Gasperini prepares Roma for October's defining stretch: Como to Udine

Wesley holds the key to Roma's next leap forward. The Brazilian left-back, already one of Serie A's standout performers last season alongside Dimarco and Palestra despite playing out of position, has been sidelined by injury setbacks that have disrupted his momentum. In a pre-World Cup friendly against Egypt, Wesley suffered an injury that derailed his plans heading into September. Just as he returned to action with Roma, a right thigh muscle strain forced him back to the sidelines when called up by Brazil again. Last season Wesley played in a role not naturally his own, yet his performances were so effective that he climbed the hierarchy of the Brazilian national team. His durability was remarkable—he reached 69 appearances in a single season before the injury against Egypt halted his run. His absence has been felt as Roma, currently top of the league with Paulo Dybala in fine form and Donyell Malen consistently finding the net, have otherwise tightened their defence with Mile Svilar's assured keeping and the emerging quality of Manu Koné, who is now earning recognition at international level with France. Wesley finally stopped after an exhausting campaign of constant availability. He now has three weeks to recover fully, reconnect his physical condition and rediscover his best self. The timing of his return could be crucial: Roma remain just one player away from their ideal setup, and Wesley represents that final piece of the puzzle.

Roma supporters will be able to follow the team away from home for the first time in nearly nine months. The away ban, which began on 18 January following clashes with Fiorentina supporters on the motorway, has been revoked by the National Observatory on Sports Events. The first opportunity to return to an away section comes at Como on 11 October at 12:30. The ban had excluded Roma fans from significant fixtures including Bologna and Parma over 266 days. The lift of this restriction marks the end of a difficult period in which supporters watched matches from a distance, with the away section now set to restore vocal support for the team outside the Olimpico. The decision represents a significant moment for the club and its fanbase after months of enforced absence. Tickets for the away section at the Sinigaglia stadium — approximately 1,000 places — will go on sale from 12:00 on 2 October until 19:00 on 10 October. Purchase is restricted to holders of the Roma loyalty scheme. Strong demand is already expected, with tickets likely to sell out quickly. The reintroduction of away support comes as Roma continue their 2026-27 campaign.

Donyell Malen has made a stronger start than Gonzalo Higuaín or Ciro Immobile at the same stage of their seasons, raising the prospect of a historic scoring run. After Roma's victory in Turin two weeks ago, Malen said: "I want to score many goals. I am focused on this, to help the team reach its objectives." He also acknowledged his interest in setting records, adding: "Totti's 6 goals in 4 games? I enjoy these records too." The benchmark in his sights is the 36 goals Higuaín scored in 2015–16 with Napoli and Immobile scored in 2019–20 with Lazio—the Serie A all-time record. Through the first five league matches, both Higuaín and Immobile had scored 4 goals each. Malen has bettered that tally, operating at a higher level than either of his predecessors at the same juncture. Malen remained at Trigoria during the international break, allowing him to manage a knock to his knee without risking unexpected injury or setback. He is expected to be available for Roma's next fixture at Como, a match that amounts to a direct contest for the league lead given Roma's current position at the summit of the table.

Roma's training ground atmosphere remained positive on 30 September, with Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina among the smiling faces in footage released by the club. The pair had been withdrawn the previous day from an event organised in Argentina to mark Lionel Messi's retirement, a decision that appeared to cause no ill feeling based on the images distributed by the club. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini maintains a calm environment despite ongoing absences. Wesley, Donyell Malen and Bryan Cristante have not yet returned to full group training and continue their recovery programmes, while international players remain away on duty with their national teams. Lorenzo Pellegrini is working hard to regain peak condition during the extended break and may feature in a friendly against the Primavera to build match fitness ahead of competitive action. Roma face Como in eleven days, providing Gasperini with adequate time to prepare for the Sinigaglia fixture and monitor the recovery of unavailable players. The objective is to have the largest possible squad available when the league campaign resumes.

Roma radio commentators have weighed in on squad selection for the fixture on 11 October, with particular focus on players on international duty with Argentina. Lorenzo Pes of Teleradiostereo stated that Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina did not force their way into the Buenos Aires trip for Lionel Messi's farewell, and there will be no lasting friction from the club's decision to keep them in Rome. Pes added: "The players did not push to be in Buenos Aires for Messi's goodbye. Roma has a delicate and important match on 11 October and the club's statement shows the strength of the ownership." Simone Valdarchi of Radio Manà Manà predicted Gian Piero Gasperini will make tactical adjustments based on the return of Argentina internationals. He suggested Santiago Castro poses no selection problem in attack, as he would not have dislodged Donyell Malen anyway. In defence, Valdarchi expects Mario Hermoso's continued presence at Trigoria, Evan N'Dicka's early return, and the measured workload of Gianluca Mancini to mean Leonardo Balerdi will not start. He forecast the usual competition between Matías Soulé for a forward berth. Pes also reflected on Lorenzo Pellegrini's form, stating: "Pellegrini did not fully meet expectations. His first year under Mourinho went very well, then he stopped a bit. He has not managed to capture people's hearts." Rome's radio coverage underscores the complexity of balancing international commitments with domestic fixture demands.

Roma resumed training at Trigoria on 29 September with three key players absent from the session: Donyell Malen, Wesley and Bryan Cristante, all nursing minor injuries from the previous week. Malen is sidelined with a knee problem, Cristante has lower back pain, and Wesley suffered a right thigh strain in the match against Inter. All three will be assessed and gradually reintegrated into group training, with Cristante expected to return by the end of the week. Wesley and Malen should follow shortly after. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is already looking ahead to the major fixture on 11 October despite the upcoming Como match still some distance away. All three injured players are expected to start when fit. The squad will feature a battle for the playmaker role between Rodrigo Mora and Matías Soulé, while a defensive duel looms between Evan N'Dicka and Leonardo Balerdi. Lorenzo Pellegrini is among those in contention but is unlikely to feature from the start.