Balerdi Wins Over Roma: Compared to Rummenigge as a Young Talent, Now Likened to Samuel

FIFA's Appeals Committee has reduced Roma full-back Nahuel Molina's suspension from seven matches to four, following the brawl that broke out after the World Cup final won by Spain. The Argentina defender had been punished for punching Rodri during the post-match celebrations. His fine of 60,000 dollars remains unchanged. The ruling was a partial success for the Argentine football federation (AFA), which had lodged the appeal. The outcome is different for former Roma midfielder Leandro Paredes, whose appeal was rejected. FIFA has confirmed his ten-match suspension and his fine of 90,000 dollars. Paredes had pushed and struck Eric García and clashed heavily with Gavi during the same melee, and the sanctions reflect the seriousness of those incidents. The AFA also faces a heavy penalty of 321,000 dollars for discriminatory chants sung during the celebrations of the World Cup title. The verdicts mark the final word on the disciplinary cases linked to the confrontation between the Argentina and Spain players, with some sanctions eased and others left unchanged.

FIFA has reduced Roma right-back Nahuel Molina's suspension from seven matches to four after Argentina's appeal, while confirming a ten-match ban for Leandro Paredes. The decisions follow incidents at the end of the World Cup final against Spain, as communicated by the AFA after the FIFA Appeals Committee ruling. Molina was initially sanctioned with seven matches for punching Rodri during the Spanish celebrations. The fine of 60,000 dollars imposed on him has been confirmed. Paredes, a Boca Juniors midfielder, must serve the ten-match suspension already set at first instance and pay a fine of 90,000 dollars. The sanction concerns his conduct towards Eric García, whom he pushed and struck during the Spanish celebrations, and the subsequent heated confrontation with Gavi. The 321,000-dollar fine imposed on the AFA by the Disciplinary Committee for discriminatory chants remains unchanged. The AFA has announced its intention to take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), contesting both Paredes's suspension and the sanction linked to the chants. Before proceeding, the federation will request the official reasons for the decisions, stating it has "sufficient factual and legal arguments to proceed with the appeal." The FIFA ruling also affects other members of the Argentina delegation. Thiago Almada has already served a one-match suspension and received a 30,000-dollar fine during the previous international window. "Ratón" Ayala received three matches and another 30,000-dollar fine for punching Dani Olmo.

Pierluigi Gollini will not be available for tonight's match against Sassuolo, as the back pain he suffered before the Manchester United game has not yet cleared. Devis Vásquez will therefore keep his place in goal. For the Colombian it will be a return to Serie A after 16 months; his last appearance came on 25 May 2025 in Empoli-Verona, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. Roma are looking to bounce back against Sassuolo after their defeat at Manchester United. Vásquez is set to be confirmed in goal, with Gollini still doubtful. In defence, the real battle for a place is between Ghilardi and Balerdi, while Ndicka and Hermoso are favoured to complete the back line. Cristante and De Roon are expected to continue in midfield, with Molina and Wesley on the flanks. Up front, the newspapers agree on a trio of Soulé, Mora and Malen. Il Tempo, Il Messaggero, Corriere dello Sport, Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere della Sera all report the line-up picture. Separately, Koné has been in the news after France's decision, and he could even start against Sassuolo. Gasperini is also reported to be pushing the club to bring in two reinforcements in the transfer market, with the problem extending beyond the attack.

Pierluigi Gollini will not be available for tonight's match against Sassuolo, as the back pain he suffered before the Manchester United game has not yet cleared. Devis Vásquez will therefore keep his place in goal. For the Colombian it will be a return to Serie A after 16 months; his last appearance came on 25 May 2025 in Empoli-Verona, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. Roma are looking to bounce back against Sassuolo after their defeat at Manchester United. Vásquez is set to be confirmed in goal, with Gollini still doubtful. In defence, the real battle for a place is between Ghilardi and Balerdi, while Ndicka and Hermoso are favoured to complete the back line. Cristante and De Roon are expected to continue in midfield, with Molina and Wesley on the flanks. Up front, the newspapers agree on a trio of Soulé, Mora and Malen. Il Tempo, Il Messaggero, Corriere dello Sport, Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere della Sera all report the line-up picture. Separately, Koné has been in the news after France's decision, and he could even start against Sassuolo. Gasperini is also reported to be pushing the club to bring in two reinforcements in the transfer market, with the problem extending beyond the attack.

Roma host Sassuolo, coached by former Roma midfielder Aquilani, in their Serie A matchday 11 fixture at the Stadio Olimpico, with kickoff at 20:45. Gasperini wants a response from his players after the defeat in Manchester, aiming to continue an excellent start to the season and take advantage of the day's other results, Inter v Como and Napoli v Lazio, which could help Roma in the table. Gollini will not be available for the match, so Devis Vásquez is confirmed in goal. The central defensive places remain open, with Ghilardi or Mancini competing for one spot and Balerdi or N'Dicka for another. Up front, the trio of Soulé, Mora and Malen is confirmed. The Italian newspapers largely agree on the starting line-up. La Gazzetta dello Sport, Il Corriere dello Sport and La Repubblica all name Vásquez; Ghilardi, N'Dicka and Hermoso at the back; Molina, Cristante, De Roon and Wesley in midfield; and Soulé, Mora and Malen in attack. Il Romanista instead picks Balerdi alongside N'Dicka and Hermoso and gives Koné a place in midfield. Il Messaggero also selects Balerdi, with De Roon and Cristante in the middle. Tuttosport goes with Gollini in goal, Pisilli in the midfield and Malen as the lone striker, and it lists Gasperini as the coach. Il Tempo and Corriere della Sera's Italian sources differ on the defence, with Mancini in place of Ghilardi or Balerdi in some lineups. The lineups as published by the newspapers are as follows. La Gazzetta dello Sport: Vásquez; Ghilardi, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Molina, Cristante, De Roon, Wesley; Soulé, Mora; Malen. Il Corriere dello Sport: Vásquez; Ghilardi, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Molina, Cristante, De Roon, Wesley; Soulé, Mora; Malen. Il Romanista: Vásquez; Balerdi, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Molina, Cristante, Koné, Wesley; Soulé, Mora; Malen. La Repubblica: Vásquez; Ghilardi, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Molina, Cristante, De Roon, Wesley; Soulé, Mora; Malen. Tuttosport: Gollini; Ghilardi, Balerdi, Hermoso; Molina, De Roon, Cristante, Wesley; Soulé, Pisilli; Malen. Il Messaggero: Vásquez; Balerdi, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Molina, De Roon, Cristante, Wesley; Soulé, Mora; Malen. Il Tempo: Vásquez; Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Molina, Cristante, De Roon, Wesley; Mora, Soulé; Malen.

Roma return to Serie A with an important chance to secure a result before the international break, when they host Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico. Manu Koné, the French midfielder, is a possible returnee and could be available at least in the matchday squad, which would add options in midfield. Several key players remain absent. Newspapers broadly agree that Vásquez will return in goal, with Gollini the choice in one newspaper's projection. Daniele Ghilardi is expected to start, and Leonardo Balerdi also hopes to be included, though the question is who will be rested. Nahuel Molina is pencilled in on the right, with Rodrigo Mora playing alongside Matías Soulé and Donyell Malen up front. The lineups published by the national papers show differing shapes. La Gazzetta dello Sport goes with a 3-4-2-1 featuring Vásquez; Ghilardi, Ndicka and Hermoso; Molina, Cristante, de Roon and Wesley; Soulé and Mora behind Malen. Il Messaggero opts for a 3-4-1-2 with Balerdi in defence, Mora in the number ten role and Soulé and Malen up front. Corriere della Sera also uses a 3-4-1-2, with Ghilardi and Balerdi both in the back three alongside Ndicka. Corriere dello Sport and Il Tempo both use a 3-4-2-1, though Il Tempo selects Mancini in place of Ghilardi. Tuttosport is the outlier, naming Gollini in goal and Pisilli in midfield alongside Soulé, with Malen leading the line. For the full picture of the probable lineups, the candidates for the back three and the role behind the striker remain the main points of debate among the papers. The varying picks reflect uncertainty over rotation, with Ghilardi the most consistently named starter across the newspapers. Koné's possible return would be a significant boost for coach Gian Piero Gasperini as the side seeks a result against Sassuolo.