Adani praises Roma's first hour in 2–2 draw with Inter, criticises Mancini's defending

Roma return to Serie A on Saturday evening, hosting Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico in the eleventh round, the last fixture before the international break. Kickoff is at 20:45 on Saturday 7 November. Sassuolo are coached by former Roma midfielder Alberto Aquilani, and Gasperini's side will look to bounce back from the disappointment of a late comeback against Manchester United in the Champions League. Roma lost 3-2 at Old Trafford, having led 2-0 at half-time through goals from Soulé and Malen before Manchester United completed the turnaround in the second half. In Serie A the mood is far brighter. Roma beat Udinese 5-2 in their last outing and sit third after ten rounds with 24 points, from seven wins and three draws. They have scored 28 and conceded 10, and remain unbeaten in the league this season. Sassuolo, by contrast, are seventeenth with 8 points from ten matches. They arrive on a run of four consecutive defeats and have the worst defence in Serie A. Their last game ended in a 4-2 defeat at the Mapei Stadium to Fiorentina, and they have also lost to Lazio, Como and Frosinone in recent weeks. Gasperini faces an early selection problem in goal. Pierluigi Gollini missed the Manchester United game with a back problem that came up during training, and his condition will be monitored up to the match. If he is ruled out, Devis Vásquez, who started at Old Trafford, will again be in goal. Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso are expected back in defence, although Ghilardi remains a concrete option after good performances in recent weeks. Molina and Wesley are favoured on the flanks. Devyne Rensch will not be available, having suffered a right adductor injury against Manchester United. Cristante is expected to keep his place in midfield, while the partner alongside him is still open, with Pisilli possibly giving de Roon a rest. Up front, Soulé and Malen look certain to start, with Mora expected to play behind or alongside the Argentine. Koné and Dybala are doubtful, with both hoping to be available at least on the bench. Svilar will certainly miss the game, as he completes his recovery from a stress fracture to his fifth toe and is expected back after the break. Pellegrini is also out, still recovering from the muscle problem he suffered against Slovan Bratislava. Sassuolo are expected to line up in a 4-3-3. Turati is the favourite in goal, protected by a back line of Walukiewicz, Idzes, Candé and Doig. Thorstvedt returns in midfield after serving his suspension against Fiorentina, and is expected to be joined by Matic and one of Bakola or Adzic. Up front, Aquilani will rely on his most creative players: Berardi on the right, Laurienté on the opposite flank and Sebastiano Esposito as the central reference point. Leysen, who has a serious knee injury, and Ismaël Koné, who is recovering from a leg fracture, are out for Sassuolo, along with Boloca and Volpato. Roma's head-to-head record at the Olimpico against Sassuolo is strong. Of 12 Serie A meetings played in Rome, Roma have won six, five have ended level and Sassuolo have won just once, a 4-3 victory in March 2023. The most recent meeting was on 10 January 2026, when Roma won 2-0. Overall, including matches in Emilia, the record reads 13 wins for Roma, 9 draws and just 2 wins for Sassuolo. The match will be broadcast live on DAZN and Sky Sport Calcio, and streamed via Sky Go and NOW. Official line-ups will be announced about an hour before kickoff at 20:45 on Saturday 7 November.

UEFA has confirmed that Bruno Fernandes's penalty in Manchester United's clash with Roma must be retaken, but has said nothing on the more controversial incident of the night. Referee Gil Manzano's performance was widely criticised in the TV replays and in the newspapers. The incident UEFA avoided addressing was the "light" penalty awarded to Cunha for a push from behind by Mancini. Rosetti, the refereeing designator, and UEFA did not comment openly on that decision. UEFA said on its official website only why the penalty was ordered retaken. The kick was retaken because Bryan Cristante entered the box early, before Fernandes had actually struck the ball, so Fernandes had to take a second attempt under the current rules. The explanation leaves the Roma side of the story focused on a technical error rather than on the contact that led to the spot kick. UEFA's silence on the Mancini-Cunha challenge means the debate over the officiating is likely to continue in the coming days.

Roma are back in action after a comeback defeat at Old Trafford against Manchester United, a result that has left a long trail of refereeing controversy behind it. The anger among Giallorossi fans centres on the penalty that changed the match, reopening a game Gasperini's side had been controlling before a late collapse. The protests focus on the decision by referee Gil Manzano to award the spot kick for contact between Gianluca Mancini and Matheus Cunha. The images show a minimal touch, almost non-existent: the Brazilian fell in the box after his own feet became tangled, but the referee did not hesitate to point to the spot. Many observers judged the contact insufficient to award a penalty. The decision has become a major point of debate for Roma as they look to recover from the defeat. Devis Vasquez had made an extraordinary save from Bruno Fernandes' first attempt, but the penalty was ordered retaken because Bryan Cristante had entered the area early, moving before the ball was actually struck. In its official communication published on its website, UEFA clarified only this point, stating: "It was retaken due to the early entry into the area of Bryan Cristante, who entered before the ball was actually kicked by Fernandes, who therefore had to kick a second time." UEFA said nothing, however, about the assessment of the contact between Mancini and Cunha.

Roma are reportedly back in contact over Real Madrid forward Endrick and Chelsea winger Jamie Gittens as possible January reinforcements, while Paulo Dybala and Manu Koné are still absent from training ahead of Saturday's match against Sassuolo. According to Matteo Moretto, D'Amico continues to talk with the entourage of Endrick, who has been little used by Mourinho. Roma would be ready to take him on loan in January, but the Portuguese coach does not want to let him go. Milan and foreign clubs are also interested in the player. For Gittens, the Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Roma are targeting a quick attacking winger capable of beating his man, and that the Chelsea player is one of the main objectives. D'Amico is also tracking Leweling of Stuttgart and Kvernadze of Frosinone. The idea is to take advantage of a loan opportunity, without ruling out a move for a midfielder. Dybala and Koné did not appear in the images of Friday's training at Trigoria, and their recovery for Saturday remains difficult. Gasperini is considering starting Mora alongside Soulé, with Malen as the centre-forward. Ndicka is expected to return in defence, while Molina is the favourite on the right after Rensch's injury. Rensch is set to be out for about three weeks with a right adductor injury picked up at Manchester. Gollini is recovering from a back problem and could be available against Sassuolo; if not, Vásquez will continue in goal. Svilar has no chance of returning before the international break. Fabio Capello analysed the collapse at Old Trafford, where Roma dominated the first half before becoming unrecognisable. He pointed to a drop in concentration, fatigue and United's intensity as the main causes. His verdict on the squad is that it is competitive in Italy but still needs completing to face Europe's biggest sides. Elsewhere, Marten de Roon spoke about his arrival in the capital after Gasperini's call. Given his rivalry with Roma during his Atalanta days, he had expected a difficult dressing room, but his first impressions proved those fears wrong. On the sales side, Eintracht Frankfurt are following Sangaré, the young Spanish full-back who has been sold permanently to Elche for €4.5m. Moretto reports that the German club have begun initial contacts with his entourage. Roma retain 20% of any future sell-on fee and could therefore profit from a further transfer. No official offer has been made so far.

Paulo Dybala and Manu Koné did not appear in images of Roma's group training session at Trigoria, a sign that their return for Saturday's match against Sassuolo is becoming more difficult. Gian Piero Gasperini's side are preparing for the Serie A fixture, which kicks off at 20:45 at the Olimpico, two days after the club's disappointing defeat to Manchester United. Dybala is not yet ready, while Koné, who is close to returning, is being treated with caution. A call-up for Koné remains to be decided in the coming hours. Gasperini appears set to keep Rodrigo Mora in the number ten role behind Matías Soulé, with Donyell Malen leading the attack. Mora is expected to get another start after strong recent performances. In defence, Evan N'Dicka is likely to return to the heart of the back line, while Nahuel Molina and Wesley could reclaim the full-back positions. Molina is in line to regain a starting place following the injury to Devyne Rensch, who has suffered a mild muscle lesion to his right adductor and will be out for around three weeks. Gollini, who is struggling with a back problem, remains doubtful. The aim is clear: return to winning immediately after the comeback Roma suffered against Manchester United and close out this demanding phase of the season in the best possible way. A long-awaited break will follow, giving Gasperini time to recover energy and, hopefully, a significant number of injured players. First, though, there are three points to win against Sassuolo, whose coach is Alberto Aquilani. Roma's training session on Thursday was shared by the club on its social channels in a video showing several moments of the session.

Roma return to Serie A on Saturday evening, hosting Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico in the eleventh round, the last fixture before the international break. Kickoff is at 20:45 on Saturday 7 November. Sassuolo are coached by former Roma midfielder Alberto Aquilani, and Gasperini's side will look to bounce back from the disappointment of a late comeback against Manchester United in the Champions League. Roma lost 3-2 at Old Trafford, having led 2-0 at half-time through goals from Soulé and Malen before Manchester United completed the turnaround in the second half. In Serie A the mood is far brighter. Roma beat Udinese 5-2 in their last outing and sit third after ten rounds with 24 points, from seven wins and three draws. They have scored 28 and conceded 10, and remain unbeaten in the league this season. Sassuolo, by contrast, are seventeenth with 8 points from ten matches. They arrive on a run of four consecutive defeats and have the worst defence in Serie A. Their last game ended in a 4-2 defeat at the Mapei Stadium to Fiorentina, and they have also lost to Lazio, Como and Frosinone in recent weeks. Gasperini faces an early selection problem in goal. Pierluigi Gollini missed the Manchester United game with a back problem that came up during training, and his condition will be monitored up to the match. If he is ruled out, Devis Vásquez, who started at Old Trafford, will again be in goal. Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso are expected back in defence, although Ghilardi remains a concrete option after good performances in recent weeks. Molina and Wesley are favoured on the flanks. Devyne Rensch will not be available, having suffered a right adductor injury against Manchester United. Cristante is expected to keep his place in midfield, while the partner alongside him is still open, with Pisilli possibly giving de Roon a rest. Up front, Soulé and Malen look certain to start, with Mora expected to play behind or alongside the Argentine. Koné and Dybala are doubtful, with both hoping to be available at least on the bench. Svilar will certainly miss the game, as he completes his recovery from a stress fracture to his fifth toe and is expected back after the break. Pellegrini is also out, still recovering from the muscle problem he suffered against Slovan Bratislava. Sassuolo are expected to line up in a 4-3-3. Turati is the favourite in goal, protected by a back line of Walukiewicz, Idzes, Candé and Doig. Thorstvedt returns in midfield after serving his suspension against Fiorentina, and is expected to be joined by Matic and one of Bakola or Adzic. Up front, Aquilani will rely on his most creative players: Berardi on the right, Laurienté on the opposite flank and Sebastiano Esposito as the central reference point. Leysen, who has a serious knee injury, and Ismaël Koné, who is recovering from a leg fracture, are out for Sassuolo, along with Boloca and Volpato. Roma's head-to-head record at the Olimpico against Sassuolo is strong. Of 12 Serie A meetings played in Rome, Roma have won six, five have ended level and Sassuolo have won just once, a 4-3 victory in March 2023. The most recent meeting was on 10 January 2026, when Roma won 2-0. Overall, including matches in Emilia, the record reads 13 wins for Roma, 9 draws and just 2 wins for Sassuolo. The match will be broadcast live on DAZN and Sky Sport Calcio, and streamed via Sky Go and NOW. Official line-ups will be announced about an hour before kickoff at 20:45 on Saturday 7 November.

Roma return to Serie A on Saturday evening, hosting Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico in the eleventh round, the last fixture before the international break. Kickoff is at 20:45 on Saturday 7 November. Sassuolo are coached by former Roma midfielder Alberto Aquilani, and Gasperini's side will look to bounce back from the disappointment of a late comeback against Manchester United in the Champions League. Roma lost 3-2 at Old Trafford, having led 2-0 at half-time through goals from Soulé and Malen before Manchester United completed the turnaround in the second half. In Serie A the mood is far brighter. Roma beat Udinese 5-2 in their last outing and sit third after ten rounds with 24 points, from seven wins and three draws. They have scored 28 and conceded 10, and remain unbeaten in the league this season. Sassuolo, by contrast, are seventeenth with 8 points from ten matches. They arrive on a run of four consecutive defeats and have the worst defence in Serie A. Their last game ended in a 4-2 defeat at the Mapei Stadium to Fiorentina, and they have also lost to Lazio, Como and Frosinone in recent weeks. Gasperini faces an early selection problem in goal. Pierluigi Gollini missed the Manchester United game with a back problem that came up during training, and his condition will be monitored up to the match. If he is ruled out, Devis Vásquez, who started at Old Trafford, will again be in goal. Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso are expected back in defence, although Ghilardi remains a concrete option after good performances in recent weeks. Molina and Wesley are favoured on the flanks. Devyne Rensch will not be available, having suffered a right adductor injury against Manchester United. Cristante is expected to keep his place in midfield, while the partner alongside him is still open, with Pisilli possibly giving de Roon a rest. Up front, Soulé and Malen look certain to start, with Mora expected to play behind or alongside the Argentine. Koné and Dybala are doubtful, with both hoping to be available at least on the bench. Svilar will certainly miss the game, as he completes his recovery from a stress fracture to his fifth toe and is expected back after the break. Pellegrini is also out, still recovering from the muscle problem he suffered against Slovan Bratislava. Sassuolo are expected to line up in a 4-3-3. Turati is the favourite in goal, protected by a back line of Walukiewicz, Idzes, Candé and Doig. Thorstvedt returns in midfield after serving his suspension against Fiorentina, and is expected to be joined by Matic and one of Bakola or Adzic. Up front, Aquilani will rely on his most creative players: Berardi on the right, Laurienté on the opposite flank and Sebastiano Esposito as the central reference point. Leysen, who has a serious knee injury, and Ismaël Koné, who is recovering from a leg fracture, are out for Sassuolo, along with Boloca and Volpato. Roma's head-to-head record at the Olimpico against Sassuolo is strong. Of 12 Serie A meetings played in Rome, Roma have won six, five have ended level and Sassuolo have won just once, a 4-3 victory in March 2023. The most recent meeting was on 10 January 2026, when Roma won 2-0. Overall, including matches in Emilia, the record reads 13 wins for Roma, 9 draws and just 2 wins for Sassuolo. The match will be broadcast live on DAZN and Sky Sport Calcio, and streamed via Sky Go and NOW. Official line-ups will be announced about an hour before kickoff at 20:45 on Saturday 7 November.

Roma remain unbeaten in Serie A after ten matchdays, with seven wins and three draws, despite the difficulties they have shown in the Champions League. Against Sassuolo, Gasperini can extend the run and achieve a feat managed only twice in recent Giallorossi history: avoiding defeat in the opening 11 league matches. Before him, only Rudi Garcia in 2013-14, with 17 initial league games unbeaten, and Capello in 2003-04, with 14, had managed it. Il Messaggero reports that the absence of Svilar has been felt, but does not fully explain Roma's defensive decline. Without the Belgian... no, without Svilar, Roma have conceded 14 goals in seven matches, 10 of them in the last four. The bigger problem, according to the paper, is mental management of games, particularly in the Champions League, where Roma were pegged back against Real Madrid and Manchester United after leading by two goals in each match. "The group loses its bearings at the first difficulty," the paper stresses, also highlighting a squad that is still short to cope with the double commitment. January, in this regard, could prove decisive. Il Tempo gives a positive picture of Matías Soulé, who is now one of the certainties in Gasperini's Roma. After two assists against Real Madrid, the Argentine scored at Old Trafford, producing a first half of the highest level against Manchester United. With 939 minutes played, he is the third most-used player in the squad, behind Wesley and Hermoso, and continues to make his mark mainly playing from the right. "Matías shines with his own light without needing comparisons with anyone," the paper writes, highlighting growth that is now evident in Europe too.

Roma were beaten 3-2 at Old Trafford after dominating the first half, with Manchester United winning the game after a controversial refereeing decision and a defensive error by Reportedly Balerdi. Roma's first-half display was built on an aggressive 3-4-2-1 press that left United's 4-2-3-1 struggling to cope. The visitors took control with a Soulé goal, assisted by a delicious pass from Mora, and then a penalty converted by Malen after Soulé was fouled. Roma came close to extending their lead in the first half: Soulé came close to scoring, and Malen wasted several chances through poor first touches, while Roma's pressing forced repeated turnovers. Rensch went off injured in the first half and was replaced by Lulli, a role unusual for him. Gasperini made changes at the break, bringing on Pisilli for Mora to seek more balance, and Tielemans replaced Baleba. Roma's control faded late in the match. Several loose passes and too many backpasses from Roma gave United a foothold, and Maguire and De Roon created the danger from corners. Referee Gil Manzano judged a foul by Cunha in the area, awarded a penalty and ordered it retaken, which changed the game. Roma's keeper Vásquez was denied the chance to be the hero, as the penalty was retaken and Vásquez was unable to stop it. Rensch's withdrawal and the switch to a back three of Ghilardi, N'Dicka and Castro for Hermoso, Mancini and Malen came after Roma's defeat to Napoli, Gasperini's team had already faced Real Madrid in a heavy defeat, and the match was another negative result for the club in a big game against a top-level opponent. The article notes that Gasperini remained calm after the match, saying he was learning from the errors without making a drama of it. Roma must now avoid any hangover in Serie A, where the club's ambitions appear more justified.

Matías Soulé has been the standout Roma performer in a grey night at Old Trafford, scoring his first Champions League goal and winning the penalty that Donyell Malen converted, in a game Roma ultimately lost. According to Daniele Aloisi in Il Messaggero, the Argentine is enjoying his best form yet, and the attacking hub for Roma's offence has been Soulé rather than Paulo Dybala, who is currently absent. Soulé has already scored four goals this season, against Lecce, Atalanta, Napoli and Manchester United, and has provided five assists, with his assists coming against Atalanta, Real Madrid (two) and Udinese (two). Last season, at the same stage, he had also scored the same number of goals but only two assists. He is playing a more decisive role than before, and for the first time since joining the club he is not leaving a noticeable gap without Dybala. The article describes Dybala as having become a technical leader, having put behind him the groin problem and, above all, a complicated summer. Soulé had been in the shadows during big matches last season, when his goals came against Pisa, Verona, Fiorentina, Rangers, Cremonese, Genoa and Sassuolo. Soulé has also been recalled to the Argentina squad by coach Scaloni, alongside Leonardo Balerdi and Santiago Castro, and he is set to be the focus of the two friendlies against Uruguay and Costa Rica.

Roma's dominant first halves have once again been undone by collapses after the break, and the third late comeback they have suffered in Europe now weighs eight points on their Champions League group. Gian Piero Gasperini's side were irresistible in the first half at Old Trafford but far too soft after the interval. Against Real Madrid the collapse came in the final seven minutes, while on Tuesday against a Manchester side on the brink, at least 40 minutes of suffering followed, helped by a doubtful penalty but also by many errors from Balerdi and his team-mates. It is a case of déjà vu, and a warning sign especially for the big matches. Gasperini's side are the first team to lose two games after leading by at least two goals in a single Champions League season. The pattern extends to Serie A, where Roma led by two goals before Inter equalised in the second half, and eight of the 10 goals they have conceded have come in second halves. Balzani, writing in Leggo, identifies several causes. Roma struggle to manage pressure, constantly trying to win one-on-one duels even when players are short of breath, as shown by the two goals Cunha scored late on. The psychological side also matters: after conceding against Real Madrid and Manchester, there was no reaction, and the opponent found room to twist the knife deeper. Finally, the squad can dominate in Italy but needs variables in Europe that have not arrived from the transfer market. Gasperini has always asked for, and continues to ask for, a couple of players with explosive pace in the mould of Lookman who can stretch the side when legs tire. Attention now turns to Sassuolo, Saturday's evening opponents. Koné should be available again, while decisive hours lie ahead for Dybala.

Leonardo Balerdi has responded to Roma's late setback at Old Trafford, where a dominant performance was undone in the closing minutes by a costly mistake that allowed Cunha to equalise. The Argentine defender took to social media to address the Roma supporters. Balerdi, who was outstanding for much of the night, saw his display overshadowed by the error that gave Cunha the equaliser. Writing on his social channels, he acknowledged the pain of the result while stressing the commitment and pride that come with wearing the Roma shirt. His message read: "Fa male. Non era il finale che volevamo. Ma ci sono cose che non cambiano mai: l'impegno, il rispetto e l'orgoglio di difendere questi colori. Ai nostri tifosi che sono venuti fino a Manchester, grazie di cuore per il vostro sostegno. Forza Roma." Translated: "It hurts. It was not the ending we wanted. But there are things that never change: the commitment, the respect and the pride of defending these colours. To our fans who came all the way to Manchester, thank you from the heart for your support. Forza Roma."