Cunha's social media comment to Balerdi after Old Trafford sparks Roma fan anger

Gian Piero Gasperini is set to start Matías Soulé, Rodrigo Mora and Donyell Malen together in attack for Roma's home match against Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico tomorrow evening. Roma have been hit by a long run of absences, with Svilar, Gollini, Rensch, Koné, Cristante, Dybala and Pellegrini all missing at least one match across Serie A and the Champions League since the international break at the end of September and beginning of October. The fixture is the ninth game in 27 days for Roma. In midfield, Marten de Roon has stood out, and he is set to start his ninth match in a row tomorrow night. The attack has been the most reshuffled part of the side, but beyond Malen's consistency, Gasperini has been encouraged by the rapid growth of Soulé and the flashes of quality from the young Mora. The trio are starting for the third game in a row in the space of a week. Roma's latest run has been mixed. In Udine, Roma won with a fiery performance at the Bluenergy Stadium, and they had the game wrapped up by the 37th minute before fading after the break. In the first half, Soulé, Mora and Malen dominated. Soulé provided assists for Malen and for a header by N'Dicka, while Mora scored the goal that made it 2-0 after Cristante's pass. Malen, with his eighth league goal of the season, continued his record-breaking form in the Roma shirt. At Old Trafford, the pattern repeated itself in the opening 45 minutes. Mora's fantastic pass set up Soulé for the 1-0, and Soulé then won a penalty that Malen converted for 2-0. At half-time Mora was substituted, Roma dropped deeper, and Manchester United staged a stunning and painful comeback. Sassuolo arrive with the worst defence in Serie A, having conceded 26 goals in 10 matches, including 12 in their last three games, played between Saturday 24 October and Monday 2 November. Mati, Rodrigo and Donyell are ready to shine again against them, with the aim of finishing this part of the season well. The article's author sums up the mood: the appetite comes with eating, and tomorrow night Roma have every condition to serve up a good dish.

Roma must put the sting of their Champions League defeat to Manchester United behind them and refocus on Serie A, when Sassuolo visit the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday. Sassuolo are coached by Aquilani, a former Roma player, and are in serious difficulty, although they had impressed earlier in the season with their football and individual quality. It is a test that should not be taken lightly for Gian Piero Gasperini's side. Roma have closed the gap on Inter, moving to within one point of them, but they are four points behind league leaders Lazio. Roma remain without Svilar, Dybala and Koné, as well as Rensch and Pellegrini. Sassuolo will be missing Volpato, Koné, Boloca and Leysen. The match is available to watch on Sky and Dazn, with kickoff time and probable line-ups also confirmed in the build-up to the fixture.

Roma defender Leonardo Balerdi has taken to Instagram to express his regret over the error that paved the way for Cunha's 2-2 equaliser, and the subsequent comeback by Manchester United, in the defeat at Old Trafford. The loss came in dramatic and bitter fashion. Most of the comments under Balerdi's post were supportive, but Manchester United forward Cunha also left one: "Crack.", with a full stop. Few read it as praise, and most took it as mockery. Cunha was sent off late in the match after a second yellow card, and was involved in several questionable scenes on the touchline while waiting for the final whistle. Many Roma supporters condemned the gesture and reacted furiously, with the most popular response reading: "Pensa alla tua squadra schifosa" ("Think about your own disgusting team"). The episode has kept the Manchester United game in the headlines beyond the final whistle, with the spotlight falling on Balerdi's error and the reaction it provoked among Roma's fanbase. Cunha's comment, the centrepiece of the row, was a single word, but its delivery and timing drew sharp criticism from Roma fans, who felt the Brazilian had mocked a player who was already facing the consequences of a costly mistake.

Roma defender Leonardo Balerdi has taken to Instagram to express his regret over the error that paved the way for Cunha's 2-2 equaliser, and the subsequent comeback by Manchester United, in the defeat at Old Trafford. The loss came in dramatic and bitter fashion. Most of the comments under Balerdi's post were supportive, but Manchester United forward Cunha also left one: "Crack.", with a full stop. Few read it as praise, and most took it as mockery. Cunha was sent off late in the match after a second yellow card, and was involved in several questionable scenes on the touchline while waiting for the final whistle. Many Roma supporters condemned the gesture and reacted furiously, with the most popular response reading: "Pensa alla tua squadra schifosa" ("Think about your own disgusting team"). The episode has kept the Manchester United game in the headlines beyond the final whistle, with the spotlight falling on Balerdi's error and the reaction it provoked among Roma's fanbase. Cunha's comment, the centrepiece of the row, was a single word, but its delivery and timing drew sharp criticism from Roma fans, who felt the Brazilian had mocked a player who was already facing the consequences of a costly mistake.

Roma face Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico tomorrow evening in their final match before the November international break, and the club's injury crisis shows no sign of easing. It is the ninth game in 27 days for Gian Piero Gasperini's side. Mile Svilar and Devyne Rensch are certainly out, as is Paulo Dybala, who trained apart from the squad again yesterday. Gianluca Mancini did not train when the squad returned to work, but there is no cause for alarm, with the club only managing his workload. He is in a race with Leonardo Balerdi to start from the first minute against Sassuolo. Roma hope to recover one or two more players, but that looks unlikely. Sassuolo are coached by former Roma captain Fabio Grosso, and the match marks a return for Roma's recent schedule to the sort of pressure that has defined this period. Manu Koné offers the brightest hope. According to Il Messaggero, the French midfielder completed a personalised session on the pitch yesterday and will take a fitness test today to try to return to the matchday squad. Leggo reports that Koné wants to play against Sassuolo and then answer the call from France. Roma are holding back, however, given his long layoff and frequent setbacks. The feeling is that the next few hours could be decisive. Pierluigi Gollini is also in doubt. Roma's medical staff are proceeding with infiltrations to resolve the back problem that forced him to withdraw from the match against Manchester United at Old Trafford. The goalkeeper will do everything he can to recover, but in the meantime Devis Vásquez is warming up. Vásquez's last Serie A appearance came on 25 May 2025, in an Empoli shirt.

Roma are battling a growing injury crisis ahead of Saturday's clash with Sassuolo, with Daniele Rensch's absence joined by doubts over Paulo Dybala and goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini. Devyne Rensch has a first-degree adductor tear, the tests revealed, and will not return until the Parma match after the international break. Dybala, who did not train with the rest of the group at Monday's resumption, is heading towards missing tomorrow's game. The squad is stretched thin. Il Messaggero's Daniele Aloisi reports that Gasperini has only sixteen outfield players available, leaving him with very few choices and few decisions to make. Mile Svilar will certainly miss out, and Gollini's involvement is also at risk because of a back problem that persists, though he will try to play to the end with the help of infiltrations. Devis Vásquez is ready to step in, having not played a Serie A match since 25 May 2025. Manu Koné offers some hope. He has carried out individualised work on the pitch and will undergo a fitness test today in an attempt to return to the matchday squad. Mancini did not train yesterday for a planned, routine rest. Malen and Soulé are expected to lead the attack, with Mora pushing for a place to complete the front three. Pisilli is further down the pecking order and is set to operate in the central space alongside Cristante and de Roon. If de Roon starts, he would become the only player to have started each of Roma's last nine matches. On the right, Molina and Lulli are in contention for a spot, while Wesley will play on the left. At the back, N'Dicka is set to return, alongside Mancini or Balerdi and Hermoso.