Gasperini reshapes Roma for Manchester United clash as Cristante may move forward

Roma are training at Manchester United's historic Cliff training ground on the eve of their trip to face the Red Devils, with Gian Piero Gasperini set to finalise his team selection doubts in the morning session. The session is scheduled for 11am local time at the Cliff. The Cliff is the club's former first-team base, which Manchester United used for years until Sir Alex Ferguson pushed for a move in 2000. Ferguson's reason was a lack of privacy: he felt the facility was too open, with training sessions easily watched by journalists and, above all, by scouts working for rival clubs. He called them "spies" and suggested the club relocate, and it did. Manchester United now train at Carrington, while the Cliff remains in use by the youth teams and the women's side. For one day, the Cliff is also being used by Roma and by their Primavera side, who will face the English club in the Youth League. Ahead of the trip, Roma have already held a rehearsal session the previous day, followed by the morning training on the day of the match.

Rafa Benitez has called Manchester United against Roma at Old Trafford the most fascinating Italian fixture of the Champions League's two-day round, which takes place tonight, 3 November. The Spanish coach spoke to La Gazzetta dello Sport about the Italian sides' European schedule and focused mainly on the clash in Manchester. Benitez praised Roma's attacking approach. Gian Piero Gasperini's side have been scoring three, four or even five goals against any opponent in recent matches. Roma have also recovered from an undeserved defeat to Real Madrid with three strong results: a draw at Napoli, then wins over Cagliari and Udinese. Benitez believes the team is in good shape and has the confidence that comes from its style of play. Benitez said: "For the Italian clubs, I'd say it's the most fascinating of all. In a stadium that is a temple, against an opponent that is History, with the audacity that must be recognised in this Roma, who score three, four or even five goals against anyone, as the last few matches show. It is a complete side. It has come out of the shock of the undeserved defeat to Real Madrid with three outstanding results: the draw at Napoli and then the two wins over Cagliari and Udinese. It is in good shape, and has the confidence that comes from its football." On Manchester United, Benitez said: "Football is a lie, as I said years ago and still think today. Carrick has got them back on their feet, brought them to the Champions League, and now they are having to fight a crisis of results that is evident, both in the Premier League, where they are way behind, and in this competition. But Old Trafford is not easy for anyone, even if Manchester United are going through a bad time. Gasperini knows it well, Roma know it, and they will adjust accordingly."

Donyell Malen is set to lead Roma's attack against a battered Manchester United at Old Trafford, with the Giallorossi looking to push towards the playoffs with a win. Il Corriere della Sera describes the Dutch forward as the dream man for Roma heading into the Old Trafford clash. Malen returns to English football after an unhappy spell at Aston Villa, where he was used on the wing and given fewer chances to show his considerable goalscoring potential. According to Il Corriere della Sera, he left the Premier League because he felt misunderstood, having wanted to play as a centre-forward rather than on the right wing. Birmingham, where Villa are based, is an hour and a half from Manchester, and the report suggests his assessment in England was wrong. A win on Tuesday evening would go a long way towards securing a playoff place for Roma. Malen has the chance to score against the club where Totti and Dzeko have left their mark. Earlier this season he scored against Real Madrid, silencing those who said he does not score in the big games. At Old Trafford, however, he is almost a debutant, having made just one appearance there, for six minutes in May 2025. The Italian report frames the match as a chance to prove that his value was misjudged in England and across Europe.

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini appears to have settled on most of his starting line-up for tonight's clash at Old Trafford against Manchester United. Gollini is set to start in goal, with Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso favoured in defence. In midfield the pair of Cristante and De Roon is confirmed, with Wesley on the left. The right-back berth is wide open, with the newspapers split between Molina, Rensch and Lulli. In the attacking midfield, Pisilli is named by almost all the dailies alongside Soulé, while Malen is expected to lead the line. N'Dicka faces a significant step up in difficulty tonight. The Roma centre-back will have to keep close tabs on Matheus Cunha, Manchester United's principal attacking reference. Reading the play in advance and managing the open space will be decisive, especially when Gasperini's side push up high. N'Dicka, however, has the qualities suited to the duel: strength in physical contests, timing of his interventions and reading of the game. The report is part of a flash round-up of Roma news and was published by La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Gian Piero Gasperini has warned his Roma side not to lower their guard against Manchester United tonight at Old Trafford, despite the Red Devils' poor results. The main threat is Matheus Cunha, the Brazilian forward who is United's principal attacking figure. Gasperini said: "Never trust him", as reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport. United are struggling, but the quality of their squad remains intact. Cunha has not shone as he did in the past, and like the rest of the team he has been below his best. In 13 matches so far this season he has scored only two goals, against Sabah in the Champions League and against Fulham in the Premier League. Gasperini has stressed that the threat should not be underestimated. The job of containing Cunha will fall mainly to Evan N'Dicka. The Ivorian defender must work well on anticipation and get his reading of the play right, but he must also avoid mistakes when stepping out early. Cunha has pace, and if he gets away from a defender he is hard to catch, especially in open space. Roma's two midfielders, De Roon and Cristante, will also be asked to create density in front of the central defender to stop Cunha from receiving playable balls. For N'Dicka, tonight's contest rises sharply in level. The challenge is demanding, and the Roma defence will need discipline and sharp timing to keep the United forward quiet.

Gasperini is preparing to take his Roma side to Old Trafford to reverse the history against Manchester United, and the Italian papers have largely agreed on a starting eleven. The coach appears set to field a solid defence with Mancini returning to the starting lineup, while the main doubt concerns the right flank, where the choice is between Lulli and Molina. Rensch could also come into contention for that spot, but he appears the least likely to start from the first minute. In midfield, the papers are split over who will support Soulé behind Malen: Pisilli, Cristante or Mora. Across the line-ups published by the Gazzetta dello Sport, Corriere dello Sport, Tuttosport, Il Messaggero, Corriere della Sera and Il Tempo, Roma are set to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation with Gollini in goal, Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso in defence, Wesley in the midfield and Soulé and Malen attacking. The papers' predicted line-ups differ in only a few places. The Gazzetta dello Sport and Il Messaggero pick Lulli at left-back, while the Corriere dello Sport and Tuttosport go with Molina. The Corriere della Sera and Il Tempo both name Rensch. Il Messaggero also includes de Roon and Pisilli in midfield, with Cristante pushed further forward alongside Soulé, while Tuttosport picks Mora in the number ten role instead of Pisilli.

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini appears to have settled on most of his starting line-up for tonight's clash at Old Trafford against Manchester United. Gollini is set to start in goal, with Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso favoured in defence. In midfield the pair of Cristante and De Roon is confirmed, with Wesley on the left. The right-back berth is wide open, with the newspapers split between Molina, Rensch and Lulli. In the attacking midfield, Pisilli is named by almost all the dailies alongside Soulé, while Malen is expected to lead the line. N'Dicka faces a significant step up in difficulty tonight. The Roma centre-back will have to keep close tabs on Matheus Cunha, Manchester United's principal attacking reference. Reading the play in advance and managing the open space will be decisive, especially when Gasperini's side push up high. N'Dicka, however, has the qualities suited to the duel: strength in physical contests, timing of his interventions and reading of the game. The report is part of a flash round-up of Roma news and was published by La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Gasperini is preparing to take his Roma side to Old Trafford to reverse the history against Manchester United, and the Italian papers have largely agreed on a starting eleven. The coach appears set to field a solid defence with Mancini returning to the starting lineup, while the main doubt concerns the right flank, where the choice is between Lulli and Molina. Rensch could also come into contention for that spot, but he appears the least likely to start from the first minute. In midfield, the papers are split over who will support Soulé behind Malen: Pisilli, Cristante or Mora. Across the line-ups published by the Gazzetta dello Sport, Corriere dello Sport, Tuttosport, Il Messaggero, Corriere della Sera and Il Tempo, Roma are set to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation with Gollini in goal, Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso in defence, Wesley in the midfield and Soulé and Malen attacking. The papers' predicted line-ups differ in only a few places. The Gazzetta dello Sport and Il Messaggero pick Lulli at left-back, while the Corriere dello Sport and Tuttosport go with Molina. The Corriere della Sera and Il Tempo both name Rensch. Il Messaggero also includes de Roon and Pisilli in midfield, with Cristante pushed further forward alongside Soulé, while Tuttosport picks Mora in the number ten role instead of Pisilli.

Roma visit Manchester United at Old Trafford tonight, with kick-off at 21:00 in the fourth matchday of the Champions League. Gasperini is expected to make several changes from the side that beat Udinese in Serie A three days ago. Pisilli is tipped to edge out Mora for a place in the midfield behind the front line. Mancini is set to return to the starting defence, alongside N'Dicka and Hermoso in a three-man back line. Wesley and Cristante are expected to keep their places, with De Roon in the middle of the midfield. Soulé and Malen are predicted to start up front alongside Pisilli in the 3-4-2-1 system. Gollini is expected to keep his place in goal. The predicted line-ups differ on the wing-back and full-back spots. Some papers pick Lulli on the left, others Rensch, and others Molina. Il Romanista goes with Balerdi on the left of the defence. La Gazzetta dello Sport, Il Messaggero and Il Corriere dello Sport all predict a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Lulli or Molina on the flanks. Corriere della Sera and Il Tempo both pick Rensch, while Romanews.Euroma and Corriere dello Sport go with Molina. For Gasperini, the choice on the flanks and in midfield will determine how Roma line up against the Premier League side at Old Trafford.

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini appears to have settled on most of his starting line-up for tonight's clash at Old Trafford against Manchester United. Gollini is set to start in goal, with Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso favoured in defence. In midfield the pair of Cristante and De Roon is confirmed, with Wesley on the left. The right-back berth is wide open, with the newspapers split between Molina, Rensch and Lulli. In the attacking midfield, Pisilli is named by almost all the dailies alongside Soulé, while Malen is expected to lead the line. N'Dicka faces a significant step up in difficulty tonight. The Roma centre-back will have to keep close tabs on Matheus Cunha, Manchester United's principal attacking reference. Reading the play in advance and managing the open space will be decisive, especially when Gasperini's side push up high. N'Dicka, however, has the qualities suited to the duel: strength in physical contests, timing of his interventions and reading of the game. The report is part of a flash round-up of Roma news and was published by La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Gian Piero Gasperini has warned his Roma side not to lower their guard against Manchester United tonight at Old Trafford, despite the Red Devils' poor results. The main threat is Matheus Cunha, the Brazilian forward who is United's principal attacking figure. Gasperini said: "Never trust him", as reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport. United are struggling, but the quality of their squad remains intact. Cunha has not shone as he did in the past, and like the rest of the team he has been below his best. In 13 matches so far this season he has scored only two goals, against Sabah in the Champions League and against Fulham in the Premier League. Gasperini has stressed that the threat should not be underestimated. The job of containing Cunha will fall mainly to Evan N'Dicka. The Ivorian defender must work well on anticipation and get his reading of the play right, but he must also avoid mistakes when stepping out early. Cunha has pace, and if he gets away from a defender he is hard to catch, especially in open space. Roma's two midfielders, De Roon and Cristante, will also be asked to create density in front of the central defender to stop Cunha from receiving playable balls. For N'Dicka, tonight's contest rises sharply in level. The challenge is demanding, and the Roma defence will need discipline and sharp timing to keep the United forward quiet.

Gasperini is preparing to take his Roma side to Old Trafford to reverse the history against Manchester United, and the Italian papers have largely agreed on a starting eleven. The coach appears set to field a solid defence with Mancini returning to the starting lineup, while the main doubt concerns the right flank, where the choice is between Lulli and Molina. Rensch could also come into contention for that spot, but he appears the least likely to start from the first minute. In midfield, the papers are split over who will support Soulé behind Malen: Pisilli, Cristante or Mora. Across the line-ups published by the Gazzetta dello Sport, Corriere dello Sport, Tuttosport, Il Messaggero, Corriere della Sera and Il Tempo, Roma are set to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation with Gollini in goal, Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso in defence, Wesley in the midfield and Soulé and Malen attacking. The papers' predicted line-ups differ in only a few places. The Gazzetta dello Sport and Il Messaggero pick Lulli at left-back, while the Corriere dello Sport and Tuttosport go with Molina. The Corriere della Sera and Il Tempo both name Rensch. Il Messaggero also includes de Roon and Pisilli in midfield, with Cristante pushed further forward alongside Soulé, while Tuttosport picks Mora in the number ten role instead of Pisilli.