Ghilardi's development nearly complete as he earns a regular place in Gasperini's Roma

Roman radio pundits have given their verdicts on Roma's trip to Old Trafford, and they disagree on how strong Manchester United really are. Piero Torri of Radio Manà Manà Sport (90.9) said: "At Old Trafford you never go in as favourites, for history and tradition. Manchester is better than the table tells us, and the first half against Chelsea on Sunday certifies it. I hope Zirkzee doesn't play." Roberto Pruzzo of Radio Radio Mattino (104.5) took a far more dismissive view of the hosts. He said: "Manchester United look like a second-tier side. Against Como they were terrible; it's a team that has pulled the plug. But Roma must not think they're stronger than United. Cristante has recovered fully and in the spaces there's no contest. There are prospects to continue as in the league." Pruzzo's view is that Roma have the tools to build on their league form, provided they do not underestimate the opponent. His colleague Nando Orsi, also of Radio Radio Mattino, struck a more cautious tone. He said: "It's the best moment to face Manchester, but I don't know... it can happen that they find the right day and don't lose. This is the best moment, but you always play against United at Old Trafford: you mustn't take it lightly, you always have to make a great game. On the win I don't know if you can be sure: Manchester are in crisis and so Roma have to win, no question."

Stefano Pioli has confirmed that Roma contacted him in the days after Daniele De Rossi was dismissed, but he turned the club down because he had already agreed to join Al-Nassr. Speaking on Sky Calcio Club after Juventus-Napoli, the former Milan boss revealed the behind-the-scenes detail more than two years on from the approach. Roma parted company with De Rossi on 18 September 2024 and considered several candidates before appointing Ivan Juric. Pioli, who had come off a long spell at Milan that ended with the 2021/22 Scudetto, was among those on the list. He had already reached an agreement with the Saudi club and decided to honour that commitment, which removed him from the race for the Giallorossi job. Pioli said: "There have been moments when everyone has called me. Roma too, but my Al-Nassr contract had just arrived and I could not not respect the word I had given." He also revealed he had come close to the Italy national team job: "I came close to it, not for very long. In our careers we are the sons of all the choices we make. Some go well, others don't."

Radio Radio pundits have offered their views on Roma's upcoming clash with Manchester United, with several saying the moment is favourable for the Giallorossi. Matera said Gasperini had expressed hope of a result, but that it would not be easy, as nobody had yet joined in that optimism. He argued that Roma face a Manchester side in evident difficulty, giving the team an opportunity to pick up points where they might not have seemed likely to before. He said that whoever comes into the side is making a contribution, and that with the players available the team cannot change much more than it already has. Matera said he did not know whether Lulli would get the chance to make his debut against Manchester at Old Trafford. He described the squad as short, noting that Mora had played against Udinese, and added: "I expect a De Roon–Cristante partnership with Pisilli." Carina said: "It is the best moment to face Manchester." She pointed out that Roma have lost all four previous meetings, including the heavy 7-1 defeat, and said those defeats had hurt, so now there is a chance to do well. She described Roma as a pleasure to watch, a side that always wants to score more goals and can trouble any team in the world for as long as their legs hold up. On Dybala, she recalled that the first diagnosis said it was nothing, then it became fatigue, then a hardening, before becoming a tear. She said that what was initially a muscular strain had cost him seven matches. Carina added that she felt the club were navigating from one game to the next, listing Cagliari, Udinese and Manchester, and said Dybala would probably be seen again after the international break. Pruzzo said: "Manchester look like a second-tier side. Against Como they did very badly; it is a team that has switched off. It is an opportunity to seize, without thinking we are much stronger than our opponents. The squad is in full health and I think there are prospects to keep doing well." Orsi said: "It is the best moment to face Manchester, but I don't know... they can find the right day and not lose. This is the best moment, but you always play against United at Old Trafford: you must not take it lightly, you must always produce a great match. On the win I don't know if you can be sure: Manchester are in crisis, so Roma must win for certain."

Nine months after their last visit to Udine, Roma are a different side: authoritative, overwhelming and capable of playing at relentless tempo with an intensity that eventually overwhelms their opponents. Much of the transformation comes from the work done on the training ground, even though the squad, enriched in quality, is still missing a couple of key pieces. Gian Piero Gasperini has managed to deepen the squad over recent weeks, shaping and developing several players despite a run of injuries to Svilar, Koné, Cristante, Dybala and Pellegrini that would have halted any club in Serie A. Today, anyone who takes the pitch, writes Stefano Carina in Il Messaggero, does not leave fans longing for those on the bench. From Lulli to Ghilardi, passing through Mora, Rensch, Castro and Balerdi, each player who gets his chance is able to take a leading role in turn. The acceleration has come without Dybala, who was the team's guiding light before a calf problem sidelined him. That setback has allowed Soulé to shine again. Soulé is a paradox in himself. Over the summer, every effort was made to sell him. Today, alongside the "monster" Malen, who has scored 22 goals in 2026, the most of any striker in Europe this year, ahead of Yamal, Mbappé, Haaland, Raphinha and Ballon d'Or winner Kane, he is the extra man, the player capable of carrying the team on his shoulders. A leader, something he was long accused of not being. Another piece of Gasperini magic.

Roma have scored 28 goals in their first ten Serie A matches of the 2026-27 season, a club record, according to Il Tempo. Gian Piero Gasperini's side thrashed Udinese 5-0 to close a week in which they scored 12 goals across games against Napoli, Cagliari and Udinese. The Giallorossi have also netted 36 times in 13 matches in all competitions, an average of three per game that puts them on course for around 100 goals this season. The article describes a genuine "goal cooperative", with 14 different players already on the scoresheet. Donyell Malen continues to carry the attack, but the goals have come from across the squad. At the Bluenergy Stadium, defenders also made their mark. Evan N'Dicka scored at the ground where he suffered a serious scare in April 2024, while young Daniele Ghilardi scored his first Serie A goal. The two defensive goals underline the strength of the group and the work of Gasperini, who has helped develop both young players and veterans within a project that is working and winning people over. Il Tempo's report presents the scoring spread as the clearest sign of how the squad has been built.

Roma's goal-scoring machine rolled on with a five-goal haul at Udine, and the win piled pressure on defending champions Inter, who are no longer top of Serie A after Lazio's unstoppable run. Roma have now scored 28 league goals in their first ten matchdays, a new Serie A record, surpassing the 26 scored in 1960-61 and 2016-17. Across all competitions, the club have netted 36 goals in 13 matches, an average of three every ninety minutes. The figures put the team on course for around 100 goals this season. What stands out most is not just the total but the spread of scorers: fourteen different players have found the net out of the twenty available to Gian Piero Gasperini. Donyell Malen remains the sure thing up front, but the rest of the squad are eager to get involved. In Udine, two defenders joined the list. Evan N'Dicka scored at the stadium where, in April 2024, he suffered a serious scare after a collapse. Daniele Ghilardi scored for the first time in Serie A and in a Roma shirt, a reward for a season in which he has become increasingly central to Gasperini's plans. Only Paulo Dybala, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Wesley, Devyne Rensch, Gianluca Mancini and Konstantinos Koulierakis are yet to score this season.

Roma travel to Old Trafford for tomorrow evening's Champions League clash against Manchester United, a fixture that could shape their route towards the play-offs. Il Messaggero reports that Roma have struggled at this ground, losing all four previous visits, some by heavy margins. This time, though, the picture is different: Manchester United are third from bottom in the Premier League and going through a difficult spell, and English fans on social media fear another heavy defeat. Gian Piero Gasperini is not underestimating the opponent, however, and has to deal with several injuries. Paulo Dybala, Manu Koné and Mile Svilar will all miss the match. Dybala and Koné will try to recover for the Sassuolo fixture, while Svilar will not return until after the international break. Gollini is expected to continue in goal, having previously worn the Manchester United shirt. In defence, Evan N'Dicka, the returning Gianluca Mancini and one of Leonardo Balerdi or Mario Hermoso are set to start. Cristante and De Roon will form the midfield pairing. Wesley, closely watched by English scouts, is set to operate on the left, while the right-hand position remains an open contest. Without Dybala, Malen leads the attack: he has three goals and two assists in three European matches, and is eager to perform at a stadium where he previously played a few minutes for Aston Villa. Soulé will partner him, while the final place in the front three is between Mora, who is improving, and Pisilli, who wants to win back his place after resting in Udine. Roma finished their previous match in Udine strongly, and the squad now travels to England to prepare for the Champions League tie against Manchester United. The Old Trafford game is the first of the two visits, and the result is expected to weigh heavily on Roma's chances of reaching the play-offs.

Roma have left Udine and travelled to Manchester, where they face Manchester United at Old Trafford, and the squad is preparing for the trip. The side will train in the hotel gym in the morning before a pre-match training session at Old Trafford at 19:00 Italian time. Roma have a poor record at the ground, having lost all four previous meetings, including heavy defeats of 7-1 and 6-2. The Red Devils are less intimidating than in the past, and some England fans on social media reportedly fear a 7-1 scoreline is possible, although United sit third from bottom in the Premier League. Gian Piero Gasperini is expected to make some changes at the back. Gianluca Mancini returns to the starting line-up from the first minute on the centre-left after a rest, with N'Dicka alongside him and either Balerdi or Hermoso on the other side. Niccolò Pisilli, who rested during the Bluenergy Stadium game, is pushing for a start and dreams of another big European night. In midfield, Cristante and de Roon are expected to pair up. On the right, Lulli, Molina and Rensch are in a contest for the spot. Gasperini will decide the team on matchday, as is his habit. It is the last push before the international break, and the coach will again try to manage his players' energy levels. The report, published by Il Messaggero, describes the Old Trafford venue as the Theatre of Dreams, which for Roma has been a theatre of nightmares in past years. Mancini and his teammates will be aiming to end that run in the coming game.

Roma's goal-scoring machine rolled on with a five-goal haul at Udine, and the win piled pressure on defending champions Inter, who are no longer top of Serie A after Lazio's unstoppable run. Roma have now scored 28 league goals in their first ten matchdays, a new Serie A record, surpassing the 26 scored in 1960-61 and 2016-17. Across all competitions, the club have netted 36 goals in 13 matches, an average of three every ninety minutes. The figures put the team on course for around 100 goals this season. What stands out most is not just the total but the spread of scorers: fourteen different players have found the net out of the twenty available to Gian Piero Gasperini. Donyell Malen remains the sure thing up front, but the rest of the squad are eager to get involved. In Udine, two defenders joined the list. Evan N'Dicka scored at the stadium where, in April 2024, he suffered a serious scare after a collapse. Daniele Ghilardi scored for the first time in Serie A and in a Roma shirt, a reward for a season in which he has become increasingly central to Gasperini's plans. Only Paulo Dybala, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Wesley, Devyne Rensch, Gianluca Mancini and Konstantinos Koulierakis are yet to score this season.