Balerdi starts as Roma visit Torino in Serie A; Wesley and Koné ruled out

Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has turned his attention to Saturday's home match against Roma after his side drew 0-0 with Parma. Speaking to Dazn at the final whistle, the Nigerian said: "We always want to win and we need points. At Parma we took one and that's fine, now straight away our focus is on the next one." Udinese have been unlucky in recent games, and Okoye pointed to the absence of key players as a factor. "In these matches we have been unlucky, and then we were missing players like Zaniolo, whose importance we saw today." The Italian headline's quote, "We will play to win", reflects the same determination heading into the clash with Roma. The Friuli side face Roma at home on Saturday, with the Giallorossi arriving in Udine looking to continue their campaign. Okoye's comments underline Udinese's need for points as they look to climb the table, and his praise for Zaniolo highlights how much the hosts have missed their creative presence during recent fixtures.

Roma travel to Udinese on Saturday at 20:45 in the tenth round of Serie A, at the Bluenergy Stadium, four days after beating Cagliari at home. Gasperini's side must again do without starters Svilar, Koné and Dybala, but can count on Malen, who already has 10 goals this season, and an Soulé in outstanding form. On the other side, the spotlight falls on Nicolò Zaniolo, the hero of Roma's Conference League triumph who left the capital amid controversy. Zaniolo remains one of Udinese's most unpredictable players, combining physicality, ball carrying and an ability to attack the box. The former Roma midfielder can operate behind the striker or start wider before cutting inside on his left foot, relying above all on the power of his runs and his ability to withstand physical contact with defenders. This early Serie A campaign has seen him make 4 appearances, 3 of them as a starter, for a total of 245 minutes, without a goal or an assist so far. His attacking numbers remain flat, partly because of an injury that affected him in recent weeks, but he is still one of the players Udinese rely on to create overloads and to spark their play in the final thirty metres. Against Roma he is expected to try to exploit the transitions and the spaces left by Gasperini's high defensive line. Soulé, by contrast, has shown more consistency and greater incisiveness, and has become one of the pillars of Roma's attack, even more so with Dybala absent. The Argentine often starts from the right before cutting inside onto his left foot, but within Gasperini's system he has the freedom to move between the lines, drop into midfield and combine with the other forwards. His start to the league season has been very positive: 9 appearances, 6 as a starter, 594 minutes played, 3 goals and 1 assist. Those numbers place him among the most productive players in the squad, with 4 direct goal contributions in Serie A. He combines quality in dribbling, a good final pass and danger in front of goal, as shown by the goal he scored in the recent 3-3 draw at Napoli. His growth in mentality in this first part of the season has also stood out, with a sense of security and leadership that is increasingly evident.

Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has set his sights on Roma after his side's draw with Parma, saying his team must keep collecting points. Speaking to Dazn on Wednesday, Okoye said: "We always want to win and we need points. At Parma we took one and that's fine, now straight away our focus is on the next one." The clash with Roma is at the Dacia Arena on Saturday, with kickoff at 18:00. Udinese were left frustrated by their recent results, and Okoye believes they have been unlucky in these type of games. He also pointed to the absence of Nicolò Zaniolo, the former Roma midfielder now at Udinese, as a reason for the setbacks. Okoye said: "In these matches we have been unlucky, then we have missed players like Zaniolo, whose importance we have seen today."

Mile Svilar will not return before the international break, with doctors refusing to clear the goalkeeper early despite new instrumental tests on his foot injury, which had been examined with a view to a return for the Champions League clash with Manchester United. He will miss the trips to Udinese, Manchester United and Sassuolo, with a probable comeback after the break in the match on 21 November at Parma. Roma continue a demanding run of fixtures, and they travel to Udinese on Saturday 31 October at 18:00 with further important absences. Paulo Dybala will not be available for the match at the Bluenergy Arena. Despite Gasperini's optimism and his partial return to group training, the Argentine has been held back as a precaution. He has suffered no setback and the injury has fully healed, but he had felt a slight discomfort before the Cagliari game and the medical staff preferred not to take a risk. The goal is his availability for the Champions League match against Manchester United on 3 November. Roma's attack remains a target in the market, with Endrick, the Brazilian talent of Real Madrid, a name of interest. Despite Mourinho's wish to keep him, the player is weighing offers received in recent weeks, and Serie A would be a welcome destination. AC Milan and Roma remain among the interested clubs, and the player's camp does not rule anything out for January. Michael Yormack, president of Roc Nation Sports International, said: "It is an evolving process. We will see how things go until the end of the year. Endrick is very talented and wants to play. He loves Madrid and his teammates, but a career is short and he wants to make the most of it." With the winter window approaching, further names linked to Roma are circulating. German reports revive interest in Federico Chiesa, who is finding little space at Liverpool and is now willing to sell him for around 15 million euros. The winger is reportedly unhappy with the limited minutes given to him by the new coach Iraola and has begun looking at the Italian market. Initial contacts with Inter were reportedly made without reaching an agreement. Atalanta, Lazio and Milan are also interested alongside Roma. On Rome radio, Alessandro Vocalelli praised the way the substitutes have come on. He said: "I like the way the players coming off the bench enter. The latest was Gollini, who seemed not up to it and instead came on and did very well, as did Balerdi and Mora. It is a Roma that is confirming what was said on the eve of the match." Luigi Ferrajolo added: "On an individual level I really like Lulli: he is growing and deserves to play all the time. Against Cagliari Roma played with fire, not only in terms of the result but also in terms of the game they played."

Roma returned to training this afternoon after a rest day granted by Gasperini, with the team two days away from the trip to Udinese. Paulo Dybala is set to miss the match at the Dacia Arena and is doing individual training. The Argentine is hoping to be fit for the Manchester United game, but the calf pain has not fully gone away. Manu Koné is working on the pitch with the aim of being available for the Sassuolo fixture, the last match before the international break. The Frenchman has increased his workload and his condition is improving. Mile Svilar is out and will return directly for the away trip to Parma, scheduled for 21 November. Nahuel Molina's teammate Leonardo Balerdi trained with the group after missing Tuesday's match against Cagliari, which followed a heavy blow he suffered in Naples. Gasperini will not speak at the press conference on the eve of the match tomorrow.

Roma travel to the Bluenergy Stadium to face Udinese on Saturday 31 October at 18:00 in Serie A matchday 10, just days after a 4-2 win over Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico. It is Roma's fourth match in a few days, and Gian Piero Gasperini must manage a number of absences while the fixture list stays tight. Udinese, coached by Kosta Runjaic, are coming off a 0-0 draw at Parma. Gasperini may rotate several players again. Gollini is set to keep his place in goal, while Svilar has not been cleared to return early and will only come back after the international break, after the medical staff chose not to rush his recovery from a foot problem. Hermoso remains one of the main candidates to start from the first minute. Mancini, who did not look at his best against Cagliari, could make way for Ghilardi, and the battle between N'Dicka and Balerdi is still open, with Balerdi gaining ground after scoring a brace against Napoli. Wesley should return to the starting line-up on the left, while Lulli and Molina are competing for the right-back spot. Lulli, born in 2007, came off a strong performance against Cagliari, which ended with a goal and an assist. Cristante is expected to keep his place in midfield, with De Roon and Pisilli in contention to partner him, and Pisilli could also be deployed a few metres further forward. Soulé remains a fixed starter, while Mora is set to play slightly ahead to complete the line behind Malen. Pisilli is also an option to add intensity and runs into the box. Udinese are expected to line up in a 3-4-2-1. Okoye, who saved a penalty against Parma, is in goal, with Palma, Kabasele and Abankwah in defence. Kamara and Bertola are set for the wing-back roles, and Karlstrom should partner Chakvetadze in midfield. In the number 10 role is former Roma player Zaniolo, who has recovered from injury and is a candidate to start alongside Ekkelenkamp behind Davis. Karlstrom is suspended after a caution. Udinese are without Solet, Zanoli, Bayo, Gueye and Alaba. Roma are also missing several important players. Svilar will miss the match after recent foot checks, and Paulo Dybala has not yet recovered fully from his injury, with his return being managed more cautiously than initially expected. The aim is to have him back for Roma's next Champions League trip against Manchester United. Manu Koné remains unavailable, and Lorenzo Pellegrini continues his recovery from a serious muscle problem. Roma have no players suspended or doubtful for the match. The historical record leans towards Roma overall, but Udinese won the last meeting at the Bluenergy Stadium, beating them 1-0 on 2 February 2026. In the first leg of that same season, Roma won 2-0 at the Olimpico. Across the last five Serie A meetings, Roma have won four and Udinese one. The match will be broadcast live on DAZN. Official line-ups will be confirmed about an hour before kickoff.

Roma travel to the Bluenergy Stadium to face Udinese on Saturday 31 October at 18:00 in Serie A matchday 10, just days after a 4-2 win over Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico. It is Roma's fourth match in a few days, and Gian Piero Gasperini must manage a number of absences while the fixture list stays tight. Udinese, coached by Kosta Runjaic, are coming off a 0-0 draw at Parma. Gasperini may rotate several players again. Gollini is set to keep his place in goal, while Svilar has not been cleared to return early and will only come back after the international break, after the medical staff chose not to rush his recovery from a foot problem. Hermoso remains one of the main candidates to start from the first minute. Mancini, who did not look at his best against Cagliari, could make way for Ghilardi, and the battle between N'Dicka and Balerdi is still open, with Balerdi gaining ground after scoring a brace against Napoli. Wesley should return to the starting line-up on the left, while Lulli and Molina are competing for the right-back spot. Lulli, born in 2007, came off a strong performance against Cagliari, which ended with a goal and an assist. Cristante is expected to keep his place in midfield, with De Roon and Pisilli in contention to partner him, and Pisilli could also be deployed a few metres further forward. Soulé remains a fixed starter, while Mora is set to play slightly ahead to complete the line behind Malen. Pisilli is also an option to add intensity and runs into the box. Udinese are expected to line up in a 3-4-2-1. Okoye, who saved a penalty against Parma, is in goal, with Palma, Kabasele and Abankwah in defence. Kamara and Bertola are set for the wing-back roles, and Karlstrom should partner Chakvetadze in midfield. In the number 10 role is former Roma player Zaniolo, who has recovered from injury and is a candidate to start alongside Ekkelenkamp behind Davis. Karlstrom is suspended after a caution. Udinese are without Solet, Zanoli, Bayo, Gueye and Alaba. Roma are also missing several important players. Svilar will miss the match after recent foot checks, and Paulo Dybala has not yet recovered fully from his injury, with his return being managed more cautiously than initially expected. The aim is to have him back for Roma's next Champions League trip against Manchester United. Manu Koné remains unavailable, and Lorenzo Pellegrini continues his recovery from a serious muscle problem. Roma have no players suspended or doubtful for the match. The historical record leans towards Roma overall, but Udinese won the last meeting at the Bluenergy Stadium, beating them 1-0 on 2 February 2026. In the first leg of that same season, Roma won 2-0 at the Olimpico. Across the last five Serie A meetings, Roma have won four and Udinese one. The match will be broadcast live on DAZN. Official line-ups will be confirmed about an hour before kickoff.

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

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

Roma winger Wesley has spoken about the injury that ended his hopes of playing at the World Cup, describing the moment he was forced off during the friendly against Egypt in preparation for the tournament. Speaking to Espn, the Brazilian said he knew immediately how serious the problem was. The injury also cost him his opening matches of the new season, and he has returned to the national team with the aim of earning a place at the next World Cup. He is now rebuilding his fitness after a series of setbacks that left him sidelined from the tournament itself. Wesley recounted the moment in detail: "Nel momento in cui c'è stato l'infortunio, ricordo perfettamente l'azione." In English: "When the injury happened, I remember the action perfectly. I realised straight away how serious it was, because the pain was too strong. Before crossing the ball I had already felt the tear, but then I went back to running to get my position back, telling myself it was not possible that the muscle had torn." He added: "On the bench I started to cry, because I felt a lot of pain and above all I knew it was a second-degree tear and that I would be out of the Cup. It was a dream that ended among the rubbish." He went on: "I had reached the top, to play a World Cup, and instead... Now I have to rebuild everything again. I am capable of building, because I have already been through many difficulties. I deserve to be at the next World Cup, no more than others, but I will work at my maximum to be there and perhaps bring joy to the Brazilian people."

Roma full-back Wesley has been called up by Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti for friendlies against Japan and Singapore on 14 and 17 November. The call-up confirms the 2003-born defender has become an established figure in the Selecao, and he has missed no World Cup other than through injury. Wesley was recently at the centre of social media attention following a turbulent separation from his wife. Sharing the news on Instagram, he wrote: "May the new winds bring new chapters, new conquests and even more reasons to be grateful. Another call-up. The same pride. The same desire. I love you, my Brazil." The post was shared from his W43 account, @wesleyfranca03_.

Roma winger Wesley has been called back into the Brazil squad by coach Carlo Ancelotti for friendlies against Japan and Singapore on 14 and 17 November. The Brazilian had missed the early fixtures of the new season through injury, having also been absent from the World Cup. The call-up marks a return to the national side for the Roma player, who is determined to feature in the yellow-and-green shirt once again. The Brazilian's availability for the two matches comes after a period on the sidelines that kept him out of the club's opening commitments. Wesley celebrated the selection on social media with a message to his country: "May the new winds bring new chapters, new conquests and even more reasons to be grateful. Another call-up. The same pride. The same desire. I love you, my Brazil."