Gasperini can break Serie A decade scoring record with Roma

Roma can go to sleep level on points with Lazio and one behind Inter, and host Sassuolo at the Olimpico today at 20.45 in the last round before the international break. Gian Piero Gasperini has the chance to close the gap further at the top of the table. The most urgent question concerns the goalkeeper: Pierluigi Gollini has not fully recovered from the back problem that kept him out before the Manchester game, and his availability remains in doubt. If he is ruled out, Devis Vásquez will again start in goal. Mile Svilar will not return until after the break. In defence, Gasperini must decide how to share out the workload. Daniele Ghilardi is pushing for a place in the starting line-up and could give Gianluca Mancini a rest. On the right, the battle is open between Nahuel Molina and Emanuele Lulli. Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso remain the first choices in the back line, with Leonardo Balerdi as another option to change at least one player. In midfield, Bryan Cristante and Marten de Roon are the most likely pairing. Up front, Donyell Malen will lead the attack, supported by Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora. Manu Koné is still out. He was not called up for Sassuolo and has also been left out of Zidane's France squad. Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini are also unavailable. Dybala is aiming to return against Parma after the break, while Pellegrini will not be back until January. The report, written by Marco Juric for La Repubblica, places the emphasis on the goalkeeper and defensive selection as Gasperini prepares his side for the Sassuolo clash.

Roma head into the international break looking to close out the run with a win over Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico, with Gian Piero Gasperini's side aiming for their 31st victory under the coach and a result that would wipe out the defeat at Old Trafford. The Olimpico is set to be full once again, and Roma go into the match with the aim of winning, keeping their home record intact and taking advantage of a Serie A matchday that promises plenty in the top half of the table. According to Corriere dello Sport, Gasperini's Roma have changed their rhythm, mentality and ambitions, and have become a solid side that scores plenty and concedes little. Roma are still unbeaten in Serie A, a record they share only with Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, and are chasing an 18th consecutive useful result. The Olimpico has become a fortress, unbeaten in Serie A since late November last year. Roma's attack is the best in the league with 28 goals scored, and they face the worst defence in the division, that of a Sassuolo side in serious difficulty. Other matchday fixtures include Napoli-Lazio and Inter-Como, which Roma could use to gain ground and put pressure on their rivals. The gap between the two sides is clear, but Roma must prove it on the pitch with intensity, aggression and the hunger of a side that wants to keep dreaming. Roma have already collected 30 wins in the Gasperini era, and a victory tonight would bring them to 31 and leave them in a better league position going into the break.

Manu Koné has returned to availability ahead of Roma's home match against Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico, a rare piece of good news for Gian Piero Gasperini. The French midfielder missed more than twenty days with an injury picked up in the Champions League against Real Madrid, and he has passed his final test. He can be called up but without taking any risks, and he will miss his national team commitments as a result. Koné, sidelined by a hamstring injury, is back in contention but is not yet certain to start, as the medical staff preferred not to rush his recovery and will delay his full return until after the international break. The rest of the infirmary remains crowded, forcing Gasperini into several difficult choices. Paulo Dybala still feels discomfort in his calf and is aiming to return against Parma. Mile Svilar is recovering from a stress fracture in his foot and is getting closer to a comeback. Lorenzo Pellegrini's timeline is longer, and he will not return before the end of January. Pierluigi Gollini has not recovered from the back problem he suffered before the trip to Manchester, which opens the door in goal for Devis Vásquez. Vásquez is set to play again sixteen months after his last appearance, on 25 May 2025 in Empoli-Verona. Gasperini is still weighing the final details of the starting line-up. In defence, there is an open battle between Ghilardi and Balerdi, while Molina is expected to return from the first minute on the right flank, where he is tasked with providing width and freshness. Roma are determined to finish this stretch well before the international break.