Balerdi scores first Roma goals in 3-3 draw at Napoli after Simpsons-style paintings gift

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.

Leonardo Balerdi returned from Napoli not only with his first career brace but also with two portraits from artist Steart, whose real name is Stefano Monda. Steart had commissioned the works ahead of the trip to Naples, and both are themed on The Simpsons. The Roma defender received them before the match against Allegri's side. One portrait shows Balerdi with his girlfriend, who is wearing a Roma shirt. The other shows his family, this time with Balerdi in an Argentina shirt. Balerdi is set to return to the starting line-up tomorrow evening at the Olimpico against Cagliari. In return, Balerdi gave the artist a signed giallorossi shirt.

Roma host Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday in a midweek fixture for Serie A's ninth matchday, and the club have confirmed that defender Emanuele Lulli has signed a new contract running to 2031. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini admitted the schedule leaves no time to rest, saying at his pre-match press conference: "Today is the first training session and it is already the eve of the match." Gasperini did not rule out changes to his starting eleven. Hermoso and de Roon could be rested, with a chance for Mora, while Balerdi and Lulli are in contention for a place from the first minute. Paulo Dybala's return also looks likely, at least as part of the matchday squad. Gasperini said: "We will try to get him onto the bench. I have good confidence." Cagliari coach Pisacane spoke on the eve of the game, saying: "Gasperini is extraordinary. We have to exploit Roma's weaknesses." Referee Feliciani will take charge of the match. He has been a lucky charm for Roma, who have won all five of the matches he has officiated, while Cagliari have lost all three of theirs under him.

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.

Roma host Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday in a midweek fixture for Serie A's ninth matchday, and the club have confirmed that defender Emanuele Lulli has signed a new contract running to 2031. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini admitted the schedule leaves no time to rest, saying at his pre-match press conference: "Today is the first training session and it is already the eve of the match." Gasperini did not rule out changes to his starting eleven. Hermoso and de Roon could be rested, with a chance for Mora, while Balerdi and Lulli are in contention for a place from the first minute. Paulo Dybala's return also looks likely, at least as part of the matchday squad. Gasperini said: "We will try to get him onto the bench. I have good confidence." Cagliari coach Pisacane spoke on the eve of the game, saying: "Gasperini is extraordinary. We have to exploit Roma's weaknesses." Referee Feliciani will take charge of the match. He has been a lucky charm for Roma, who have won all five of the matches he has officiated, while Cagliari have lost all three of theirs under him.

Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini addressed the press at the Fulvio Bernardini training centre in Trigoria on Monday 26 October, two days ahead of Roma's Serie A ninth-round match against Cagliari, which kicks off on Tuesday 27 October at 20:45 at the Stadio Olimpico. The coach was speaking just over 48 hours after the dramatic 3-3 draw at the Maradona against Napoli. Paulo Dybala is the only possible returnee from injury and is close to being back in the squad, with Gasperini saying he has good confidence and will decide that afternoon whether Dybala goes on the bench. Rotations are probable, but will depend on the opponent. Cagliari are coached by Fabio Pisacane. Gasperini also addressed the recent controversy with Massimiliano Allegri. Asked about the impact of Allegri's comment, he said: "I didn't hear it, you reported it and surely it was like that. There are the numbers, the testimonies, the data, on last year's matches. I haven't read a favourable comment on this observation, which was without doubt unfortunate. There's no need to add anything else." On the squad's progress, he said the improvement is continuous, adding: "We have reached a way of playing and facing matches that we can repeat over time. There is growth across the whole squad but also individually in many players. The environment also pushes us to be brave and proactive, to face the toughest matches and always do our part." On Matías Soulé, who has been described as a technical leader, Gasperini said: "Unfortunately he had a stop for a groin problem. But this year he restarted from the first half of last season. The other evening he was extraordinary, but the previous ones were also of high level. He is 23 and sometimes we forget it. He still has margins of maturity in every aspect that can make him ever stronger. He is playing in several roles, even on the right, as a full-back, and the other evening he played as a trequartista and scored. He has an important maturity and confidence. He loses fewer balls but can still improve. He works very well to grow, and he was also called up with Argentina, which is another good sign." On Lulli, who is close to a contract renewal, Gasperini said: "No, there we have four players doing very well. Rensch is doing very well, Molina has a very high performance level, Wesley is now a player of absolute value. I'm happy for Lulli, he deserves it. Everyone's goal is to improve individually to make the team even stronger." On conceding in big matches, he said: "Our attitude is always very positive. The goals are all different; in those against Real Madrid we were more at fault than in Anguissa's, who scored a masterpiece. We are not machines, sometimes we make technical errors. The approach however is always positive." He also praised the defensive set-piece work and said Hermoso had defended on Diomandé, Vinicius and then Endrick against Real. On the three draws in big matches, he said: "They were three different but good games. In all three we came out very well, we perhaps deserved more but certainly not less. We haven't won but neither have the others." On Napoli, he added: "We found ourselves 2-0 down but we came back and had the confidence we could win. Then we thought we had lost it and then we equalised again. We must look at the 90 minutes." On injuries, Gasperini said Koné is unlikely to be available before the international break, while Svilar could return on Thursday or Friday but with doubts. He added: "We hope to have him for Manchester or for the last one against Sassuolo." He said the squad must focus on itself, noting the spell without Svilar and others such as Dybala, Koné and Pellegrini, and that the injuries are a consequence of playing every three days. Asked about regaining possession in the opponent's box, he said: "We have been working on it for a long time. It is not always like that, but looking for recovery even in the opponent's area is a characteristic we have often put on the pitch."

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini says he is confident Paulo Dybala can recover in time to be included on the bench for the match against Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico. Speaking at his press conference to preview the league fixture, Gasperini said: "The only possible one is Dybala's, but we'll see this afternoon. We'll try to get him onto the bench. I'm quite confident. Today is the first training session and it already feels like the eve of the match, I'll decide today. We'll probably rotate, but we'll see depending on the opponent." Roma drew at Napoli in their last outing, and Cagliari, coached by Pisacane, come to the capital after a defeat to Bologna. Gasperini was also asked about Massimiliano Allegri's comment on Roma's big-match record. He said: "I didn't hear it, you reported it. There are the numbers, the testimonies, the data, on last year's matches. I haven't read a favourable comment on this observation, which was undoubtedly unfortunate. There's no need to add anything else." On the improvement in the team's level, he said: "It's continuous, the goal is always to get better. There's never a limit to that. We have reached a way of playing and facing matches that we can repeat over time. There is growth across the whole squad but also individually in some players. The environment also pushes us to be brave and proactive." On Matías Soulé, who has been described as a technical leader, Gasperini said: "Last year he had a stop because of his groin problem. This year he has restarted from where he left off last year's first half of the season. The other night was extraordinary, but so were the matches before it. He is 23 and sometimes we forget that. He has room to mature that can take him to be ever stronger. He is playing in several roles, including on the right, as a full-back, and the other night he played as a trequartista and scored. He has an important maturity and confidence. He loses fewer balls but can still improve. He works very hard to grow, and he has also been called up by Argentina." On Lulli, Gasperini said: "We have players who are doing very well there. I'm happy for Lulli, he deserves it. Everyone's goal is to improve individually to make the team even stronger." On whether the team concedes too much in big matches, he said the attitude is always very positive, adding: "The goals are all different. In the ones against Real Madrid we were more at fault than in Anguissa's, who scored a wonder goal. We aren't machines, sometimes we make technical errors. The approach, however, is always positive. On set pieces we have been very solid apart from a few games. Opponents also matter. We have conceded to everyone." On Roma changing defenders during comebacks, he said: "A bit of both. With five substitutions it can happen that you change defenders because opponents bring on fresh and very strong players. Against Real, Hermoso marked Diomandé, then Vinicius and then Endrick. In that role you need fresh players. We also have a good tendency to score in defence, especially in the air. They are very effective. It's part of finding solutions during the match." On the three draws in big matches, he said: "They were three different but good games. In all three we came out of them very well. I don't know if we deserved more, but certainly not less. We didn't win, but neither did the others. The path is definitely positive." On what is missing to win big matches, he said: "They are balanced games, where you play on the quality of finishing. In Naples we found ourselves 2-0 down but came back and had the confidence we could win. Then we thought we had lost it, and in the end we drew again. We must look at the 90 minutes. We had difficulties, but overall we came out of these matches very well. If I weigh up what we gave and what we got, we leave these games aware we played on an equal footing." On injuries, Gasperini said Koné is unlikely to be available before the international break. Mile Svilar could return on Thursday or Friday, but with a doubt. He added: "We hope to have him for Manchester or for Sassuolo." On the squad's stretch without Svilar, Dybala, Koné and Pellegrini, he said: "We are holding up and getting results. When we are at full strength it is better, but over a season it will happen to the others too. It's because we play every three days. Playing this often brings injuries, you have to accept that." Asked about winning the ball back high up the pitch, he said: "We have been working on it for some time. It isn't always like that, but looking for the recovery even inside the opponent's box is a feature we have often put on the pitch."