Como–Roma marks start of gruelling run: De Roon to start, Cristante's management in focus

Lorenzo Pellegrini is poised to start for Roma at Como on Sunday lunchtime as Gian Piero Gasperini prepares a tactical masterclass against Cesc Fàbregas. The Roma midfielder has spent the international break working intensively at Trigoria to restore his physical condition and has positioned himself as a strong candidate for a starting place. The fixture promises to be a refined chess match between two coaches renowned for their strategic approach; the pair already registered counter-moves and in-game adjustments in their two direct meetings last season that shifted match momentum. Pellegrini's versatility is set to be the tactical switch of the game. Should Fàbregas confirm a four-man defence in his starting 4-2-3-1, Gasperini will deploy Pellegrini on the attacking midfield line, free to move between the lines and supply the attacking pair of Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. This setup is designed to remove reference points for Como's centre-backs and break the opposition's pressing lines. Roma's current strength lies in their capacity to adapt to the opponent's reading of play. In their last meeting by Lake Como, when Como switched to a three-man defence, Roma suffered from defensive escalation and had to shift Pellegrini into an unnatural wide position on the right. On Sunday, Gasperini's response will be far more fluid and effective. Should Fàbregas move to a three-man line mid-match, Roma will redraw their attacking setup without losing balance: Dybala on the right, Pellegrini in his favoured left position, and Malen as the central pivot. This variety of solutions is also supported by alternatives on the bench, where Matías Soulé and young Rodrigo Mora offer guarantees to replace either Dybala or the Dutch forward in the closing stages.

Lionel Messi is set to relinquish Argentina's number 10 shirt after tonight's match, triggering a competition among the next generation to claim one of football's most storied jerseys. Matías Soulé and Nico Paz are the leading candidates to inherit the iconic number, with both young players impressing Argentina's coaching staff in recent fixtures. Soulé, the AS Roma forward, is among those being considered. He possesses quality, personality and significant room for development, making him a contender for the honour. However, Paz has made an equally compelling case, continuing to impress in Argentina's last two friendlies and earning increasing prominence in the national team's plans. Goalkeeper Dibu Martínez has already formed a view on the succession. "There are several lads who would deserve it. But the favourite is Nico Paz," Martínez said, according to TNT Sports Argentina. With Messi's departure from the number 10 confirmed after tonight, the race to become its next custodian has officially begun.

Roma travel to Como on Sunday for the sixth round of Serie A, a fixture that pits two of Italy's youngest and most dynamic squads against each other—the Giallorossi with an average age of 25.8 years, the Lariani at 24.5—but the real contrast lies on the touchline. Gian Piero Gasperini, born in 1958 and the league's most experienced coach at 68 years old, meets Cesc Fàbregas, born in 1987 and the championship's youngest manager at 39. Both are former midfielders with a goal-scoring instinct who now favour a dominant, attacking style of play, yet they have clashed repeatedly and show no warmth towards each other. The tension between them has a history. During last season's fixture, won by Roma, Gasperini called Como's persistent use of the goalkeeper in build-up play "tedious". Fàbregas replied months later after Como won at home, criticizing his rival for leaving the pitch without even a handshake at the final whistle. The pair reignited their rivalry recently at the Trento Sports Festival, where Fàbregas made a veiled jab by recalling that Gasperini had beaten him at Subbuteo, though he expressed hope for a different outcome on Sunday. Roma's preparation resumes this afternoon at Trigoria, but Gasperini will be without Bryan Cristante. The midfielder will undergo decisive scans to determine his recovery plan and the timeline for his absence following a collateral ligament injury to his knee. Speaking to Sky Sport, Gasperini reiterated his desire to involve the Friedkin Group ownership more directly in squad matters and supporter relations, with the goal of rekindling the momentum and enthusiasm evident in Roma's early-season performances.

Roma travel to Como on Sunday for the sixth round of Serie A, a fixture that pits two of Italy's youngest and most dynamic squads against each other—the Giallorossi with an average age of 25.8 years, the Lariani at 24.5—but the real contrast lies on the touchline. Gian Piero Gasperini, born in 1958 and the league's most experienced coach at 68 years old, meets Cesc Fàbregas, born in 1987 and the championship's youngest manager at 39. Both are former midfielders with a goal-scoring instinct who now favour a dominant, attacking style of play, yet they have clashed repeatedly and show no warmth towards each other. The tension between them has a history. During last season's fixture, won by Roma, Gasperini called Como's persistent use of the goalkeeper in build-up play "tedious". Fàbregas replied months later after Como won at home, criticizing his rival for leaving the pitch without even a handshake at the final whistle. The pair reignited their rivalry recently at the Trento Sports Festival, where Fàbregas made a veiled jab by recalling that Gasperini had beaten him at Subbuteo, though he expressed hope for a different outcome on Sunday. Roma's preparation resumes this afternoon at Trigoria, but Gasperini will be without Bryan Cristante. The midfielder will undergo decisive scans to determine his recovery plan and the timeline for his absence following a collateral ligament injury to his knee. Speaking to Sky Sport, Gasperini reiterated his desire to involve the Friedkin Group ownership more directly in squad matters and supporter relations, with the goal of rekindling the momentum and enthusiasm evident in Roma's early-season performances.

Roma return to training at Trigoria on 6 October with their focus on the upcoming Como fixture, but Bryan Cristante will miss the match through injury. Cristante has a problem with the collateral ligament of his knee and requires time to recover. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini said: "Bryan is recovering. He has a problem with the collateral of his knee: he is being treated, it takes time. We are not yet certain that he will miss the matches against Como and Real Madrid, but we certainly do not want to risk anything. The objective is to get him back in the best condition." With Cristante unavailable, Marten de Roon is set to make his debut in giallorosso colours alongside Manu Koné in midfield. De Roon joins Roma after spending many years at Atalanta, and the Como fixture will have special significance for him given that history. The club face a demanding schedule ahead, with nine matches in 27 days to come. Gasperini acknowledged the challenge of managing player recovery across such a congested calendar. He told Sky: "With considerable energy expenditure, even though the five substitutions help." The Como match is scheduled for Sunday, and the midfield pairing of de Roon and Koné will be central to Roma's approach as they navigate this intense period without their usual midfield anchor in Cristante.

Gian Piero Gasperini outlined one of his key ambitions for the season as Roma prepare to travel to Como on Sunday. The head coach said: "I feel their confidence, but I want to bring the Friedkin Group closer to Rome. Bringing greater presence with the centenary and the new stadium in mind is an objective of mine." Roma will return to their Trigoria base from Tuesday as players rejoin from international duty, ahead of the Como fixture and a demanding stretch of nine matches in 27 days. Gasperini also addressed the fitness of Bryan Cristante, who continues his recovery from injury. "Cristante is recovering but it will take time," the coach said. On Manu Koné, who did not leave the club during the transfer window, Gasperini explained: "For Koné there were no suitable timings." The coach also paid tribute to José Mourinho, describing him as "a special person." In a lighter moment with Como manager Cesc Fabregas, the two coaches discussed pressing tactics using a Subbuteo table football set, with Gasperini joking: "He beat me here, but on Sunday..."

Evan N'Dicka returns to Roma this week determined to reclaim his centre-back position after an adductor problem, intestinal illness and Leonardo Balerdi's strong form have disrupted his opening to the season. N'Dicka was on international duty with Ivory Coast, playing two full matches and appearing in the closing stages of a friendly against Cameroon, and will rejoin Gasperini's squad at Trigoria with the Como match on his mind. The central defender's goal this week is to shed his physical ailments and edge out his Argentine defensive partner in what has become a genuine competition for the shirt. Bareldi, signed on loan with an obligation to buy from Marseille, has raised Roma's defensive standards significantly, forcing competition where none felt certain before. When Roma faced Inter in their last fixture before the international break, N'Dicka was left on the bench—not through injury but as a pure tactical choice by head coach Gasperini, who reportedly preferred Balerdi to counter Inter's mobile attacking pair of Lautaro and Thuram. That decision stung. N'Dicka came on during the Inter match and performed positively, demonstrating his mental resilience remains intact. The contest for the starting role will be decided by Gasperini ahead of Como, but N'Dicka's message is unmistakable: competition is fierce, but he will not yield ground after serving as a genuine cornerstone in Roma's first season under the new era.

Roma return to training at Trigoria on 6 October with their focus on the upcoming Como fixture, but Bryan Cristante will miss the match through injury. Cristante has a problem with the collateral ligament of his knee and requires time to recover. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini said: "Bryan is recovering. He has a problem with the collateral of his knee: he is being treated, it takes time. We are not yet certain that he will miss the matches against Como and Real Madrid, but we certainly do not want to risk anything. The objective is to get him back in the best condition." With Cristante unavailable, Marten de Roon is set to make his debut in giallorosso colours alongside Manu Koné in midfield. De Roon joins Roma after spending many years at Atalanta, and the Como fixture will have special significance for him given that history. The club face a demanding schedule ahead, with nine matches in 27 days to come. Gasperini acknowledged the challenge of managing player recovery across such a congested calendar. He told Sky: "With considerable energy expenditure, even though the five substitutions help." The Como match is scheduled for Sunday, and the midfield pairing of de Roon and Koné will be central to Roma's approach as they navigate this intense period without their usual midfield anchor in Cristante.

Radio commentators Simone Valdarchi and another analyst have assessed Roma's preparation for a congested fixture schedule and squad availability ahead of matches against Como, Real Madrid, and Genoa. Valdarchi expects Marten de Roon and Manu Koné to start in midfield at Como, with Niccolò Pisilli potentially partnering Koné against Real Madrid. Bryan Cristante is expected to return to the squad for the Genoa fixture. Valdarchi praised de Roon as a trusted figure under Gasperini and noted that Roma's defence ranks among the league's strongest, partly due to the midfield's contribution. He observed that matches every three days over a period will require tactical rotation in certain positions on the pitch. Valdarchi stated: "De Roon, if used in some matches, can be an excellent signing because he is a man of trust for Gasperini. Roma's defence is one of the strongest in the championship, also thanks to the midfield." He added that Roma will not suffer unduly from absences, observing that players have grasped Gasperini's system: "Except perhaps for one period in Turkey, Roma has shown it is always in the match, often playing very well." On de Roon's prospects, Valdarchi said: "I have the impression he will play many matches. He is a player of experience who also knows how to be a leader, someone Gasperini relied on heavily at Atalanta."

Lorenzo Pellegrini is poised to start for Roma at Como on Sunday lunchtime as Gian Piero Gasperini prepares a tactical masterclass against Cesc Fàbregas. The Roma midfielder has spent the international break working intensively at Trigoria to restore his physical condition and has positioned himself as a strong candidate for a starting place. The fixture promises to be a refined chess match between two coaches renowned for their strategic approach; the pair already registered counter-moves and in-game adjustments in their two direct meetings last season that shifted match momentum. Pellegrini's versatility is set to be the tactical switch of the game. Should Fàbregas confirm a four-man defence in his starting 4-2-3-1, Gasperini will deploy Pellegrini on the attacking midfield line, free to move between the lines and supply the attacking pair of Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. This setup is designed to remove reference points for Como's centre-backs and break the opposition's pressing lines. Roma's current strength lies in their capacity to adapt to the opponent's reading of play. In their last meeting by Lake Como, when Como switched to a three-man defence, Roma suffered from defensive escalation and had to shift Pellegrini into an unnatural wide position on the right. On Sunday, Gasperini's response will be far more fluid and effective. Should Fàbregas move to a three-man line mid-match, Roma will redraw their attacking setup without losing balance: Dybala on the right, Pellegrini in his favoured left position, and Malen as the central pivot. This variety of solutions is also supported by alternatives on the bench, where Matías Soulé and young Rodrigo Mora offer guarantees to replace either Dybala or the Dutch forward in the closing stages.

Wesley and Donyell Malen have recovered from muscle injuries and return to full training today as AS Roma prepare for a trip to Como. Both players are available for the fixture after missing recent fixtures during the international break. Gasperini will begin welcoming back nearly all his international players at Trigoria from this afternoon. Last season's reverse fixture at the Olimpico saw Wesley score the decisive goal, while Malen's strike at the Sinigaglia proved insufficient to secure victory. The return match is also marked by a disputed red card that Wesley received in that contest. The left-back has trained in the gym during his days off and is eager for redemption, with responsibility for both creating attacking chaos and containing Como's Couto. Malen will lead the attack and, unlike Wesley, has already found the net this season.

Donyell Malen spent a scheduled rest day exploring Rome as a tourist, visiting the Vatican Museums with his wife Delisha. The Dutch forward shared a selfie from the Stanza della Segnatura, the room decorated by Raffaello Sanzio. Malen has been at Roma since January, when he arrived from Aston Villa and Borussia Dortmund, and has quickly won over the Giallorossi supporters despite appearing to have played for the club for years. During the current international break, Malen declined a call-up to the Netherlands squad due to knee discomfort. Manager Gian Piero Gasperini granted the forward a rest day before training resumed at Trigoria on 6 October. Malen is expected to return to the attack for the trip to Como on 11 October.