Como–Roma: a tactical duel of flashes of genius

Roma face Como at the Sinigaglia on Sunday at 12:30 in the sixth round of Serie A, beginning a gruelling schedule of nine matches in 27 days after the international break. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini must manage his squad carefully with Svilar (out for a month, expected back after November's break), Koulierakis and Cristante unavailable. Koulierakis is due to resume training from Monday. Gasperini has cleared Gollini to start in goal and de Roon to partner Koné in midfield. In defence, Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso are set to line up ahead of Gollini. Molina and Wesley appear certain of their places on the flanks, though both are under pressure from Lulli. Up front, Lorenzo Pellegrini has the edge over Soulé to complete the attack alongside Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. Rodrigo Mora remains further back in the pecking order. Gasperini faces a particular balancing act with Wednesday's Champions League fixture at the Olimpico against Real Madrid on the horizon. The Roma manager has encountered Como on four previous occasions, recording two wins and two defeats; Como's head coach Cesc Fabregas carries the same record against Gasperini, and has also won twice and lost twice against Roma. Roma have not won at Como since 30 April 1989, when they won 1–0. In their 28 Serie A meetings overall, Roma lead with 13 victories, 8 draws and 7 Como wins; at Como's ground specifically, the record stands at 4 Roma wins, 4 draws and 6 home victories. The match will be broadcast exclusively on DAZN with kickoff at 12:30.

Pietro Vierchowod, who won the Serie A title with Roma in the 1982–83 season after five years at Como, has given a detailed interview ahead of today's match between the two clubs at the Sinigaglia. The former defender, a double ex of the fixture, spoke about facing Donyell Malen in defence, recalled his glorious career arc, and offered his prediction for the game. Vierchowod played just one season at Roma but captured the Scudetto, operating in a defensive system unlike anything else in Italian football at the time. He explained: "I did the entire defence alone. Roma was the first Italian team to play a zonal system. The other defenders pushed up, I stayed back with the goalkeeper. If I crossed the halfway line, Liedholm would shout at me: 'Pietro, go back!' I scored 20 goals in Serie A, but none at Roma. I wasn't even allowed to try." He also recalled an early dressing-room clash: before his debut, he put on his match shirt only for Liedholm to become angry, telling him: "What have you done? Let's hope nothing happens to you." The manager distributed the shirts himself as a superstition. On his time at Como, Vierchowod remembered his rare youth selection for the 1950 World Cup in Uruguay as his finest memory. He has followed Como's rise from lower leagues to the Champions League with amazement, noting: "The city went mad" last season. Asked whom he would choose today between the two clubs if he were 25, he said: "Rome is the capital. The people are extraordinary, otherworldly things. The stadium is magical. Como is my home—I've lived here 40 years, I feel always on holiday, I cycle around. I love it now, but as a young man the big city is better." On the match itself, Vierchowod said: "I hope for a draw, I can't choose. And I want few goals, because watching defences flutter makes me suffer too much. I'd like a 1–1. A 4–4 isn't football, it's just a heap of mistakes." He also expressed his delight at both clubs now in the Champions League: "It's beautiful. Roma has been away a long time; for Como it's a baptism. The idea that Manchester United and PSG will arrive on the lake is incredible."

Como and Roma meet at the Stadio Sinigaglia at 12:30 on Saturday in one of Serie A's most tactically intriguing fixtures, pitting Cesc Fabregas's approach against Gian Piero Gasperini's high-intensity system. The match centres on a duel between two Argentine left-footers: Como's Nico Paz, who scored for Argentina in a farewell tribute to Lionel Messi, and Roma's Paulo Dybala, set to lead the attack alongside Donyell Malen. Fabregas said ahead of the tie: "We respect Roma but we will not change our way of thinking—we will play with our faces open." Roma's preparation has been disrupted by injury to Mile Svilar. The Serbian goalkeeper has suffered a stress fracture to the fifth metatarsal on his right foot and will miss approximately one month, ruling him out of a crucial run of fixtures spanning Serie A and the Champions League, including matches against Real Madrid, Napoli and Manchester United. Pierluigi Gollini will make his first start in Serie A, stepping in after a long spell without competitive action. Gasperini must also contend with the absence of Bryan Cristante in midfield. Como face their own forward problems: Moise Kean has been sidelined by an injury sustained during international duty with Italy and will be unavailable for around ten days. Fabregas responded sharply to the situation, saying: "Moise will be out for 10 days. He took a blow in the first match against Belgium and then returned to play another match as an injured player for the full 90 minutes. Communication between the clubs and the Italian Football Federation should improve." The two managers have faced each other three times in the past year, deploying five different formations across those meetings.

Lorenzo Pellegrini will start for Roma in the Serie A match against Como on 11 October, marking his first time in the team's opening formation for six months. Gian Piero Gasperini's side travel to the Giuseppe Sinigaglia for the sixth-round lunch kick-off, where they face Cesc Fabregas's Como side. The appointment comes during the international break window and presents Roma with a challenging away fixture. Gasperini must manage two significant absences: Mile Svilar is sidelined by a fracture to the fifth digit of his hand, and Bryan Cristante is unavailable. Pierluigi Gollini takes the goalkeeping role in Svilar's place. Wesley and Donyell Malen have recovered from their previous issues and are available. Marten de Roon is set to partner Manu Koné in midfield following Cristante's absence. Roma line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation: Gollini; Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Molina, De Roon, Koné, Wesley; Dybala, Pellegrini; Malen. The referee is Fabbri from Ravenna, with Imperiale and Baccini as assistants, Sozza as fourth official, Gariglio on VAR and Abisso as assistant VAR. Como deploy a 4-2-3-1: Butez; Couto, Ramon, Chalobah, Valle; Milla, Da Cunha; Diao, Nico Paz, Baturina; Douvikas, under manager Fabregas.

Roma prepare to face Como after the international break with Gian Piero Gasperini contending with significant absences. Goalkeeper Mile Svilar is sidelined and will miss the entire run of matches until the next international pause, while Bryan Cristante remains injured. Konstantinos Koulierakis is also unavailable due to a contusion, leaving the manager stretched in key areas as the campaign resumes and the title race intensifies. The tactical picture remains fluid across the available reports. Pierluigi Gollini will deputise in goal, with Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso forming the defensive line in a three-man system. Marten de Roon is expected to start in midfield, while Lorenzo Pellegrini is favoured over both Rodrigo Mora and Matías Soulé in the attacking midfield slots. The formation varies between configurations, with some reports suggesting a 3-4-2-1 shape featuring Paulo Dybala and Pellegrini behind Donyell Malen, while others propose a 3-4-1-2 with Pellegrini in a deeper midfield role supporting Dybala and Malen in attack. Nahuel Molina and Wesley feature as wing-backs across most predictions, with Manu Koné anchoring the midfield. The competing lineups reflect ongoing debate among observers about Gasperini's preferred balance between defensive security and attacking thrust, particularly given the personnel constraints imposed by injury.

Pierluigi Gollini steps into Roma's first-choice goalkeeper role today at Como after Mile Svilar suffered a stress fracture to his little toe. Svilar is not expected to return before 21 November, when Roma face Parma after the next international break, leaving Gollini to provide continuity through a demanding fixture run rather than a short-term stand-in. Gian Piero Gasperini has shown no hesitation in backing his goalkeeper. At the pre-match press conference, the head coach said: "He has always trained well and must have everyone's confidence." The choice carries weight because Gollini and Gasperini worked together at Atalanta, giving the goalkeeper an existing understanding of the coach's tactical demands. For Roma's defence — Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso and others — the transition will demand new communication patterns, adjusted timing on exits and altered management of space, since Gasperini asks his goalkeepers to operate deep in their half and accept frequent individual duels. Gollini's last Serie A appearance came on 5 October 2024, when he defended Genoa's goal against Atalanta under Gasperini. He joined Roma in January 2025 and has since played just one official match—against Panathinaikos in European competition—where he was exposed for the Greek goal. Svilar had kept him almost entirely out of the picture until now. Roma enter a sequence of nine matches in 27 days, with league and Champions League fixtures interlocking without respite. This is no brief absence for Gollini to manage; he must guarantee security to a squad accustomed to Svilar as a core reference point. The real test begins today at Como. Gollini has long awaited his chance, though likely not imagined it would arrive at the most congested point of autumn, with Roma losing their number one at precisely the wrong moment.

Lorenzo Pellegrini will start for Roma in the Serie A match against Como on 11 October, marking his first time in the team's opening formation for six months. Gian Piero Gasperini's side travel to the Giuseppe Sinigaglia for the sixth-round lunch kick-off, where they face Cesc Fabregas's Como side. The appointment comes during the international break window and presents Roma with a challenging away fixture. Gasperini must manage two significant absences: Mile Svilar is sidelined by a fracture to the fifth digit of his hand, and Bryan Cristante is unavailable. Pierluigi Gollini takes the goalkeeping role in Svilar's place. Wesley and Donyell Malen have recovered from their previous issues and are available. Marten de Roon is set to partner Manu Koné in midfield following Cristante's absence. Roma line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation: Gollini; Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Molina, De Roon, Koné, Wesley; Dybala, Pellegrini; Malen. The referee is Fabbri from Ravenna, with Imperiale and Baccini as assistants, Sozza as fourth official, Gariglio on VAR and Abisso as assistant VAR. Como deploy a 4-2-3-1: Butez; Couto, Ramon, Chalobah, Valle; Milla, Da Cunha; Diao, Nico Paz, Baturina; Douvikas, under manager Fabregas.

Roma prepare to face Como after the international break with Gian Piero Gasperini contending with significant absences. Goalkeeper Mile Svilar is sidelined and will miss the entire run of matches until the next international pause, while Bryan Cristante remains injured. Konstantinos Koulierakis is also unavailable due to a contusion, leaving the manager stretched in key areas as the campaign resumes and the title race intensifies. The tactical picture remains fluid across the available reports. Pierluigi Gollini will deputise in goal, with Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso forming the defensive line in a three-man system. Marten de Roon is expected to start in midfield, while Lorenzo Pellegrini is favoured over both Rodrigo Mora and Matías Soulé in the attacking midfield slots. The formation varies between configurations, with some reports suggesting a 3-4-2-1 shape featuring Paulo Dybala and Pellegrini behind Donyell Malen, while others propose a 3-4-1-2 with Pellegrini in a deeper midfield role supporting Dybala and Malen in attack. Nahuel Molina and Wesley feature as wing-backs across most predictions, with Manu Koné anchoring the midfield. The competing lineups reflect ongoing debate among observers about Gasperini's preferred balance between defensive security and attacking thrust, particularly given the personnel constraints imposed by injury.

Pierluigi Gollini steps into Roma's first-choice goalkeeper role today at Como after Mile Svilar suffered a stress fracture to his little toe. Svilar is not expected to return before 21 November, when Roma face Parma after the next international break, leaving Gollini to provide continuity through a demanding fixture run rather than a short-term stand-in. Gian Piero Gasperini has shown no hesitation in backing his goalkeeper. At the pre-match press conference, the head coach said: "He has always trained well and must have everyone's confidence." The choice carries weight because Gollini and Gasperini worked together at Atalanta, giving the goalkeeper an existing understanding of the coach's tactical demands. For Roma's defence — Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso and others — the transition will demand new communication patterns, adjusted timing on exits and altered management of space, since Gasperini asks his goalkeepers to operate deep in their half and accept frequent individual duels. Gollini's last Serie A appearance came on 5 October 2024, when he defended Genoa's goal against Atalanta under Gasperini. He joined Roma in January 2025 and has since played just one official match—against Panathinaikos in European competition—where he was exposed for the Greek goal. Svilar had kept him almost entirely out of the picture until now. Roma enter a sequence of nine matches in 27 days, with league and Champions League fixtures interlocking without respite. This is no brief absence for Gollini to manage; he must guarantee security to a squad accustomed to Svilar as a core reference point. The real test begins today at Como. Gollini has long awaited his chance, though likely not imagined it would arrive at the most congested point of autumn, with Roma losing their number one at precisely the wrong moment.

Lorenzo Pellegrini will start for Roma in the Serie A match against Como on 11 October, marking his first time in the team's opening formation for six months. Gian Piero Gasperini's side travel to the Giuseppe Sinigaglia for the sixth-round lunch kick-off, where they face Cesc Fabregas's Como side. The appointment comes during the international break window and presents Roma with a challenging away fixture. Gasperini must manage two significant absences: Mile Svilar is sidelined by a fracture to the fifth digit of his hand, and Bryan Cristante is unavailable. Pierluigi Gollini takes the goalkeeping role in Svilar's place. Wesley and Donyell Malen have recovered from their previous issues and are available. Marten de Roon is set to partner Manu Koné in midfield following Cristante's absence. Roma line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation: Gollini; Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Molina, De Roon, Koné, Wesley; Dybala, Pellegrini; Malen. The referee is Fabbri from Ravenna, with Imperiale and Baccini as assistants, Sozza as fourth official, Gariglio on VAR and Abisso as assistant VAR. Como deploy a 4-2-3-1: Butez; Couto, Ramon, Chalobah, Valle; Milla, Da Cunha; Diao, Nico Paz, Baturina; Douvikas, under manager Fabregas.

Roma prepare to face Como after the international break with Gian Piero Gasperini contending with significant absences. Goalkeeper Mile Svilar is sidelined and will miss the entire run of matches until the next international pause, while Bryan Cristante remains injured. Konstantinos Koulierakis is also unavailable due to a contusion, leaving the manager stretched in key areas as the campaign resumes and the title race intensifies. The tactical picture remains fluid across the available reports. Pierluigi Gollini will deputise in goal, with Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso forming the defensive line in a three-man system. Marten de Roon is expected to start in midfield, while Lorenzo Pellegrini is favoured over both Rodrigo Mora and Matías Soulé in the attacking midfield slots. The formation varies between configurations, with some reports suggesting a 3-4-2-1 shape featuring Paulo Dybala and Pellegrini behind Donyell Malen, while others propose a 3-4-1-2 with Pellegrini in a deeper midfield role supporting Dybala and Malen in attack. Nahuel Molina and Wesley feature as wing-backs across most predictions, with Manu Koné anchoring the midfield. The competing lineups reflect ongoing debate among observers about Gasperini's preferred balance between defensive security and attacking thrust, particularly given the personnel constraints imposed by injury.

Roma will face Como in the Serie A sixth round at 12:30 on Saturday. Lorenzo Pellegrini is expected to return to the starting XI after recent absence, according to Italian newspaper line-ups. The leading outlets Gazzetta dello Sport, Corriere della Sera, and Corriere dello Sport project Roma in a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Pellegrini deployed in an attacking midfield role alongside Paulo Dybala, who will lead the line with Donyell Malen. Gazzetta and Corriere della Sera's predicted XI places Pellegrini and Dybala as the two attacking midfielders behind centre-forward Malen, while Il Messaggero and Corriere dello Sport see Pellegrini as a single playmaker in a 3-4-1-2 shape with Dybala and Malen paired in attack. Defence and midfield remain consistent across all predictions: Pierluigi Gollini in goal; Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, and Mario Hermoso at centre-back; Nahuel Molina and Wesley as wing-backs (or Emanuele Lulli on the left in Corriere dello Sport's formation); Marten de Roon and Manu Koné anchoring midfield.