Giannini backs Koné to break down Como and deliver on goal

Manu Koné and Gian Piero Gasperini have formed a strong partnership that will continue through this season, with the midfielder having resisted moves away from Roma in both the current and previous transfer windows. Koné played in three of four matches for Zinedine Zidane's France, starting as central midfielder in the 1–0 victory in Turkey, where he drew praise from the manager. At Como, Gasperini will deploy him in a different role, asking him to accompany play, win possession and convert defensive situations into attacking ones, with Marten de Roon expected to provide balance in midfield in place of Bryan Cristante. The relationship between Koné and Gasperini developed gradually. Two summers ago, when Gasperini was willing to sacrifice the French midfielder to fund a move for Sancho, the connection was far from certain. Gasperini remains convinced that something in Koné's engine is not yet working as it should. The hope, clearly, is that he will return soon to the form he showed earlier.

Roma have a troubling record after international breaks. Across the last two seasons—2024–25 and 2025–26—the Giallorossi returned to action eight times following domestic breaks and won only twice, a pattern that will concern Gian Piero Gasperini ahead of Sunday's trip to Como, which marks the team's restart. The streak began in September 2024 under Daniele De Rossi. After opening defeats, Roma drew 1–1 away at Genoa, with Koni De Winter equalising in the 96th minute. De Rossi was sacked two days later and replaced by Ivan Juric. The next break brought no relief: on 20 October, Roma lost 1–0 at home to Inter. That defeat preceded Juric's own departure and the arrival of Claudio Ranieri. On 24 November, Ranieri's first game back after a break ended in a 1–0 loss at Napoli. Only in spring 2025 did Roma secure their first post-break win of the 2024–25 season, beating Lecce 1–0 away—their sole victory in four such restarts that year. The trend persisted into 2025–26. Gasperini's first post-break match came on 15 September when Torino won 1–0 at the Olimpico. In October, Roma faced Inter again and again lost 1–0 at home despite a positive display. Victory finally arrived in November: away at Cremonese, Roma won 3–1, with goals from Matías Soulé, Evan Ferguson and Wesley. That remains their second and most recent post-break success across the eight matches studied. April brought another heavy defeat, losing 5–2 at Inter; however, Roma responded by winning six of their final seven league matches to secure third place and Champions League qualification.

Roma will travel to Como on Sunday for a fixture that has undergone a radical transformation in just two years. The two clubs met in October 2024 at the Sinigaglia when both occupied the lower reaches of Serie A, with Como winning 2–0 in a match between teams fighting for stability. Now they face each other as Champions League qualifiers following finishes of third and fourth place respectively in the 2025–26 season. Roma's rise began in the most difficult circumstances. After Daniele De Rossi's departure and the brief spell of Ivan Juric, the club turned to Claudio Ranieri to rebuild and climb an alarming table. Twelve months transformed the picture entirely. By the end of last season, Roma and Como had become competitors for European qualification. The trajectory has continued under Gian Piero Gasperini, who now manages a side that no longer looks over its shoulder but measures itself against Serie A's elite. The renewal at the Sinigaglia represents another step up. Both Gasperini and Como's Cesc Fabregas lead projects built along different paths but with nearly parallel growth. With Inter established as the benchmark at the top, Sunday's match offers important signals about who might credibly challenge the Nerazzurri. While it is still early in the season to treat an October fixture as a verdict on Serie A's hierarchy, the three points on offer will carry significant weight.