Gasperini praises Roma's belief after comeback win over Atalanta

Napoli host Roma in a big Serie A Matchday 8 fixture, with the match available free on DAZN. Napoli, coached by Allegri, are reeling after a heavy defeat at Venezia, although they have shown signs of recovery following their Champions League win over Bodø/Glimt. They now sit ninth in the table and cannot afford further slips. Roma, under Gasperini, bounced back well from a bitter defeat to Real Madrid, comfortably beating Genoa in Serie A and Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League. The Giallorossi are keeping pace with Inter, who currently top the table on goal difference... on two points, and they are level at the summit with Lazio, whose start has surprised many, with the Rome rivals sharing top spot with Chivu's side. The article also covers the probable line-ups and the current Serie A standings ahead of kickoff.

Ticket sales have opened for the away sector at the Stadio Armando Maradona for Napoli's match against Roma, which is scheduled for Saturday 24 October at 18:00. An absolute ban on ticket sales for residents of the Lazio region has been imposed for the fixture, covering all sectors of the stadium. The ban also extends to the away section, which will be accessible exclusively to holders of the AS Roma Fidelity Card (Tessera del Tifoso) who do not live in the Lazio region. The restriction is a key point for Roma supporters planning to travel to Naples, as it applies to the whole stadium and not just the away end. Tickets can be bought online through the ticketing platform www.ticketone.com, at a cost of 45 euros.

Napoli-Roma, scheduled for 24 October at 18:00, will be broadcast free of charge on DAZN, allowing fans without an active subscription to watch the big match. The game at the Maradona is one of the fixtures the platform has chosen to make freely available, as it has done in previous seasons for selected matches. The clash is among the most anticipated Serie A fixtures of the weekend, and the free broadcast will give a wider audience the chance to follow it. Roma and Napoli supporters can watch the match without signing up to a subscription, using the access method DAZN has set out for the free live stream. The free broadcast follows the same approach DAZN has taken with selected games in past seasons. The platform has opened up the Maradona fixture to viewers who do not hold an active subscription, and fans should follow the instructions DAZN provides for accessing the live stream.

Roma's defence has been named in the Sofascore Team of the Week for the latest Champions League round, with Mario Hermoso, Leonardo Balerdi and Daniele Ghilardi all selected and dominating the back line of the ideal side. The trio's performance earned the recognition after they kept a clean sheet against Slovan Bratislava, the club's first clean sheet in Europe this season, and gave nothing away to Yaya Touré's side. The spotlight on the defence comes as Roma prepare for a big match against Napoli, with the squad continuing its work at Trigoria. The back line has been one of the strengths of the start to the campaign, conceding just three goals in the first seven Serie A matches. The Italian report adds that the award reflects the solid form of a unit that has been central to Roma's strong start, with the three defenders combining for a shutout that underlined the club's improved resilience at the back. Roma are next in action against Napoli, with the squad focused on maintaining that defensive record.

Roma's central defenders Hermoso, Balerdi and Ghilardi have been named in Sofascore's Team of the Week for the latest Champions League round, after a performance that kept Slovan Bratislava out completely. The three Roma defenders gave away nothing to the side coached by Yaya Touré. Roma have conceded only three goals in their first seven Serie A matches, a record built on a back line that is growing more solid despite the absence of several players who were fundamental in recent years. The arrivals of Balerdi and Koulierakis, and the continued development of Ghilardi, have given Gasperini the option to rest two first-team regulars, Ndicka and Mancini. Sofascore's selection was described as deserved. The Team of the Week's defence, drawn from the best side in the League Phase, was dominated by Gasperini's Roma backline. The selection also includes attackers Doué, Nico Paz, Foden and Ngumoha from the wider group of top clubs in the competition.

Roma's injury crisis is opening a door for Rodrigo Mora, with the Portuguese midfielder set to be given a starting chance as Gasperini looks for answers after the 4-0 Champions League win over Slovan. Lorenzo Pellegrini has joined a growing injury list that already includes Mile Svilar, Manu Koné and Paulo Dybala, and the first checks offer little hope of a quick return: he is expected to be out for around a month, though the official extent of the problem will only be confirmed after an MRI scan. Roma are averaging two injuries a week. With Pellegrini sidelined, Gasperini has only Matías Soulé and Mora as specialist attacking midfielders for Saturday's trip to Napoli at the Maradona. Dybala is targeting a return for the match at Udinese, while Bryan Cristante is back in the squad but needs to regain match rhythm. The head coach has backed Mora since his arrival, but his performances have been more subdued in recent starts. After an excellent cameo against Real Madrid, he appeared more in the shadows when starting against Genoa and Slovan. Gasperini expects more concrete answers from him, and Napoli could be the chance to take a step forward and earn a regular place. The night in Bratislava was otherwise a positive one for the Giallorossi. Donyell Malen impressed with his goalscoring, Daniele Ghilardi was reliable at the back, Wesley showed renewed energy and Nahuel Molina scored his first goal for the club. Gasperini can take pride in having built a side with a strong identity, but the injury problem is the main concern. A decision on whether to start Mora alongside Soulé will be central to the coming fixture.

Roma's defence has been named in the Sofascore Team of the Week for the latest Champions League round, with Mario Hermoso, Leonardo Balerdi and Daniele Ghilardi all selected and dominating the back line of the ideal side. The trio's performance earned the recognition after they kept a clean sheet against Slovan Bratislava, the club's first clean sheet in Europe this season, and gave nothing away to Yaya Touré's side. The spotlight on the defence comes as Roma prepare for a big match against Napoli, with the squad continuing its work at Trigoria. The back line has been one of the strengths of the start to the campaign, conceding just three goals in the first seven Serie A matches. The Italian report adds that the award reflects the solid form of a unit that has been central to Roma's strong start, with the three defenders combining for a shutout that underlined the club's improved resilience at the back. Roma are next in action against Napoli, with the squad focused on maintaining that defensive record.

Roma's central defenders Hermoso, Balerdi and Ghilardi have been named in Sofascore's Team of the Week for the latest Champions League round, after a performance that kept Slovan Bratislava out completely. The three Roma defenders gave away nothing to the side coached by Yaya Touré. Roma have conceded only three goals in their first seven Serie A matches, a record built on a back line that is growing more solid despite the absence of several players who were fundamental in recent years. The arrivals of Balerdi and Koulierakis, and the continued development of Ghilardi, have given Gasperini the option to rest two first-team regulars, Ndicka and Mancini. Sofascore's selection was described as deserved. The Team of the Week's defence, drawn from the best side in the League Phase, was dominated by Gasperini's Roma backline. The selection also includes attackers Doué, Nico Paz, Foden and Ngumoha from the wider group of top clubs in the competition.

Roma travel to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Saturday at 18:00 to face Napoli in Serie A matchday eight, with Gian Piero Gasperini's side arriving after a 4-0 win over Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League, while Napoli beat Bodø/Glimt 4-3 on the same evening. Gasperini has to contend with several absences, and the problem Lorenzo Pellegrini suffered against Slovan Bratislava adds to his worries. Pellegrini left the pitch with a muscle issue to his right hamstring and will undergo further tests, so his availability for the Maradona is in doubt. Gollini is set to keep his place in goal in the absence of Svilar. Svilar is still out with a micro-fracture to his fifth toe and will only return in the coming weeks. Koné will also miss out, having picked up a first-degree muscle injury against Real Madrid, with his return expected later on. Dybala is yet to recover from a small tear to his calf muscle. Roma reached the Maradona after a positive week in Serie A and the Champions League. They first beat Genoa 2-0 at the Olimpico, returning to winning ways in Serie A after a draw at Como, and then thrashed Slovan Bratislava 4-0 to secure their first win in the Champions League league phase. Hermoso, Molina, Pisilli and Malen scored against the Slovaks, in a practically perfect evening for Gasperini's side, marred only by Pellegrini's injury. Gasperini also managed his regulars, initially resting Mancini, Ndicka and Soulé. Napoli also come into the match after a European win. They beat Bodø/Glimt 4-3 at the Maradona thanks to an opening goal from Politano, a brace from McTominay and an own goal from Bjørtuft. The result, after difficulties in the first two Champions League matchdays, lets Allegri's side approach the clash with Roma with greater confidence. Napoli have also been hit by absences: Favasuli is out with a second-degree tear to his rectus femoris, Vergara is recovering from a calf problem and Alisson Santos is out with a biceps femoris injury. Buongiorno and Neres remain doubtful, the latter with a thigh muscle injury. The head-to-head record stands at 90 official meetings played in Campania. Napoli have won 39, Roma 25, with 26 draws. Roma have not won at Napoli's ground since the 2017/18 season, when they triumphed 4-2. The last meeting at the Maradona, on 15 February 2026, ended 2-2. Ticket sales for the match have been banned for residents of the Lazio region, a measure adopted by the prefect of Naples, Michele di Bari, on the basis of the determination of the Committee for the analysis of security at sporting events and the proposal of the Naples Police Headquarters. The restriction applies to the sale of tickets to Lazio residents in general, not only to the away section. The match will be broadcast live on DAZN, with kick-off at 18:00 on Saturday 24 October at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Official line-ups will be announced about an hour before kick-off. Gasperini's probable Roma XI is Gollini; Mancini, Ndicka, Hermoso; Wesley, de Roon, Pisilli, Molina; Soulé, Mora; Malen. Mancini and Ndicka are expected to return alongside Hermoso, with Balerdi and Ghilardi as alternatives, while Wesley and Lulli are favoured on the flanks. Cristante, recovering from knee inflammation, could be in the squad at least. Mora is favoured to complete the attack in Dybala's absence, while Malen is confirmed up front after returning to scoring against Slovan Bratislava from the penalty spot. Napoli are expected to line up in a 3-4-2-1 with Meret in goal, Beukema, Rrahmani and Badiashile at the back, Di Lorenzo and the former Roma player Spinazzola on the flanks, Lobotka and Gilmour in midfield, Giovane and McTominay behind Hojlund. Anguissa is a candidate to return to the starting line-up after a spell on the bench in the last league fixture.

Lorenzo Pellegrini faces a spell on the sidelines after scans revealed a high-grade tear to the distal muscle-tendon junction of the semitendinosus in his right thigh, the injury he suffered in Roma's match against Slovan Bratislava. The diagnosis is considerably more serious than the initial feeling after the game, when Gian Piero Gasperini had suggested a layoff of around twenty days. It is still too early to name a precise return date, which will depend on the actual extent of the tear, whether the tendon is involved and, above all, how the player responds to rehabilitation. However, given the high-grade classification, a cautious estimate points to a absence of 6-10 weeks. In calendar terms, Pellegrini would not only miss the November international break; a possible return could come between early and mid-December. Roma will only be able to set more precise timings once the clinical picture develops. If the tendon is particularly badly affected, recovery could take even longer. The blow is particularly heavy for Gasperini given the state of the attack. Paulo Dybala is already sidelined, and after the win over Slovan the coach had sounded the alarm: "If we don't recover Dybala quickly, we will really be few in number." Pellegrini's injury makes Roma's numerical problem in the attacking midfield even more evident. Gasperini will rely mainly on Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora, possibly using Donyell Malen and Santiago Castro together, or alternative solutions such as moving Wesley forward. Roma lose one of the players the coach was using most in his offensive rotations at the most demanding point of the calendar.

Roma's injury crisis deepened as Lorenzo Pellegrini was lost against Slovan Bratislava, adding to a growing list of absentees ahead of the trip to Napoli. Gasperini is working through his options for the Maradona fixture, with Malen and Soulé almost certain to start, but the final place in the attacking midfield remains open. The Pellegrini injury is already the seventh muscular injury of the season, on top of a bone-related problem suffered by Svilar. Dybala and Koné are also on the treatment list. Rodrigo Mora has not convinced, particularly in terms of attitude, in the recent games against Genoa and Slovan Bratislava, which has opened the door for Bryan Cristante, who has just returned from a knee problem. Cristante has not played since 19 September against Inter, just over a month ago, and his availability will be decisive. If he is not fit to start, Mora would almost certainly be given the nod from the first minute, as the pairing of Castro and Malen is not part of Gasperini's plans for a game of this importance. Gasperini has emergency alternatives. He could push Mancini or Hermoso into midfield, or use Wesley as an attacking winger, a solution already seen during a match last season, with Lulli and Molina then occupying the flanks. Napoli, who appear to have found a new balance in recent outings with De Bruyne dropping into the holding role, are just two days away from the clash at the Maradona, and Gasperini still has plenty of selection questions to resolve.

Roma's radio pundits are debating how Gian Piero Gasperini should line up against Napoli, with Mora, Soulé, Malen and Castro at the centre of the discussion. Rete Sport's David Rossi backed keeping Mora in the side alongside Soulé and Malen, arguing that Mora deserves more consecutive games to gain confidence and to win over the Roma crowd, and that playing away from home would ease the pressure on him. He also suggested a more natural role for Mora than the one Gasperini gave Pellegrini against Slovan, when Pellegrini was deployed on the right, a position that is not his. Rossi said: "Contro il Napoli o metti dentro tutti i centrocampisti, con uno tra Pisilli e Cristante alto sulla trequarti, oppure confermi Mora con Soulè e Malen, che è la cosa che farei io." Fabio Petruzzi, also on Rete Sport, proposed Rensch in front of Spinazzola with Wesley on the left, and expected Gasperini to keep faith with Mora but not to rule out Malen and Castro up front together. Tiziano Moroni was more critical, saying Mora had been insufficient in the last match and had created nothing, while noting he is only 19 and urging patience with Gasperini. Gianluca Piacentini raised the idea of Wesley pushed forward in the emergency, but said he would go for the classic line-up against Napoli, with Mora and Soulé behind Malen. He said: "Mora è arrivato da due mesi e per questo gli darei un po' di tempo. Facciamogli fare dieci partite consecutive." He added: "Però se ogni volta deve giocare con questo mattone addosso, che al primo errore viene fustigato, diventa dura…" On Tele Radio Stereo, Mario Corsi said Mora should be given time despite criticism, pointing out that Diomande is also 19. Francesca Ferrazza argued that Roma are not a side in difficulty, that the atmosphere in the stadium is the best it has been, and that Champions League matches drain energy but are tests of strength. Lorenzo Pes reported that Pellegrini, even with a mild injury, will not return before the break, and that what had filtered out suggested a month out with a more significant tear in the same spot where he had surgery. He said Gasperini must hope to recover Dybala soon, with recent reports pointing to an attempt for Udinese, and suggested Cristante move forward with Pisilli in midfield. Alessio Nardo joked: "Il giorno in cui la Roma acquisterà l'esterno sinistro titolare di piede destro faremo una festa in città, perchè finalmente sfateremo un tabù. Sono due anni che cerchiamo questo giocatore senza riuscire a trovarlo…" Piero Torri said Saturday's match against Napoli would be far from easy, and that Cristante was unlikely to start, though he could come on during the game in either the No.10 role or midfield. Roberto Pruzzo said he did not expect Mora to play against Napoli, suggested Castro could partner Malen, and believed Pisilli could operate in a dual role. Nando Orsi argued that Mora must play whenever he has the chance, otherwise he never gets the opportunity to settle in and understand the system. He said: "L'esborso economico deve essere confermato, e quando c'è la possibilità deve giocare." On Castro, he said: "Pensavo a Castro: poverino, non giocherà mai." He noted that Castro has been a starter for three or four matches this season, since Malen usually starts, and that coming on from the bench is very different from starting from the first minute.