora had to play to get used to his teammates, but there is a Mora problem. Do you remember Bojan Krkic? I would not want him to suffer the same fate.' Corsi said Mora was an embarrassment in front of goal, had shot at a photographer and had got everything wrong on Sunday, including his passing. The debate followed a run of matches after the heavy defeat to Real Madrid. Mario Mattioli of Radio Radio said Roma were fortunate to face Genoa and Slovan Bratislava afterwards, as they could restore their mental focus, and that Roma had taken full advantage. He described Slovan as a side who do not belong in the Champions League, suggesting they were better suited to the Europa League or Conference League. Fabio Petruzzi of Rete Sport argued that Roma make their opponents look weak: 'Genoa were weak, Slovan are weak, they are all weak... even Real Madrid were weak until ten minutes from the end. I would start saying Roma are strong.' Alessio Nardo of Tele Radio Stereo said he could hardly recall a smaller side worse than Slovan Bratislava, adding that they could not keep the ball for more than three seconds. David Rossi of Rete Sport praised the defence under Gian Piero Gasperini: 'What impresses me is that the defenders have improved most with Gasperini. Ghilardi started two matches, against Lecce and against Slovan, and I remember him more for what he does in attack than in defence. Ghilardi is a starter now. Hermoso, we did not know who to pin it on, and now he is a leader. Balerdi arrived while Marseille fans were celebrating, and here he is dominant. N'Dicka has improved a lot... Roma have a back line that I believe is the strongest in Italy.' Gianluca Piacentini of Rete Sport noted that Roma had rotated five starters in defence over the last two matches while conceding no goals. He said the comparison between Malen and Castro and Ferguson and Dovbyk was harsh. Pes argued that Gasperini had not overused Pellegrini, who had started two matches, and said Pellegrini was prone to injury, which he had always been. Pellegrini is now 30, Pes said, and the problems are getting worse. Checco Oddo Casano said Roma should consider the futures of Dybala and Pellegrini in June, after seeing how many matches they had played. The radio hosts agreed that a striker is needed, and Pruzzo said he would name the player to be signed in January. Piero Torri of Manà Manà Sport said he was supporting Manchester United against Como that evening, because a defeat for the English side would leave Roma with a final chance. He also said Roma had regrets about Fenerbahce and Real Madrid, where a result was possible, and warned that Roma could arrive at the third-last match ranked behind others in the table.

Former Roma midfielder Angelo Di Livio, speaking to Retesport a few hours before Roma's match against Slovan Bratislava, said the team must play with intelligence and without rushing, as they did against Genoa, which he called the model performance for today. He said there is only one result that matters, and that Bryan Cristante is back tonight, with Gasperini having guaranteed him around twenty minutes, which will be a test for Napoli. Di Livio said the win over Genoa was less attractive because many players had little playing time. He called it an important game and said De Rossi's side did not have a single shot on target in the second half. On Matías Soulé, he said he liked the flashes of quality against Genoa but that the forward had long spells of inactivity. He named Emanuele Lulli as the best player on the pitch against Genoa. On Paulo Dybala, Di Livio was blunt: "Non ci puoi fare affidamento, gioca 4-5 partite e poi rimane fuori." On Lulli, he urged caution, saying the defender could potentially become a star but should be allowed to grow calmly. He noted that against Genoa Lulli won back a lost ball, earned a corner, and showed grit and a fighting spirit. On Daniele Ghilardi, Di Livio said that when trained and prepared well he also has the legs to play as a fifth defender.

Former Roma midfielder Federico Viviani has spoken exclusively to Retesport, reflecting on his debut against Slovan Bratislava and expressing regret that Luis Enrique did not remain at the club. Viviani made his debut against Slovan Bratislava on 18 August 2011, and it was his first start for Roma at the Stadio Olimpico, in front of more than 60,000 spectators. Having come through the club's youth sector, he described the night as indescribable on a personal level. Viviani said the Roma of 2026-27 is showing it is a very good team after 10 matches, though he noted the season is still long. Asked about the Slovan Bratislava match, he recalled that Roma had many chances that went unconverted, and that the evening was strange, with supporters rightly expecting more. He said the emotion of his personal milestone was swept away by what happened on the pitch afterwards. On Luis Enrique, Viviani said he had been able to speak with former team-mates and that the coach was, in his view, years ahead in managing the group and in his working methods. "For me it was a great experience, he had ways of training and setting the team out that were cutting-edge," he said. He added: "Unfortunately we know how it went... That project was not carried forward, partly by his own choice... Francesco and Daniele, who were great champions, tried to dissuade him, but Luis Enrique did not change his mind. He came out of it drained, as it was his first experience with a first team." Viviani spoke warmly of Gianluca Mancini's teammate Daniele Ghilardi's fellow academy product Daniele Lulli, noting that Lulli shares Viviani's agent and that the club brought him up from childhood. He said: "It always gives great pleasure to see young players come through the youth sector and find continuity in the first team: it is every young player's dream to play for the team they grew up with." He added that scoring his first Serie A goal at the Olimpico must have been a great reward for Lulli. Asked about regrets, Viviani said the only thing that disappointed him was Luis Enrique's departure, because he would have kept him at the club. He said the coach also stood in the way of a possible move for Viviani in January. "The only regret is this: had he stayed, I would have had the chance to work with him, continuing to grow on and off the pitch. He helped me enormously, it was a fundamental experience. I will always be bound to Luis Enrique for the opportunities he gave me." On his future, Viviani said he has started a coaching course and hopes everything goes well. He said the hardest part after retiring is understanding which path is right for you. On Daniele De Rossi, he said: "He was a fundamental part of my growth, above all on a human level and in how he behaved with team-mates. He is an exceptional person as well as a fantastic player. Not one person who knows him could say a bad word about him. I hope he becomes a great coach because he deserves it."