Gasperini starts Mora against Cagliari as Dybala drops to the bench

Rodrigo Mora is set for another start for Roma against Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico tonight, as he looks to answer doubts over his form and consistency. With Lorenzo Pellegrini and Paulo Dybala absent, Dybala is initially set to begin on the bench, and Mora has been given the opportunity to make an impact. Mora arrived in the capital as a major investment, with an estimated value of around fifty million, and the 2007-born Portuguese midfielder has so far struggled to live up to expectations. According to Il Messaggero, Gian Piero Gasperini sees Mora as, in effect, Dybala's deputy. However, sharing the pitch with the Argentine, or being asked to play in different roles such as on the left flank, has limited his natural explosiveness and his freedom on the edge of the attacking midfield. Gasperini has defended him publicly, praising his talent and his growing personality, while stressing that he needs to contribute more in front of goal. The Cagliari match is presented as the ideal chance to restart from simple things, rediscovering the calm and enjoyment in the game that marked his debut this season. The fixture comes amid a congested schedule, with Roma needing consistent performances from their squad options. Mora's chance to show his quality is now firmly in his own hands.

Roma return to action tonight at the Stadio Olimpico against Cagliari, aiming to get back to winning ways after a draw with Napoli. Paulo Dybala is back in the squad but will start on the bench. Matías Soulé, Mora and Donyell Malen are expected up front, with Lulli on the right side of the defence. On the left, Nahuel Molina and Wesley are in a head-to-head battle for a starting place. Mario Hermoso and Marten de Roon are rested. The predicted line-ups in the Roman press largely agree on a 3-4-2-1 shape. Gollini starts in goal, with Ghilardi, Evan N'Dicka and Leonardo Balerdi in the back three, and Cristante and Pisilli in central midfield. Il Messaggero, Corriere della Sera and Il Tempo all pick Gianluca Mancini in place of Ghilardi and Wesley in place of Molina. Corriere della Sera and Il Tempo both switch to a 3-4-1-2, with Mora and Soulé behind Malen. Leggo is the outlier, placing Hermoso in the back three alongside Ghilardi and Balerdi. The lineups show how much rotation Roma are considering for the Cagliari match, with several first-choice players either on the bench or resting. Balerdi appears in every projected starting eleven, and Malen leads the attack in all six predictions. Dybala's role as a substitute will be the main talking point for fans if he is not called into the starting line-up.

Matías Soulé has turned his season around in two months, delivering what Il Corriere della Sera's Davide Stoppini describes as the best performance of his Roma career in the win at Napoli, where Roma came from behind. Roma were trailing in that match before recovering, and Soulé was the driving force throughout. Just two months ago the forward had spent a summer with a "for sale" tag hanging around his neck. Back from his holidays, he was stopped by reporters at Fiumicino asking whether he would stay at the club, and he could not even answer. Gasperini also made no secret in his press conference that the forward had returned overweight. The turnaround is significant because Soulé was criticised last season for often failing to perform in the big matches, when the level of games rose and he could not take control. Against Napoli, by contrast, he was consistent over the whole match rather than only in isolated moments. Stoppini writes that Soulé "did everything well" in the performance. Rodrigo Mora is set to play in the attacking trio as a pure number ten, and will move in the footsteps of Soulé, a curious and not trivial pairing for how the match will unfold. For the third forward spot, Donyell Malen and Santiago Castro are in a battle. Malen is still ahead, but Castro has good chances of overtaking him and regaining a starting place after scoring a goal a week ago against Genoa.

Rodrigo Mora is set for another start for Roma against Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico tonight, as he looks to answer doubts over his form and consistency. With Lorenzo Pellegrini and Paulo Dybala absent, Dybala is initially set to begin on the bench, and Mora has been given the opportunity to make an impact. Mora arrived in the capital as a major investment, with an estimated value of around fifty million, and the 2007-born Portuguese midfielder has so far struggled to live up to expectations. According to Il Messaggero, Gian Piero Gasperini sees Mora as, in effect, Dybala's deputy. However, sharing the pitch with the Argentine, or being asked to play in different roles such as on the left flank, has limited his natural explosiveness and his freedom on the edge of the attacking midfield. Gasperini has defended him publicly, praising his talent and his growing personality, while stressing that he needs to contribute more in front of goal. The Cagliari match is presented as the ideal chance to restart from simple things, rediscovering the calm and enjoyment in the game that marked his debut this season. The fixture comes amid a congested schedule, with Roma needing consistent performances from their squad options. Mora's chance to show his quality is now firmly in his own hands.

Roma return to action tonight at the Stadio Olimpico against Cagliari, aiming to get back to winning ways after a draw with Napoli. Paulo Dybala is back in the squad but will start on the bench. Matías Soulé, Mora and Donyell Malen are expected up front, with Lulli on the right side of the defence. On the left, Nahuel Molina and Wesley are in a head-to-head battle for a starting place. Mario Hermoso and Marten de Roon are rested. The predicted line-ups in the Roman press largely agree on a 3-4-2-1 shape. Gollini starts in goal, with Ghilardi, Evan N'Dicka and Leonardo Balerdi in the back three, and Cristante and Pisilli in central midfield. Il Messaggero, Corriere della Sera and Il Tempo all pick Gianluca Mancini in place of Ghilardi and Wesley in place of Molina. Corriere della Sera and Il Tempo both switch to a 3-4-1-2, with Mora and Soulé behind Malen. Leggo is the outlier, placing Hermoso in the back three alongside Ghilardi and Balerdi. The lineups show how much rotation Roma are considering for the Cagliari match, with several first-choice players either on the bench or resting. Balerdi appears in every projected starting eleven, and Malen leads the attack in all six predictions. Dybala's role as a substitute will be the main talking point for fans if he is not called into the starting line-up.

Roma host Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico tonight, and Gian Piero Gasperini is relying on Matías Soulé, who has been among the team's best performers in recent outings and is ready to lead the attack. Paulo Dybala is named among the substitutes and is expected to come on during the match as he returns gradually from a muscle problem. The coach is weighing options to complete the front three, where Donyell Malen and Santiago Castro are pushing for starting places, with Rodrigo Mora supporting from the wide attacking areas. Roma have finished a run of demanding fixtures and face a calendar that looks easier on paper. After recent draws, the side need to return to winning consistently and leave the recent controversies behind in order to strengthen their ambitions at the top of the table. Gasperini values the rotation options the squad now has to manage energy levels during this autumn schedule. According to Il Corriere della Sera, Soulé's transformation is one of the central themes of the season so far. After a summer spent at the centre of transfer speculation, and with the after-effects of a sports hernia (pubalgia) that had restricted his performances last season, the Argentine has turned the pecking order around through daily work. Gasperini has praised his consistency, saying that his technical and character growth offers decisive solutions in the development of the attacking play. Alongside the quality of the former Juventus player, Roma regain solidity and important rotation options.

Roma return to action tonight at the Stadio Olimpico against Cagliari, aiming to get back to winning ways after a draw with Napoli. Paulo Dybala is back in the squad but will start on the bench. Matías Soulé, Mora and Donyell Malen are expected up front, with Lulli on the right side of the defence. On the left, Nahuel Molina and Wesley are in a head-to-head battle for a starting place. Mario Hermoso and Marten de Roon are rested. The predicted line-ups in the Roman press largely agree on a 3-4-2-1 shape. Gollini starts in goal, with Ghilardi, Evan N'Dicka and Leonardo Balerdi in the back three, and Cristante and Pisilli in central midfield. Il Messaggero, Corriere della Sera and Il Tempo all pick Gianluca Mancini in place of Ghilardi and Wesley in place of Molina. Corriere della Sera and Il Tempo both switch to a 3-4-1-2, with Mora and Soulé behind Malen. Leggo is the outlier, placing Hermoso in the back three alongside Ghilardi and Balerdi. The lineups show how much rotation Roma are considering for the Cagliari match, with several first-choice players either on the bench or resting. Balerdi appears in every projected starting eleven, and Malen leads the attack in all six predictions. Dybala's role as a substitute will be the main talking point for fans if he is not called into the starting line-up.

Roma head into tonight's home match against Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico, kicking off at 20:45, with coach Gian Piero Gasperini looking to return to winning ways after a draw at Napoli and to avoid losing ground in the race for the top positions. The Giallorossi have a run of fixtures that, on paper, offers a chance to build momentum: Cagliari tonight, then Udinese away and Sassuolo before the November international break. The challenge is balancing the need for points with the need to manage energy levels. The recent schedule of demanding clashes has left physical and mental fatigue, and Gasperini knows he cannot keep asking the same players for extra effort. The Champions League meeting with Manchester United, which falls between the trip to Udine and the Sassuolo match, adds to the pressure. Despite absences that continue to limit his options, Gasperini is considering a significant turnover. He admitted at yesterday's press conference that some changes are likely, stressing the need to use a squad now able to provide rotation. One of the most likely changes involves Emanuele Lulli, who is set to return to the starting line-up on the right flank just after officially renewing his contract until 2031. He could replace Wesley, one of the most used players so far this season, with Molina a candidate to occupy the left side. In defence, Leonardo Balerdi, who scored a brace at the Maradona, is pushing for a starting place. Daniele Ghilardi could also start in place of Gianluca Mancini. Rodrigo Mora is among the main candidates to start, with Bryan Cristante possibly dropping into midfield to add quality in the final third. The most notable surprise could come up front. According to reports in the press, including Il Messaggero, Gasperini is considering giving Donyell Malen a rest, with Santiago Castro leading the attack. The move is far from certain, as the Dutchman remains the team's main offensive reference and the favourite to start. However, the idea of preserving him for the upcoming fixtures is one of the options on the table, a sign that the coach wants to genuinely widen his rotation. The watchword remains to win. Cagliari, coached by Pisacane, are going through a difficult period, but matches like this one hide dangers for a side coming off many close fixtures. Gasperini must find fresh energy without lowering the level of competitiveness, and needs important responses from those who have had less playing time so far. Roma cannot afford slip-ups at a point in the season when the calendar offers a valuable opportunity: winning consecutive matches before the break and arriving at the next big clashes with an even stronger league position. The turnover is necessary, but the three points are even more so.

Roma host Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico tonight (kickoff 20:45, Dazn), with Gian Piero Gasperini preparing to rotate his squad after a demanding start to the season. Paulo Dybala is expected to return, at least on the bench, and Gasperini has indicated changes are coming because the team plays every three days. The fixture is the first of five matches on paper more manageable than the opening eight rounds, which saw Roma face Atalanta, Como, Inter and Napoli. Gasperini said: "He is feeling better, I am confident. We will change something since we play every three days. The squad has shown it can rotate during matches." Roma's next trip is to Udine on Saturday, and the coach is looking to share the midfield load, with Cristante expected to return to midfield to give de Roon a little breathing space. Gasperini gave a positive assessment of the campaign so far: "The attitude is always excellent, some technical errors are fine because we are not machines. We scored 2 goals against Inter, 3 against Real and 3 against Napoli, showing we are not an inch less than them and that we can compete on equal terms. So far I am really satisfied." He singled out Soulé as one of the players improving rapidly: "He has played all high-level matches. We are talking about a 23-year-old who still has wide margins of maturity that can make him stronger and stronger." Asked about Lulli's contract renewal, Gasperini said: "He deserves it, I am happy for him." The winger has extended his deal with Roma until 2031 and is expected to start tonight. Mora gets another chance, while at least one of Ghilardi and Balerdi will play in defence. Malen, described as a fixed starter, is looking for a goal after a drought at the Maradona, and Wesley may be rested.

Roma return to action tonight at the Stadio Olimpico against Cagliari, aiming to get back to winning ways after a draw with Napoli. Paulo Dybala is back in the squad but will start on the bench. Matías Soulé, Mora and Donyell Malen are expected up front, with Lulli on the right side of the defence. On the left, Nahuel Molina and Wesley are in a head-to-head battle for a starting place. Mario Hermoso and Marten de Roon are rested. The predicted line-ups in the Roman press largely agree on a 3-4-2-1 shape. Gollini starts in goal, with Ghilardi, Evan N'Dicka and Leonardo Balerdi in the back three, and Cristante and Pisilli in central midfield. Il Messaggero, Corriere della Sera and Il Tempo all pick Gianluca Mancini in place of Ghilardi and Wesley in place of Molina. Corriere della Sera and Il Tempo both switch to a 3-4-1-2, with Mora and Soulé behind Malen. Leggo is the outlier, placing Hermoso in the back three alongside Ghilardi and Balerdi. The lineups show how much rotation Roma are considering for the Cagliari match, with several first-choice players either on the bench or resting. Balerdi appears in every projected starting eleven, and Malen leads the attack in all six predictions. Dybala's role as a substitute will be the main talking point for fans if he is not called into the starting line-up.

Roma head into tonight's home match against Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico, kicking off at 20:45, with coach Gian Piero Gasperini looking to return to winning ways after a draw at Napoli and to avoid losing ground in the race for the top positions. The Giallorossi have a run of fixtures that, on paper, offers a chance to build momentum: Cagliari tonight, then Udinese away and Sassuolo before the November international break. The challenge is balancing the need for points with the need to manage energy levels. The recent schedule of demanding clashes has left physical and mental fatigue, and Gasperini knows he cannot keep asking the same players for extra effort. The Champions League meeting with Manchester United, which falls between the trip to Udine and the Sassuolo match, adds to the pressure. Despite absences that continue to limit his options, Gasperini is considering a significant turnover. He admitted at yesterday's press conference that some changes are likely, stressing the need to use a squad now able to provide rotation. One of the most likely changes involves Emanuele Lulli, who is set to return to the starting line-up on the right flank just after officially renewing his contract until 2031. He could replace Wesley, one of the most used players so far this season, with Molina a candidate to occupy the left side. In defence, Leonardo Balerdi, who scored a brace at the Maradona, is pushing for a starting place. Daniele Ghilardi could also start in place of Gianluca Mancini. Rodrigo Mora is among the main candidates to start, with Bryan Cristante possibly dropping into midfield to add quality in the final third. The most notable surprise could come up front. According to reports in the press, including Il Messaggero, Gasperini is considering giving Donyell Malen a rest, with Santiago Castro leading the attack. The move is far from certain, as the Dutchman remains the team's main offensive reference and the favourite to start. However, the idea of preserving him for the upcoming fixtures is one of the options on the table, a sign that the coach wants to genuinely widen his rotation. The watchword remains to win. Cagliari, coached by Pisacane, are going through a difficult period, but matches like this one hide dangers for a side coming off many close fixtures. Gasperini must find fresh energy without lowering the level of competitiveness, and needs important responses from those who have had less playing time so far. Roma cannot afford slip-ups at a point in the season when the calendar offers a valuable opportunity: winning consecutive matches before the break and arriving at the next big clashes with an even stronger league position. The turnover is necessary, but the three points are even more so.

Roma host Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico tonight (kickoff 20:45, Dazn), with Gian Piero Gasperini preparing to rotate his squad after a demanding start to the season. Paulo Dybala is expected to return, at least on the bench, and Gasperini has indicated changes are coming because the team plays every three days. The fixture is the first of five matches on paper more manageable than the opening eight rounds, which saw Roma face Atalanta, Como, Inter and Napoli. Gasperini said: "He is feeling better, I am confident. We will change something since we play every three days. The squad has shown it can rotate during matches." Roma's next trip is to Udine on Saturday, and the coach is looking to share the midfield load, with Cristante expected to return to midfield to give de Roon a little breathing space. Gasperini gave a positive assessment of the campaign so far: "The attitude is always excellent, some technical errors are fine because we are not machines. We scored 2 goals against Inter, 3 against Real and 3 against Napoli, showing we are not an inch less than them and that we can compete on equal terms. So far I am really satisfied." He singled out Soulé as one of the players improving rapidly: "He has played all high-level matches. We are talking about a 23-year-old who still has wide margins of maturity that can make him stronger and stronger." Asked about Lulli's contract renewal, Gasperini said: "He deserves it, I am happy for him." The winger has extended his deal with Roma until 2031 and is expected to start tonight. Mora gets another chance, while at least one of Ghilardi and Balerdi will play in defence. Malen, described as a fixed starter, is looking for a goal after a drought at the Maradona, and Wesley may be rested.