AS Roma Match Reports

Gian Piero Gasperini has granted his Roma players a day off after the 4-2 midweek win over Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico. The squad will report back to Trigoria directly on Thursday afternoon, two days before Saturday's trip to Udinese. The Udinese match, counting for matchday 10 of Serie A, is scheduled for Saturday 31 October at 18:00. The break is a chance for the players to switch off and push towards the final stretch before the November international break. Between Saturday 31 October and Saturday 7 November, Roma face Udinese and Sassuolo in Serie A, as well as the important Champions League away trip to Manchester United on Tuesday 3 November. The Cagliari victory gave the players a reward after the midweek fixture, and the schedule now moves quickly from the weekend trip to Friuli into a busy run of matches against Udinese, Sassuolo and Manchester United.

Rodrigo Mora scored in Roma's 4-2 win over Cagliari and spoke to DAZN afterwards, saying that after a 4-2 result there was no reason to feel bad. The forward said he dreams of being a decisive player and helping the team when it needs him. "Today a goal was needed and I was ready for it," he said. "I think I played other very good matches too. Sometimes you don't score, you don't make assists, and it becomes difficult, but today I scored and helped the team. That is the most important thing." Mora said he has been playing in a different position, having swapped roles with Matías Soulé, and that his performance improved noticeably. Asked about the switch, he said playing on the left suits him better. "Playing on the left is better for me, because I can come inside. I am used to that position, and I think Mati prefers playing on the other side. But we have to be ready to play on both flanks. The most important thing is helping the team to win." On his goal, Mora said he does not score many headers, but that opponents sometimes forget the lower one. "I did not score many headers, but sometimes opponents forget the lower one. So I was there, and I was happy to score such an important goal." Asked about playing under Gian Piero Gasperini with an attacking mindset that pushes forward even when protecting a lead, Mora said the coach always wants the team to play forwards. "Sometimes it is difficult, and I am trying to adapt to this way of playing. But it is nice, because we always think about going forward and scoring more goals. I think it is important for winning matches and, of course, for attacking players like us it is nice to always attack, try to score and take the lead."

Lulli is the star of the moment for Roma after a week that brought a contract renewal to 2031 and a decisive goal and assist to turn around Nzola's opening lead. The young Giallorosso defender was speaking to Dazn after the match. Asked whether he is now scoring a goal a game at the Olimpico, Lulli said: "It's a dream, really. I'm very happy. The important thing is to keep my feet on the ground, be humble and keep working. I feel the trust from the staff, the coach, the club and my teammates. It's very important and it's the ideal way to keep trying to always improve." The renewal, which runs until 2031, came earlier in the same week, and the goal and assist came in the same match. The performance has put the young player firmly in the spotlight at a time when the club's supporters are seeing his progress up close.

Roma defender Emanuele Lulli has spoken about his pleasure at scoring at the Stadio Olimpico, describing it as a dream while stressing the need to stay humble. Speaking after the Roma-Cagliari match, valid for the ninth round of Serie A, he said: "I'm very happy, it's a dream, but the important thing is to remain humble and keep my feet on the ground." Lulli said he feels the trust of the coach, the staff, the club and his teammates, and believes this is the ideal environment in which to improve. His comments came as Roma continued their 2026-27 league campaign at home. His full comments were: "I'm very happy, it's a dream, but the important thing is to remain humble and keep my feet on the ground. I feel the trust from the coach, the staff, the club and my teammates. This is the ideal way to improve."

Pierluigi Gollini, who was in goal for Roma, said the team's ability to win and take points despite not playing at their best is a major credit to the group, and that he had always known his own worth. Gollini made several key saves to keep the result intact, and he is about to hand the number one shirt back to Mile Svilar. Speaking to Dazn, he said: "Sono punti pesanti che ci permettono di stare lì, giocando tante partite non è facile e ci sta ogni tanto che manchi un po' di brillantezza." In English: "These are heavy points that allow us to stay in the race. Playing so many games is not easy, and it's understandable that now and then we lack a bit of brilliance." Gollini stressed that strong, solid sides with important objectives can still pick up points and win even when they are not playing well. "A volte abbiamo portato via un punto che valeva una vittoria, oggi siamo riusciti a portarne via tre. Questo è importante." That is: "Sometimes we have taken away a point that was worth a win; today we managed to take away three. This is important." He praised the squad, saying: "Questo gruppo sta dando tante risposte, sono sempre tutti a disposizione e al massimo." In English: "This group is giving many answers, everyone is always available and at their best." He added: "Questo è un grande credito che ci va dato." Meaning: "This is a great credit that we deserve." Asked whether he expected to see Lulli performing like this, Gollini replied: "L'ho visto in ritiro, tutti pensavamo avesse grande atletismo. La qualità delle scelte in avanti farà la differenza nella sua carriera. Imparare a fare le scelte giuste, sta a lui. Ora sta imparando anche a buttarsi dentro, ma è un bravissimo ragazzo e ha la testa sulle spalle. Ogni tanto lo devo riprendere per difendere, gli piace attaccare, ma è bravo e super-umile. Farà una grande carriera, ne sono sicuro." In English: "I saw him in training; everyone thought he had great athleticism. The quality of his decisions going forward will make the difference in his career. Learning to make the right choices is up to him. Now he's also learning to commit himself, but he is a very good lad with his head on his shoulders. Every so often I have to tell him to defend, he likes to attack, but he is good and super-humble. He will have a great career, I'm sure of it." On his own situation, Gollini said: "Ho giocato poco negli ultimi anni, ma in allenamento mi vedo e i miei compagni mi vedono. Il calcio va super veloce, bastano sei mesi e tutti pensano che tu sia morto. Anche quando non ho giocato, sono sempre stato in ambienti di grande livello e con grandi giocatori. Il mio valore l'ho sempre saputo." In English: "I've played little in recent years, but in training I see myself and my teammates see me. Football moves super fast, six months is all it takes and everyone thinks you're dead. Even when I haven't played, I have always been in top-level environments with great players. I have always known my own value." He added: "Mi dispiace per Mile, che tutti abbracceremo quando tornerà, ma sono contento di aver avuto il mio momento. L'importante è andare avanti e fare il meglio per questa squadra, stiamo facendo una bell'annata e bisogna continuare così." In English: "I feel for Mile, whom we will all embrace when he returns, but I am happy to have had my moment. The important thing is to move forward and do our best for this team; we are having a good season and we must keep it going."

Mancini struggled and Lulli stood out in Roma's match against Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico, according to the player ratings from the Italian press. Mina faded at the crucial moment, and Maldini was not enough to change the result.

Roma came away from Cagliari with the three points, but it was a night of frustration for Gian Piero Gasperini, who spent much of the match berating his players. Cagliari, who had been in a dip for a couple of weeks, proved a difficult opponent, and from the first minutes it was clear Roma could afford very few mistakes at the back. Gasperini's side made more slips than allowed against the likes of Mina and Fadera, and the rebukes came thick and fast: at Mancini himself, at Lulli, and at Koulierakis, among others. The result was secured in a match that was pulled through with teeth and claws, and the criticism came with more calm once the points were in the bag. Gasperini had to put much of his side right because Roma looked a little tired after a run of closely spaced fixtures, and when Maldini equalised it was clear the Sardinians had more fuel and more horsepower. Roma found the winner at the moment least suited to their performance, which could prove an important signal. Players never fully switched off, with Gasperini's instructions constant and the push of the Sud behind them. The match also featured Mora rising to win a header that seemed to add around twenty centimetres to his reach. Ghilardi was due to come on about ten minutes earlier than he did. Gasperini's message throughout was relentless, and the Curva Sud's support carried his team through a night that was far from convincing.

Rodrigo Mora has spoken to reporters after Roma's 2-1 win over Cagliari...

Rodrigo Mora came off the bench to decide the match, heading a goal and then setting up Donyell Malen, with the result secured after Cagliari had equalised. Speaking to DAZN after the game, the Portuguese midfielder said: "Sogno serate così, voglio essere decisivo." Asked whether it was a win for the young players, he replied: "Sì, è un gruppo davvero giovane ma anche forte. Tutti sono pronti a giocare, giovani o più 'vecchi' che siano. La cosa importante è la squadra. Due settimane fa è stato decisivo Soulé, questa sera io nella stessa posizione. A prescindere dall'età, tutti stiamo dando il meglio e rendendo possibile questo percorso." Mora said that his goal and assist came in a difficult match and that helping the team mattered most to him. On playing on the left, he said: "Per me giocare a sinistra è meglio in modo da andare dentro il campo, lo stesso vale per Soulé che parte da destra per accentrarsi. Ma gioco in ogni posizione per aiutare la squadra." Matías Soulé was the player who had been decisive in the same role two weeks earlier. On his header, Mora said: "Non segno tanto di testa, ma qualche volta gli avversari dimenticano il giocatore più basso. Quindi riesco a trovare lo spazio per segnare di testa." On working under Gian Piero Gasperini, he said: "Il mister vuole che andiamo all'attacco, a volte è difficile ma ci proviamo. E' una cosa positiva, pensare sempre a fare gol è importante per vincere le gare." He added that Gasperini had asked him to play with confidence and to take on opponents without fear, and that he could still improve his physical condition. Mora thanked the supporters who kept singing after Cagliari levelled, saying: "Da quando sono arrivato mi hanno accolto benissimo e avevo voglia di una serata così per ripagarli, sono contento di aver segnato. Nel momento più difficile, quando il Cagliari ha pareggiato, i tifosi hanno continuato a cantare e ci hanno dato la spinta per ribaltarla." On starting, he said: "Tutti i giocatori vorrebbero partire titolari ma quello che più importa e che chiunque giochi anche entrando dalla panchina dia il massimo." He acknowledged that adapting to Italian football is a process: "Continuerò a lavorare per guadagnare più minuti."

Roma are scoring at a remarkable rate this season: after a 4-0 win over Cagliari, Gian Piero Gasperini's side have 23 Serie A goals from nine matchday fixtures. According to OptaPaolo, that is the first time the giallorossi have passed 20 goals at this stage of a league campaign since 2016-17, when they scored 23 under Luciano Spalletti. The figure is especially striking when set against last season, and it underlines how many different routes to goal the team now has. Gasperini's side have shown they can strike from several sources, with Roma beating opponents in a variety of ways across the campaign. The goals have come from across the squad. Mora and Malen have contributed, but the biggest contributions have come from Pisilli and Lulli. Balerdi also scored a brace in the win over Napoli. Gasperini's team, the article notes, have seemingly endless ways of scoring and beating their opponents.

Emanuele Lulli produced a magical first-half display in Roma's match against Cagliari, scoring a goal and providing an assist within the first 22 minutes. The 2007-born defender has just renewed his contract until 2031, and his form explains why. In the first half against Cagliari, Lulli matched the numbers of Xavi Espart, the Barcelona full-back. Together they are the only defenders born in 2007 or later with at least three goal contributions (assists or goals) in the current season. According to OptaPaolo, Espart has so far recorded two assists and one goal. For Lulli the numbers are reversed: he already has two goals to his name, plus the assist for Pisilli this evening. The article describes the performance as a true gem.

Roma met Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico in a Serie A match valid for the 9th round, and a VAR review proved decisive early on. In the 8th minute, referee Ermanno Feliciani of the Teramo section awarded Cagliari a penalty after checking the monitor, judging that a handball by Roma midfielder Niccolò Pisilli had been committed. The ball rebounded off the Roma player's arm following an opponent's header. Feliciani was assisted by Zingarelli and Fontani, with Ghersini on VAR. The referee was recalled to the monitor and ruled the contact punishable despite the close distance between the two players, a call that put Roma under immediate pressure in the opening minutes of the game. The article's key episodes focus on the penalty decision, which was reviewed in full on the monitor before the award was given to Cagliari. Further match-official details for the rest of the fixture are reported in the original feature.

Feliciani awarded Cagliari a penalty after a VAR review showed that Adopo's header struck the arm of Niccolò Pisilli, and the decision turned the Roma-Cagliari match on its head. The Giallorossi were hosting Cagliari just days after drawing at Napoli. Referee Feliciani, from Teramo, was in charge, with assistants Zingarelli and Fontani and Ghersini on VAR. The match was marked by a heated moment late on, when Rensch and Rodriguez came face to face. Feliciani separated the two players shortly afterwards and booked the Cagliari defender Rodriguez. Earlier, Obert's rough challenge on Lulli went unpunished, with Feliciani allowing play to continue after the advantage, although a yellow card for the Cagliari defender was judged to be missing. Roma's equaliser was allowed to stand. Molina delivered a cross for Lulli, who rose above Obert to head home without committing a foul. The match officials' decisions carried the most weight in the contest. Feliciani was called back to the monitor by the VAR and pointed to the spot after the Pisilli handball, a decision that handed Cagliari a penalty.

Bookmaker odds and predictions have been published for this weekend's Roma-Cagliari and Venezia-Inter fixtures, according to the Italian original's betting preview. The Italian headline of the piece is a betting preview covering both matches, with the odds from bookmakers set out for each game.

Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini spoke after his side's 2-1 win over Cagliari in Serie A's ninth round, and he said that a heavy run of matches means knocks are inevitable. Roma have now played six matches in a row, every two to three days. Gasperini said: "In diverse situazioni… capita quando giochi tante partite. Questa era la sesta di continuo ogni 2-3 giorni, qualche giocatore te lo trovi stanco contro un avversario fresco come Maldini." The Roma boss praised the way his squad has been used and the depth available to him. Gasperini noted that Balerdi and Hermoso came off injured against Napoli and must now be recovered, and that Cristante, back after a spell out, played 180 minutes in three days. He said: "Anche noi abbiamo tante risorse, abbiamo tante partite e per questo cerchiamo di ruotare." He added: "Grande merito aver vinto oggi, giochiamo con gli stessi da non so quante partite." On the Cagliari game itself, he admitted that some players were struggling and that Cagliari's forwards were fresher, adding: "Alcuni giocatori loro in attacco erano più frechi e ci creavano difficoltà." He said the win came partly through substitutions and partly through the willingness of everyone. On the squad as a whole, Gasperini said: "Sono contento perché tutti sono soddisfatti di quanto giocano, nessuno escluso. Queste partite valgono tre punti come le altre, in questo momento nella rosa sono tutti partecipi e determinanti, anche Gollini." He stressed that Wesley was not on the pitch in the first half and called it a major strength. On Gollini, he said: "Non avrebbe fatto 112 partite con me se non fosse stato un portiere di livello." He added: "Da vicino è straordinario, a volte prende gol dalla distanza ed è sempre stato un suo limite. Ma è un portiere di grande valore." Gasperini also said that Ghilardi has been playing well recently and will get more minutes, and that Lulli trained on heading the day before and scored with his head. On Mora, he said: "Utilizzato così è una mina vagante, lo è stato anche a Napoli." He noted that Paulo Dybala takes time to recover from injuries, saying: "Pensavamo che ci sarebbe voluto di meno ma così non è stato." Roma have scored 23 goals in nine matches, which Gasperini called "una bella cifra", against 10 at this stage last year. Gasperini also gave his view on the rule changes, saying: "Le partite sono più aperte ed è frutto in gran parte di queste regole che sono cambiate." Looking ahead, he said Roma aim to face Sassuolo with Dybala and Koné, but added: "Con lui e Koné puntiamo il Sassuolo ma non so se sarà possibile." Asked about Malen starting on the bench, he said the decision was linked to the schedule and that Castro had played two games earlier and been decisive.

Pierluigi Gollini has spoken after Roma's Serie A ninth-matchday win over Cagliari, a result that brought three important points. Gollini said: "Those are three heavy points that keep us in the race." He added: "We're playing a lot of games and it's not easy. Every now and then it's normal to lack a bit of sharpness, but strong, solid teams with important goals manage to win even when they don't play well. Sometimes we've managed to take away a point that was worth a win. Today we took three. I think this group is giving a lot of answers." Roma have been playing a heavy schedule, and Gollini acknowledged that other clubs in European competitions are facing the same demands. He said the squad had expected a demanding period and that the team had put the recent Napoli match behind them: "You can't stay on the previous game." He also said the team knew what was required against Cagliari: "We know that tonight we face a tough side, and we know what we have to do." Gollini was also asked about a young player in the squad. He said: "I saw him at the training camp. Everyone thought he had great athleticism because it's a natural gift. Many times we told him that the quality of the decisions he makes when he gets to the end of the play will make the difference in his career between being a Serie A player and being an extremely strong player. That is up to him. Now he is also learning to get stuck in, and sometimes I have to rein him in because he likes to attack. He is a super humble lad and I'm sure he will have a great career." Asked whether his performance was also a response to himself and the group, Gollini replied: "Yes, absolutely. I have played little in recent years, but in training my team-mates see me. Football is a world that moves super fast. You might not play for six months and it seems like you're finished. I'm in an environment with great players and I know my value. Of course, you need the chance to play and show it. I'm happy I've had this opportunity, although obviously I feel for Mile."

Mile Svilar's absence has put Pierluigi Gollini back in the spotlight, and he is now Roma's number one, though only for the time being. The former Atalanta goalkeeper is ready to keep a clean sheet again, this time against Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico. He spoke to Dazn shortly before the match. Roma came back from behind to beat Napoli, and Gollini said the team arrived at this fixture with plenty of determination. "Obviously we are playing a lot, like the others who play in cups," he said. "We arrive very determined, Napoli is behind us. We know what awaits us tonight, we know what to do and how to approach it." Gollini has not played for two years, and he is now trying to prove himself again in goal. Asked for his own assessment after such a long absence, he said: "I feel good and I am trying to show that I am of a high level. But the important thing is Roma and making an important contribution."

Roma are preparing to return to the pitch at the Olimpico for their Serie A ninth-round match against Cagliari, coached by Pisacane. The official line-ups have been released, with Castro leading the attack alongside Soulé. The Giallorossi come into the fixture after a draw with Napoli, coached by Allegri. They are looking to take points that could keep them in the race for the top of the table. The match will be refereed by Feliciani of the Teramo section.

Roma left Naples with a draw that still rankles, not so much for the point as for how the match unfolded: they started poorly and nearly conceded against a good Napoli side. The Maradona clash is still being talked about, particularly among coaches, and Napoli's Ivan Juric, speaking at his press conference, devoted some time to it. Juric praised Napoli's performance over the opening hour, while acknowledging the threat Roma posed later in the game. He said Roma were physically devastating once they got going and pushed hard. He also pointed to a change in Napoli's style, which he sees as far more attacking now, with pressing and forward play, a noticeable departure from the Allegri-era side he was used to when Massimiliano Allegri coached Milan and Juventus. Juric's full comments: "Contro la Roma ho visto un Napoli favoloso per 60 minuti. Doveva andare sul 3-0, ho visto una squadra di una qualità immensa. Poi la Roma è stata fisicamente devastante, hanno spinto tanto. Adesso il gioco del Napoli mi sembra molto molto più offensivo, in pressing, in avanti. Un po' diverso rispetto all'Allegri a cui ero abituato quando allenava Milan e Juventus."

At least 1,300 Roma supporters are expected at the Dacia Arena for Udinese v Roma, after the away tickets sold out within a few days. The neighbouring sector has also sold out, and the home stadium is likely to be filled with Roma fans. The two sets of supporters are linked by a friendship between their ultras, and several fans will also be scattered across other parts of the stadium. The match is scheduled for Saturday at 18:00. The fixture comes three days before Roma's trip to Manchester, where an exodus of Roma fans is also expected at Old Trafford. More than 3,000 are set to travel to England for that match. The travelling support in both cities underlines the size of the following Roma are taking into the coming week. The travelling numbers show how strongly Roma supporters are backing the club across both fixtures, with the Udinese away end and the Manchester trip expected to be among the biggest displays of the week.

Matías Soulé has turned his season around in two months, delivering what Il Corriere della Sera's Davide Stoppini describes as the best performance of his Roma career in the win at Napoli, where Roma came from behind. Roma were trailing in that match before recovering, and Soulé was the driving force throughout. Just two months ago the forward had spent a summer with a "for sale" tag hanging around his neck. Back from his holidays, he was stopped by reporters at Fiumicino asking whether he would stay at the club, and he could not even answer. Gasperini also made no secret in his press conference that the forward had returned overweight. The turnaround is significant because Soulé was criticised last season for often failing to perform in the big matches, when the level of games rose and he could not take control. Against Napoli, by contrast, he was consistent over the whole match rather than only in isolated moments. Stoppini writes that Soulé "did everything well" in the performance. Rodrigo Mora is set to play in the attacking trio as a pure number ten, and will move in the footsteps of Soulé, a curious and not trivial pairing for how the match will unfold. For the third forward spot, Donyell Malen and Santiago Castro are in a battle. Malen is still ahead, but Castro has good chances of overtaking him and regaining a starting place after scoring a goal a week ago against Genoa.

Leonardo Balerdi was the standout figure in Roma's 3-3 draw against Napoli, scoring a brace after coming on in the second half for Mario Hermoso. The goals were the first of his career with Roma. Before the match at the Maradona, the Argentine defender had received two paintings in the style of The Simpsons from artist Stefano Monda: one showing him and his girlfriend in Roma colours, the other showing his whole family. Balerdi returned the gesture with a signed shirt, and the gift brought him luck on the night. The performance underlines how Balerdi is carving out a place in the side and earning the trust of the coaching staff. His double came at a difficult venue and helped Roma secure a point from a match that swung back and forth. Monda's artwork and the shirt exchange made for a light-hearted pre-match story, but it was Balerdi's second-half impact that dominated the afternoon. The video of the paintings and the goals has been shared widely by fans.

Roma host Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday 27 October at 20:45 in the ninth round of Serie A, with Gian Piero Gasperini weighing up some changes after the 3-3 draw at Napoli's Maradona. Roma remain unbeaten in Serie A and sit third with 18 points from eight matches, having drawn their head-to-head clashes against Inter, Como and Napoli. Cagliari, coached by Fabio Pisacane, are ninth on 13 points and come into the game on the back of two consecutive defeats, against Monza and Bologna. Roma are looking to return immediately to winning ways to stay within touching distance of the top of the table. The trip to Naples was described as a costly one, and Gasperini is considering some rotation. Dybala is returning towards the matchday squad but is expected to start on the bench. Svilar, Koné and Pellegrini are ruled out. Gollini keeps his place in goal, while Ghilardi could get a chance in defence alongside N'Dicka and Balerdi. Cristante starts in midfield from the first minute alongside Pisilli. Lulli and Molina are favoured on the flanks, with Soulé and Rodrigo Mora expected to support Malen up front. For Cagliari, Pisacane must do without Winks, who is sidelined by lumbar pain, as well as Felici and Idrissi. Trepy returns to the matchday squad. Yerry Mina is set to return to the starting line-up in defence, while Sugawara and Zé Pedro compete for a place on the right. Gagliardini will take Winks' place in midfield, with Maldini and Adopo expected to play behind Mendy, although Kevin Carlos remains a possible option. The match will be broadcast exclusively on DAZN, available through the DAZN app on smart TVs, smartphones, tablets, consoles and computers. There will be no live broadcast on the traditional Sky Sport channels. Kick-off at the Stadio Olimpico is set for 20:45 on Tuesday 27 October. Bookmakers make Roma clear favourites. A Roma win is priced on average between 1.33 and 1.35, a draw around 4.90-5.00, and a Cagliari win between 8.25 and 9.60. The market also expects a game with at least three goals, with Over 2.5 favoured over Under, and No Goal offered at a slightly lower price than Goal. The 2-0 correct score to Roma carries the shortest odds at around 6.50, ahead of 1-0 and 2-1. ROMA (3-4-2-1): Gollini; Ghilardi, Ndicka, Balerdi; Lulli, Cristante, Pisilli, Molina; Soulé, Mora; Malen. Manager: Gasperini. CAGLIARI (4-3-2-1): Caprile; Sugawara, Mina, Rodriguez, Obert; Romano, Gagliardini, Deiola; Adopo, Maldini; Mendy. Manager: Pisacane. Referee: Ermanno Feliciani (Teramo). Assistants: Zingarelli and Fontani. Fourth official: Mariani. VAR: Ghersini. AVAR: Camplone.

Donyell Malen has gone three consecutive Serie A matches without a goal, a first for him since he joined Roma last January, and Roma host Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday in a midweek fixture for the ninth matchday. Malen failed to score against Inter, against Como, where his controversial red card meant he missed the Genoa game, and against Napoli. The dry spell is considered a natural part of a demanding season, and it is not expected to dent his overall output, given the penalty he scored against Slovan Bratislava last Tuesday. Malen will, as he has for the past ten months, lead the attack for Gian Piero Gasperini's side. The fixture against Cagliari brings back fond memories. Malen's last meeting with the Sardinians came on Monday, 9 February, when he was the star of a 2-0 Roma win. He scored a brilliant double, first chipping Caprile in the 25th minute and then finishing a decisive run in the 65th minute to seal the result. Roma's striker has shown that he can deliver against Cagliari at home, and a similar performance would help end his recent barren run. Francesco Totti was in the stands that evening, and Malen has recently shared a warm embrace with the Roma legend.

Roma goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini produced a key save against former team-mate Matteo Politano during Napoli-Roma, and the two shared a light-hearted moment afterwards. In the 57th minute at the Maradona, with Napoli leading 2-0, Politano took advantage of an error by Wesley to go one-on-one with Gollini and try to seal the match. Napoli's number 21, however, had not reckoned with the effective rush off his line by the Roma keeper, who closed down the angle. The two were team-mates at Napoli in the 2023-24 season, and the exchange showed that their friendship runs deeper than the 90 minutes. Roma were beaten 2-0 at the time of the incident, with Wesley's mistake proving costly in the build-up. According to DAZN, which published the clip on Instagram, Gollini approached his friend after the save and embraced him, almost as a consolation, before giving him a friendly nudge towards the centre of the pitch.

Roma host Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico tomorrow at 20:45 in a Serie A match valid for the 9th matchday. Cagliari coach Pisacane has named his squad for the trip to the capital, with Winks ruled out and Yael Trepy recovered and available. The Cagliari squad includes goalkeepers Caprile, Radunović and Sherri. The defensive options are Kofler, Zé Pedro, Romano, Aurelio, Mina, Mendy, Obert and Sugawara. In midfield Pisacane can call on Adopo, Liteta, Deiola, Rodríguez, Sulev, Massolin, Gagliardini and Trepy. The attacking group comprises Kevin Carlos, Fazzini, Nzola, Fadera, Ciervo and Maldini. The Rossoblù boss's selection gives Roma a clear picture of the visitors ahead of the fixture, with Trepy's return the main positive for Cagliari's options in midfield.

Radio pundits were largely united in their verdict on Roma's recent draw with Napoli, with several praising head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and debating the referees' decisions. Speaking to Tele Radio Stereo, Corsi said: "A team that goes behind and, after giving everything, starts again, goes behind once more and equalises... there you need conviction, mental and physical strength. Gasperini has given this motivation that the Roma players haven't had for years. Right now Italy doesn't have the money to buy the great players, and the important thing is identity. And Roma now have an identity, and Gasperini is Roma right now." Pes, also on Tele Radio Stereo, was less convinced by Wesley's performance. He said: "At Napoli, Wesley did not convince me fully... very much in the shadows, perhaps one of the worst performances in giallorosso. Now we'll see if he plays tomorrow, because Gasp could change the line-up there." Piero Torri, speaking to Manà Manà Sport, said: "Perhaps it was the best Napoli of the season, but Roma did not steal anything. I am convinced that if Roma had gone ahead it would have ended up very close. Napoli at one point you crushed them with a defence set up, imagine if they had to open up to recover the result." Daniele Lo Monaco of Radio Romanista focused on the refereeing and on Wesley. He said Wesley was probably told to mark Politano on his right side, but "marking him on the right does not mean 'step aside', because on the cross he really did step aside. A real defender does not do that, and Wesley now and then has a lapse." He argued there was a difference in treatment between Malen's red card and the non-sending-off of Rafa Marin for the foul on Wesley, adding that the error was made on Malen because neither his nor Rafa Marin's challenge was a red card. He added: "If I don't want to be the protagonist as a referee, I give the yellow, then if it's a red the VAR tells me." Mattioli, on Radio Radio, said the match was very beautiful and contested despite the errors that are part of football. He said: "I didn't like Beukema's attitude, third-category, at a very delicate moment of the match. I would not underestimate Napoli; I have seen important players return to the level of their fame, and they can resume the path worthy of their strength." Pruzzo, also on Radio Radio, was harsher on Beukema: "He threw himself to the ground, he made a terrible impression, if he had stayed on his feet perhaps he would not have let his side concede a goal." He said he agreed with almost nothing about the game: "It was a festival of errors. Napoli threw away two points with a conduct of the match I struggle to understand. Roma struggled a lot but managed to get through it, and in the end it is an acceptable draw." Nando Orsi, on Radio Radio, defended the entertainment value of a 3-3 scoreline, saying: "Why do games that finish 3-3 have to be ugly? I don't understand... Thank goodness there are no more 0-0s. Were there errors? But what error is there in Anguissa's goal?"

Ermanno Feliciani will referee Roma-Cagliari, the ninth-round Serie A fixture at the Stadio Olimpico tomorrow, Tuesday 27 October, kicking off at 20:45. The Italian Football Referees Association (AIA) made the mid-week appointments public this morning. Feliciani, from the Teramo section, will be assisted by linesmen Zingarelli and Fontani, with Mariani as fourth official. Ghersini will be the VAR, with Camplone as the AVAR. The head-to-head record favours Roma strongly. Roma have never lost under Feliciani: in six matches he has refereed involving the Giallorossi, they have won five and drawn one. The only result that was not a win came in a 2-2 draw with Salernitana in the 2023/24 season. Their most recent meeting came on 10 April, when Gasperini's side thrashed Pisa 3-0, with a hat-trick from Malen. Cagliari's record against Feliciani is far less encouraging. They have lost all three of their Serie A meetings with him, the most recent a 2-0 home defeat to Lecce on 16 February 2026. In matches involving Roma, Feliciani has awarded only one penalty in the Giallorossi's favour, in the 3-0 win over Udinese in September 2024. Gasperini is weighing up some rotation after Roma's costly draw at Napoli. Paulo Dybala could return to the matchday squad after making progress in his recovery from a calf injury. The rest of the round's mid-week schedule includes Sassuolo-Lazio on Tuesday at 18:30, with Zufferli refereeing, and Torino-Como at 20:45, refereed by Collu. Milan-Bologna, Parma-Udinese, Venezia-Inter and Genoa-Juventus follow on Wednesday 28 October, and the round closes with Frosinone-Lecce and Fiorentina-Atalanta on Thursday 29 October.

Ermanno Feliciani will referee tomorrow evening's match between Roma and Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico. The Teramo referee has a very positive record with Roma in recent years: five wins, one draw (against Salernitana in 2023) and no defeats. The wins include matches against Como and Udinese, while there are no particular cases worth highlighting. Cagliari have a much weaker record against the referee. There have been three previous Serie A meetings between Feliciani and Cagliari, with the Sardinian side losing all three. Cagliari's most recent defeat came on 16 February 2026, when the rossoblù lost 0-2 at home to Lecce. For Roma, the record gives the Giallorossi a strong reference point ahead of the home fixture. The assistant referees will be Zingarelli and Fontani, with Marian as the fourth official. Ghersini will work the Var, while Camplone will serve as the Avar.