Dybala's Torino record and Gasperini's rotation plan

Rodrigo Mora deserves patience, but he should be played in the centre of the attacking third, where he is most dangerous, according to this analysis. The 19-year-old, who has been considered a future star in Portugal for years, has scored twice in 274 minutes while playing in the No. 10 role. That works out to one goal every 137 minutes, a better rate than Alajbegovic (still scoreless), Kolo Muani (one in 697 minutes), Atta (still scoreless), Goncalo Ramos (one every 357 minutes) and Mateo Pellegrino (one every 275 minutes). The writer is careful not to overstate the comparison: Mora is not the best of that group, at least not yet, but he is scoring at the rate of a centre-forward while playing as a trequartista. The question is not simple. Gasperini's usual system is built around two wide players, and the No. 10, a role the writer says is slowly disappearing in modern football, does not fit that template. Mora has nonetheless already been counted among the best summer signings in Serie A, despite early criticism. Roma are also scoring freely: they have 23 goals in their first nine matches, their best start since 2016, when Luciano Spalletti was in charge. The writer credits Gasperini's attacking philosophy for part of Mora's form, as well as the club's transformation from a defensive fortress into a goal-scoring machine. Gasperini has never doubted the player's talent. He said: "He is extraordinary, every time he touches the ball something beautiful happens." The writer concludes that Mora could not have found a better coach or a better environment in which to grow and express the qualities of a top player.

Rodrigo Mora scored a decisive header for Roma yesterday, and it marked his first goal celebration at the Stadio Olimpico. The Portuguese midfielder has been labelled a flop by some observers, but the goal offered a clear answer to those doubts. The Italian report suggests the player simply needed more time to settle in. Mora's first moment of real joy in front of the home fans was a welcome sight for the club. The header came at a point when his place in the squad was being openly questioned.

Daniele Ghilardi changed the game against Cagliari within nine minutes of coming on for a below-par Gianluca Mancini, providing a perfect cross that Mora headed home for Roma. It was his second assist in only 248 minutes played, following the one for Mario Hermoso against Slovan Bratislava the previous Tuesday. Ghilardi had been impeccable against Napoli and Slovan Bratislava, both as a starter and as a substitute. His contribution has gone beyond defensive solidity: at the Maradona he was in the box alongside Leonardo Balerdi for the 3-3 equaliser, and last night he reached a nearly unreachable ball to deliver the cross for Mora's header. Averaged per 90 minutes, he leads Serie A and the Champions League among centre-backs for successful dribbles (2.28 and 2 respectively) and ranks in the top three for assists, big chances created and recoveries in the opposition half. This is exactly what Gian Piero Gasperini asks of his wing-backs: attack and defence, aggression and technical quality. Many benches and months of training preceded this level, which Gasperini had expected from him. At Verona he showed his versatility, playing in virtually every role, but at Roma he has grown considerably technically. He is clean in his passing, dangerous when he moves forward, and his composure allowed him to play like a veteran on his Champions League debut. The article suggests he is also keen to prove he is more than a mere backup. Mancini's physical decline and dip in form in recent matches present the coaching staff with difficult questions, and the answer, alongside Balerdi, could be to promote Ghilardi on a permanent basis. Gasperini's Roma is very young: two players born in 2007 and one born in 2004 scored yesterday. The article argues the side can only improve with time and is finally on the right path after years of drifting.

Former Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini has said Roma will fight until the final matchday for the Scudetto, describing the team as deserving of its position. Speaking to TuttoMercatoWeb, Sabatini said Roma are currently just behind Lazio and Inter in the title race. He argued that the club's form has been earned, and that the side are playing exciting football. Sabatini praised the team's determination and solidity, saying it is difficult to play against and even harder to beat. He said the club's path would be consistent with how it is playing at present. On the question of Paulo Dybala's fitness, Sabatini said the outcome would depend heavily on injuries across the squad, not on Dybala alone. He identified the most serious absence for Roma at present as that of Manu Koné, whom he described as a midfielder who alone determines the composure and completeness of a unit. Sabatini said that injuries are affecting many teams, with a worrying wave of muscular problems, and that this phenomenon will influence the final outcome of the league. He said: "La Roma lotterà fino alla fine per lo scudetto" in reference to the club's ambitions, adding: "Merita quello che ha e credo che il cammino sarà coerente con quello che sta facendo adesso e combatterà certamente fino all'ultima partita per lo scudetto." On Dybala and injuries he said: "Molto dipenderà dagli infortunati in generale, perché non c'è solo Dybala: l'assenza più grave per la Roma in questo momento è quella di Manu Kone. Un centrocampista che determina da solo la compostezza e la compiutezza di un reparto." He added: "Gli assenti stanno condizionando tantissime squadre: ci sono infortuni a valanga di tipo muscolare, una cosa preoccupante, ma per tutte le squadre. Un fenomeno che condizionerà gli esiti finale del campionato."

Former Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini has said Roma deserve to be among the title contenders and will fight for the Scudetto until the final match. Speaking to Tuttomercatoweb, Sabatini praised Gian Piero Gasperini's side, which remains in the race just behind Lazio and Inter, after their comeback against Cagliari. Sabatini said: "E lo è meritatamente, sta giocando un calcio entusiasmante, è una squadra molto determinata, solida, monolite. Difficile giocarci contro e difficile soprattutto batterla. Merita quello che ha e credo che il cammino sarà coerente con quello che sta facendo adesso e combatterà certamente fino all'ultima partita per lo scudetto." He described the team as exciting to watch, determined, solid and difficult to play against, and hard to beat. Asked how much Roma's chances depend on the fitness of Paulo Dybala, Sabatini said the availability of injured players in general would be decisive, not only Dybala. He singled out the absence of Manu Koné as the most serious loss for Roma at the moment, describing him as a midfielder who alone determines the composure and completeness of a unit. Sabatini also noted that injuries are affecting many teams, with a worrying wave of muscular problems, though he stressed that this applies to all clubs. Sabatini's comments highlight the balance Roma must find in the league run-in: a side praised for its quality and cohesion, but one that will need its key players back to keep pace at the top of Serie A.

Roman radio pundits were largely focused on Roma after the win over Cagliari, with the debate centring on Mancini's performance, Mora's goal and the fitness of Paulo Dybala. David Rossi of Rete Sport said: “Maybe it was the worst match Mancini has played since he’s been here at Roma. Honestly, after that first half I didn’t think he could come back out, and yet he did.” He added: “In a normal world, you had to take Mancini off after 20 minutes. He wasn’t presentable.” Gianluca Piacentini said Mora's goal had silenced his serial critics, and praised Gasperini for stressing that the points Roma have taken this season, the same number as last season, carry greater weight because they came against Como, Inter, Napoli and Atalanta. Mario Corsi of Tele Radio Stereo defended Mancini against the whistles he received, saying: “Mancini plays as a striker on Gasperini’s orders. You can’t go back and forth at two hundred an hour; you lose something along the way.” On the Roma-Cagliari match, Corsi described it as a lacklustre game, adding that the young players had turned it around. Piero Torri of Manà Manà Sport praised Gollini, who made three important saves, and said he was playing with a concentration he had never shown before, having been given a great opportunity by Svilar’s misfortune. Roberto Pruzzo of Radio Radio said: “Mora? If Gasperini had another substitute, he’d have taken him off after a quarter of an hour. That was my impression.” He also said he was pleased that Pisilli and Lulli had partly sorted out the match, and said: “If you have to compare yourself to the Roma market, my friend… I had backed Castro, but if Mina has you in his pocket for 80 minutes, you need changing.” He added that Molina struggles to play in Italian football, and that De Roon was static in midfield. Nando Orsi of Radio Radio said: “I thought Roma never would lose this one.” Mario Mattioli of Radio Radio said Roma had suffered before taking full points. Daniele Lo Monaco of Radio Romanista said Roma are unbeaten with six wins and three draws, and argued that Lazio’s eight wins from nine carry a different weight. He said: “I don’t see the Leicester effect in any way. If Lazio finish in the top three, I’ll become a priest.” Mario Corsi said Lazio do not have a team fit for the top places, and Torri noted that Lazio have taken 25 points from 27, with fixtures against Roma, Napoli, Inter, Como, Atalanta, Fiorentina and Torino still to come. The focus then turned to the coming fixtures. Alessio Nardo said the Dybala situation was thorny: he had seemed set to return against Cagliari, but now risked missing the next three matches. He said: “I expect a very, very difficult match against Udinese, and it will take a great Roma to win it.” Lorenzo Pes said Dybala had returned to training on Sunday but would miss Saturday’s game against Udinese, adding: “I think he doesn’t want to miss Manchester-Roma at Old Trafford.” Checco Oddo Casano said the doubt for Saturday against Udinese would be between Mora and De Roon, and said the club’s hopes in attack now depend on Soulé.

Rodrigo Mora deserves patience, but he should be played in the centre of the attacking third, where he is most dangerous, according to this analysis. The 19-year-old, who has been considered a future star in Portugal for years, has scored twice in 274 minutes while playing in the No. 10 role. That works out to one goal every 137 minutes, a better rate than Alajbegovic (still scoreless), Kolo Muani (one in 697 minutes), Atta (still scoreless), Goncalo Ramos (one every 357 minutes) and Mateo Pellegrino (one every 275 minutes). The writer is careful not to overstate the comparison: Mora is not the best of that group, at least not yet, but he is scoring at the rate of a centre-forward while playing as a trequartista. The question is not simple. Gasperini's usual system is built around two wide players, and the No. 10, a role the writer says is slowly disappearing in modern football, does not fit that template. Mora has nonetheless already been counted among the best summer signings in Serie A, despite early criticism. Roma are also scoring freely: they have 23 goals in their first nine matches, their best start since 2016, when Luciano Spalletti was in charge. The writer credits Gasperini's attacking philosophy for part of Mora's form, as well as the club's transformation from a defensive fortress into a goal-scoring machine. Gasperini has never doubted the player's talent. He said: "He is extraordinary, every time he touches the ball something beautiful happens." The writer concludes that Mora could not have found a better coach or a better environment in which to grow and express the qualities of a top player.

Rodrigo Mora scored a decisive header for Roma yesterday, and it marked his first goal celebration at the Stadio Olimpico. The Portuguese midfielder has been labelled a flop by some observers, but the goal offered a clear answer to those doubts. The Italian report suggests the player simply needed more time to settle in. Mora's first moment of real joy in front of the home fans was a welcome sight for the club. The header came at a point when his place in the squad was being openly questioned.

Daniele Ghilardi changed the game against Cagliari within nine minutes of coming on for a below-par Gianluca Mancini, providing a perfect cross that Mora headed home for Roma. It was his second assist in only 248 minutes played, following the one for Mario Hermoso against Slovan Bratislava the previous Tuesday. Ghilardi had been impeccable against Napoli and Slovan Bratislava, both as a starter and as a substitute. His contribution has gone beyond defensive solidity: at the Maradona he was in the box alongside Leonardo Balerdi for the 3-3 equaliser, and last night he reached a nearly unreachable ball to deliver the cross for Mora's header. Averaged per 90 minutes, he leads Serie A and the Champions League among centre-backs for successful dribbles (2.28 and 2 respectively) and ranks in the top three for assists, big chances created and recoveries in the opposition half. This is exactly what Gian Piero Gasperini asks of his wing-backs: attack and defence, aggression and technical quality. Many benches and months of training preceded this level, which Gasperini had expected from him. At Verona he showed his versatility, playing in virtually every role, but at Roma he has grown considerably technically. He is clean in his passing, dangerous when he moves forward, and his composure allowed him to play like a veteran on his Champions League debut. The article suggests he is also keen to prove he is more than a mere backup. Mancini's physical decline and dip in form in recent matches present the coaching staff with difficult questions, and the answer, alongside Balerdi, could be to promote Ghilardi on a permanent basis. Gasperini's Roma is very young: two players born in 2007 and one born in 2004 scored yesterday. The article argues the side can only improve with time and is finally on the right path after years of drifting.

Manu Koné is the player Roma cannot do without, according to the article, ahead of even Mile Svilar and Paulo Dybala. The French midfielder is described as Gasperini's man of balance, an element who seems impossible to replace. The numbers back this up: with Koné on the pitch, Roma have conceded 4 goals in 7 matches; without him, they have conceded 9 in just 5. His withdrawal against Real Madrid, with a mask on his face and pain visible in his eyes, had already set off alarm bells. From that moment, Roma's defensive phase appeared to lose its certainties. The article argues that Koné is not a player of spectacular moments but of balance, which allows others to shine. In Gasperini's side, Roma take considerable risks when attacking: the full-backs push forward, the attacking midfielders move close to Malen, and the team pushes up to win the ball back immediately. When the press is beaten or opponents counter, Koné steps in. His contribution, the article says, is measured not only by tackles won but by the dangerous moves that never develop. According to StatsNext, he averages 5.3 balls recovered, 1.75 tackles and around 0.9 interceptions per 90 minutes. Team data is also highlighted: with him on the pitch Roma conceded 0.57 goals per match, against 1.8 without him. The article acknowledges that this figure alone does not prove a direct link between his absence and the defensive difficulties, but says it merits attention. Against Cagliari the difference was evident, the article states. Pisacane's side passed through with ease, transitions flowed, and Roma left gaps. De Roon was struggling and Cristante was not at his best. The midfield needed a Manu, the player Roma have held on to for years and whom Gasperini never wants to lose. The article concludes that the data supports this view, though it was evident even without the numbers. The immediate goal is to have Koné back for the match against Sassuolo. Gasperini is waiting for him, and so is Roma.

Rodrigo Mora headed the decisive goal as Roma came from behind to beat Cagliari 4-2, with Donyell Malen scoring the fourth. Mora, who stands 1.68 metres tall, rose to head home the 3-2 goal, a moment that reversed the momentum after the match had seemed to slip away from the hosts. Il Messaggero described the Portuguese forward's header as a moment that brought the young but tired Roma side back into the game. Gian Piero Gasperini was smiling at the final whistle despite a second half that his side played poorly, with many individual and collective errors, Roma conceding more than they should have and creating less than usual. The result came after Roma had shipped five goals in their last two matches, a worrying return even though the fear of conceding appeared to have disappeared against Cagliari. The win came in the style of Inter, with Roma absorbing pressure before striking back, and the Italian paper noted the Giallorossi tend to be pushed back without ever managing to counter seriously. Cagliari had the edge in shots in the closing stages, 9 to 8. Gollini, in the mould of Svilar, made a save to deny Mendy shortly before Maldini's goal put Cagliari in front, which proved to be the moment that woke Roma up for a second time. Mora flew to meet a cross from Ghilardi and headed in, a late development in the match. Malen then sealed the 4-2, collecting another fine piece of play from the Portuguese midfielder, after Mora had again been involved in delivering the ball into the area for the Dutch forward. Gasperini, the paper concluded, once again went beyond the difficulties and errors with his decisions in the closing stages.

Rodrigo Mora turned a difficult evening against Cagliari into a memorable one at the Olimpico, scoring a header that sparked the home crowd and setting up Donyell Malen's winning goal. The Portuguese had struggled in the early stages, as he had in recent matches, and his first-half role did not suit him. Gasperini kept his usual system, with two wide players behind the striker, but Mora found little room on either flank. Playing wide, left or right, does not appear to be his strength. The turning point came when Gasperini moved him to the left, alongside Matías Soulé and behind Malen. As the minutes passed, Mora drifted into the centre, operated as a trequartista and finally found his space. Soulé moved closer to Malen, and Roma took on almost a 3-4-1-2 shape. Mora grew in confidence from there, making runs into the box and giving free rein to his creativity. His header, which brought the Olimpico to its feet, defined his evening, but it does not tell the whole story. Even more significant was the invention that opened the way for Malen's liberating goal, a moment that was worth as much as a signature. It was a night for the young players and for Roma's green-and-yellow youth core. After the match, Mora made his ambitions clear: "Voglio lottare per essere titolare", which translates as "I want to fight to be a starter." He is trying to convince Gasperini to give him more minutes. The coach knows his qualities and, for now, regards him as a 'mina vagante', a dangerous wildcard. Mora is only 19, and time is on his side. That evening against Cagliari could turn out to have been far more than a special night.