Gasperini leans on Malen again as Roma look to close the gap at the top against Sassuolo

Roma return to action tomorrow evening at a sold-out Stadio Olimpico against Sassuolo, just before the international break, and must quickly erase the sting of their comeback defeat to Manchester United in the Champions League. The aim is a third consecutive league win, but first Gian Piero Gasperini must stop the flow of goals conceded. Roma have shipped 10 goals in their last four matches: three against Napoli, two against Cagliari, two against Udinese and three against Manchester United. The average number of goals conceded per 90 minutes has tripled since the start of the season, rising from 0.8 to 2.5. Injuries explain part of the problem, starting in goal. Mile Svilar, one of the best goalkeepers in his position in Europe, is a heavy absence, and his backup Pierluigi Gollini has also been hurt, forcing Devis Vásquez into the side. Vásquez was not even on the Serie A or UEFA lists. Svilar will not return until after the break. Whether Gollini is available tomorrow remains in doubt. At Trigoria, the club are confident he can be made available to Gasperini with injections, but for now Vásquez holds the advantage in the race for the starting place. Whoever plays in goal, Roma must rediscover the defensive solidity they have lost against Sassuolo. The report was written by Simone Valdarchi for Il Corriere della Sera.

Roma return to Serie A action at the Stadio Olimpico against Sassuolo, the ninth match after the September international break and a fixture the club will approach with its unbeaten domestic run intact. Gasperini's side are in form in the league, and the games that matter most for the squad come after the next break. Il Messaggero's Alessandro Angeloni described the team's strength as clearest when viewed through two lenses: league football and home matches. Since Gasperini took charge, the club has been a steamroller in Serie A. Last season he won seven of the final nine league games, five of them in the last five, to reach third place. Roma have not lost a league match since last April. The heavy 5-0 defeat at Inter in Milan was a turning point, after which the team began to surge. At home, a league defeat has not occurred since the night against Napoli, and the last home league loss came on 30 November, almost a year ago. Attention now turns to the period after the Christmas break. The squad, according to the article, is not quite adequate for the two major fronts of Serie A and the Champions League, not so much in quality as in numbers, and the club will need the ownership to intervene to strengthen it. Physical problems have forced Gasperini to cope with a long run of injuries, and the recurring emergency is expected to end eventually. Before that, Roma must get past Sassuolo.

Paulo Dybala will miss Roma's final match before the international break against Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico tomorrow, with the Argentine forward having worked on a differentiated training programme again on Wednesday. It will be the seventh consecutive game he has missed. Dybala is not willing to take a risk and is aiming to be back at 100% for the resumption of the season. Gasperini will rely on Matías Soulé and Mora behind Donyell Malen in attack. Devyne Rensch is also ruled out, with a first-degree tear of the long right adductor and twenty days of rest. Manu Koné and Pierluigi Gollini are both in doubt, although the signs are negative particularly for the midfielder, who risks not answering the call from Zidane with France. Gasperini will be able to welcome back Mile Svilar when play resumes. The report was written by Francesco Balzani in La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Roma continue to battle an injury crisis ahead of their home match against Sassuolo, with Gian Piero Gasperini left with a severely reduced set of options. The latest absence is Devyne Rensch, whose instrumental tests revealed a first-degree tear of the long adductor in his right leg. He is expected to be out for around three weeks, with a return planned after the international break. Paulo Dybala will not feature. He has yet to recover and will continue personalised training, aiming to be available again directly after the national team commitments. There is slightly better news on Manu Koné, the French midfielder, who has completed individualised work on the pitch and will undergo the final decisive test today to determine whether he can be included at least in the matchday squad and start on the bench. In midfield, given the fatigue accumulated over recent weeks, Cristante and De Roon will form the pairing to lead the engine room, with Pisilli ready to contribute. The goalkeeping position also needs close monitoring. Pierluigi Gollini remains in serious doubt because of a back problem that could force him to withdraw, despite attempting to play through with infiltrations. If Gollini cannot recover, Devis Vásquez is ready to return to the starting lineup from the first minute, a place in Serie A he would win back after many months. Ndicka is set to return to the defence, while Mancini is being managed under a planned programme. Up front, Malen and Soulé will lead the attack with Mora in support.

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.

Paulo Dybala will miss Roma's final match before the international break against Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico tomorrow, with the Argentine forward having worked on a differentiated training programme again on Wednesday. It will be the seventh consecutive game he has missed. Dybala is not willing to take a risk and is aiming to be back at 100% for the resumption of the season. Gasperini will rely on Matías Soulé and Mora behind Donyell Malen in attack. Devyne Rensch is also ruled out, with a first-degree tear of the long right adductor and twenty days of rest. Manu Koné and Pierluigi Gollini are both in doubt, although the signs are negative particularly for the midfielder, who risks not answering the call from Zidane with France. Gasperini will be able to welcome back Mile Svilar when play resumes. The report was written by Francesco Balzani in La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Roma continue to battle an injury crisis ahead of their home match against Sassuolo, with Gian Piero Gasperini left with a severely reduced set of options. The latest absence is Devyne Rensch, whose instrumental tests revealed a first-degree tear of the long adductor in his right leg. He is expected to be out for around three weeks, with a return planned after the international break. Paulo Dybala will not feature. He has yet to recover and will continue personalised training, aiming to be available again directly after the national team commitments. There is slightly better news on Manu Koné, the French midfielder, who has completed individualised work on the pitch and will undergo the final decisive test today to determine whether he can be included at least in the matchday squad and start on the bench. In midfield, given the fatigue accumulated over recent weeks, Cristante and De Roon will form the pairing to lead the engine room, with Pisilli ready to contribute. The goalkeeping position also needs close monitoring. Pierluigi Gollini remains in serious doubt because of a back problem that could force him to withdraw, despite attempting to play through with infiltrations. If Gollini cannot recover, Devis Vásquez is ready to return to the starting lineup from the first minute, a place in Serie A he would win back after many months. Ndicka is set to return to the defence, while Mancini is being managed under a planned programme. Up front, Malen and Soulé will lead the attack with Mora in support.

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.

Paulo Dybala will miss Roma's final match before the international break against Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico tomorrow, with the Argentine forward having worked on a differentiated training programme again on Wednesday. It will be the seventh consecutive game he has missed. Dybala is not willing to take a risk and is aiming to be back at 100% for the resumption of the season. Gasperini will rely on Matías Soulé and Mora behind Donyell Malen in attack. Devyne Rensch is also ruled out, with a first-degree tear of the long right adductor and twenty days of rest. Manu Koné and Pierluigi Gollini are both in doubt, although the signs are negative particularly for the midfielder, who risks not answering the call from Zidane with France. Gasperini will be able to welcome back Mile Svilar when play resumes. The report was written by Francesco Balzani in La Gazzetta dello Sport.