Cristante: Friedkin presence crucial as Roma target Champions League return

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has received a new injury setback, with Devyne Rensch suffering a muscle injury and expected to return after the international break. The club's pause for the national team fixtures comes at a useful time to recover several players and prepare for upcoming commitments. The defeat at Manchester has left Gasperini with clear lessons, particularly the need to widen the options available in the squad. Until the derby in mid-December, the fixture list contains no other big league match. Gasperini will not speak at a press conference on the eve of the match against Sassuolo. From the English trip, a message came from Matías Soulé, who urged the team to learn from the defeats and keep working with the same commitment. The Argentine is now one of the main attacking reference points alongside Malen, but it is precisely this dependence that worries the coach. Even without Svilar, the team has shown fragility: goals conceded have increased and the save percentage has dropped noticeably.

Gian Piero Gasperini will not speak to the media on the eve of Roma's home match against Sassuolo, the same pattern that has often followed Champions League games. The fixture at the Stadio Olimpico comes just before the international break. The Roma coach has regularly skipped the pre-match press conference after Champions League matches. Sassuolo's coach, Aquilani, will speak as normal on Friday ahead of the Saturday fixture. The match is scheduled for Saturday 7 November at 20:45 at the Stadio Olimpico.

Gian Piero Gasperini will not attend the traditional pre-match press conference ahead of Roma's Serie A clash with Sassuolo, the club's 11th-round fixture. The match is scheduled for Saturday 7 November at 20:45 at the Stadio Olimpico. The game is the last fixture before the international break and closes a demanding run in which Roma have played every three days across the league and cup competitions. Gasperini has chosen to focus his efforts on preparing the match and managing the squad at Trigoria, following a period that has been particularly intense physically and mentally. Roma's head coach, Gian Piero Gasperini, has decided against the usual press conference on the eve of the match.

Roma return to Serie A on Saturday evening, hosting Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico in the eleventh round, the last fixture before the international break. Kickoff is at 20:45 on Saturday 7 November. Sassuolo are coached by former Roma midfielder Alberto Aquilani, and Gasperini's side will look to bounce back from the disappointment of a late comeback against Manchester United in the Champions League. Roma lost 3-2 at Old Trafford, having led 2-0 at half-time through goals from Soulé and Malen before Manchester United completed the turnaround in the second half. In Serie A the mood is far brighter. Roma beat Udinese 5-2 in their last outing and sit third after ten rounds with 24 points, from seven wins and three draws. They have scored 28 and conceded 10, and remain unbeaten in the league this season. Sassuolo, by contrast, are seventeenth with 8 points from ten matches. They arrive on a run of four consecutive defeats and have the worst defence in Serie A. Their last game ended in a 4-2 defeat at the Mapei Stadium to Fiorentina, and they have also lost to Lazio, Como and Frosinone in recent weeks. Gasperini faces an early selection problem in goal. Pierluigi Gollini missed the Manchester United game with a back problem that came up during training, and his condition will be monitored up to the match. If he is ruled out, Devis Vásquez, who started at Old Trafford, will again be in goal. Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso are expected back in defence, although Ghilardi remains a concrete option after good performances in recent weeks. Molina and Wesley are favoured on the flanks. Devyne Rensch will not be available, having suffered a right adductor injury against Manchester United. Cristante is expected to keep his place in midfield, while the partner alongside him is still open, with Pisilli possibly giving de Roon a rest. Up front, Soulé and Malen look certain to start, with Mora expected to play behind or alongside the Argentine. Koné and Dybala are doubtful, with both hoping to be available at least on the bench. Svilar will certainly miss the game, as he completes his recovery from a stress fracture to his fifth toe and is expected back after the break. Pellegrini is also out, still recovering from the muscle problem he suffered against Slovan Bratislava. Sassuolo are expected to line up in a 4-3-3. Turati is the favourite in goal, protected by a back line of Walukiewicz, Idzes, Candé and Doig. Thorstvedt returns in midfield after serving his suspension against Fiorentina, and is expected to be joined by Matic and one of Bakola or Adzic. Up front, Aquilani will rely on his most creative players: Berardi on the right, Laurienté on the opposite flank and Sebastiano Esposito as the central reference point. Leysen, who has a serious knee injury, and Ismaël Koné, who is recovering from a leg fracture, are out for Sassuolo, along with Boloca and Volpato. Roma's head-to-head record at the Olimpico against Sassuolo is strong. Of 12 Serie A meetings played in Rome, Roma have won six, five have ended level and Sassuolo have won just once, a 4-3 victory in March 2023. The most recent meeting was on 10 January 2026, when Roma won 2-0. Overall, including matches in Emilia, the record reads 13 wins for Roma, 9 draws and just 2 wins for Sassuolo. The match will be broadcast live on DAZN and Sky Sport Calcio, and streamed via Sky Go and NOW. Official line-ups will be announced about an hour before kickoff at 20:45 on Saturday 7 November.

UEFA has confirmed that Bruno Fernandes's penalty in Manchester United's clash with Roma must be retaken, but has said nothing on the more controversial incident of the night. Referee Gil Manzano's performance was widely criticised in the TV replays and in the newspapers. The incident UEFA avoided addressing was the "light" penalty awarded to Cunha for a push from behind by Mancini. Rosetti, the refereeing designator, and UEFA did not comment openly on that decision. UEFA said on its official website only why the penalty was ordered retaken. The kick was retaken because Bryan Cristante entered the box early, before Fernandes had actually struck the ball, so Fernandes had to take a second attempt under the current rules. The explanation leaves the Roma side of the story focused on a technical error rather than on the contact that led to the spot kick. UEFA's silence on the Mancini-Cunha challenge means the debate over the officiating is likely to continue in the coming days.

Roma midfielder Marten de Roon has spoken at length about his move to the club, the fan tensions that preceded it and his relationship with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, in an interview with Idealista.it. The Dutchman said he knew the transfer would be difficult, partly because of the history between Roma and Atalanta and partly because of past social media exchanges with Roma supporters. He said: "When the coach called me I already knew it would be a difficult move, partly because of the history between Roma and Atalanta, partly because of the story on social media with Roma; but at a certain point we had decided, I had no doubts. Then the pitch speaks. I had no doubts, I wanted to show on the pitch my will to be here. Gasperini shows it too, facts count, there is time." De Roon described himself as a player who wants to win at all costs on the pitch, with tactical reading of the game as his main quality. He said: "On the pitch I want to win at all costs. My main quality, what I like to do, is to see the game, tactically I am prepared, that is my strength: I see where we can attack well, where to defend better, from midfield I like to manage the team, call the markings. Off the pitch I like to joke, talk, above all observe. I like to try to give a hand to my team-mates; I am a professional, even off the pitch I try to be helpful, at my age and with my experience." On Gasperini, he recalled eight years together at Atalanta, which he described as the best period of his career there. He said: "We spent eight years together, we lived the most beautiful period with Atalanta, we fought many battles together and I have always thanked him. The relationship is mainly professional; if he is your coach you don't see him outside the pitch during the week." He added: "Last year he called me from time to time, he asked me about Malen, but he wanted more of a confirmation, he was already convinced. I had no doubts. He's doing quite well, isn't he?" De Roon said he is still looking for his role in the side, so he is not joking around much yet, but he described the dressing room as healthy and welcoming. He said: "Many are nice. I'm still looking for my role, so I don't joke around much, but the atmosphere is healthy, it seems like an easy dressing room. Years ago I thought it was a very difficult dressing room, even playing against it; now I've come in and seen that it is healthy, warm, welcoming." He said he already knew Malen, Rensch, Mancini, Gollini and Cristante, which made the adjustment easier. Pellegrini helped him get to know the city and, together with the club, assisted him with many things during the move and his search for a home. On life in Rome, De Roon said he had been visiting the city often over the past four years. He said: "The climate is wonderful, I have always liked the city, there is so much culture, the food is incredible. Living here is different. I live a bit outside, the morning traffic is different, but I like it very much." Asked whether he could see himself staying in the capital after his career, he said: "At the moment I think about the pitch, I haven't thought about it, but in the future, why not? Rome is the most beautiful city in the world, we'll think about it calmly."