Hermoso to join Gasperini at press conference; pundits back Roma's Champions League prospects

Roma scouts were among those watching Porto against PSV Eindhoven at the Estádio do Dragão in the Champions League, as the club keeps working ahead of the January transfer window to strengthen Gian Piero Gasperini's squad. Sporting director D'Amico is looking for talent to complete the attack and the wide areas, where a left-sided midfield winger is still missing. Scouts from Everton, Manchester United, Brentford and Nottingham Forest were also present, according to English outlet Sport Witness. Many talents featured for PSV as well as for Porto, who are coached by Farioli. Among the possible targets Roma are monitoring is Sven Mijnans, an attacking midfielder born in 2000 who had already been followed in the summer. Also on the list is Bajraktarević, a Bosnian left-sided winger born in 2005. Roma will keep working on these ideas in the coming weeks, as a side that has made a top start still needs reinforcements. Porto's young standouts also drew attention. Oscar Pietuszewski, a right-footed winger born in 2008, is very young. Alberto Costa, a 23-year-old full-back, was close to joining Roma in January 2025.

Roma's defence has been named in the Sofascore Team of the Week for the latest Champions League round, with Mario Hermoso, Leonardo Balerdi and Daniele Ghilardi all selected and dominating the back line of the ideal side. The trio's performance earned the recognition after they kept a clean sheet against Slovan Bratislava, the club's first clean sheet in Europe this season, and gave nothing away to Yaya Touré's side. The spotlight on the defence comes as Roma prepare for a big match against Napoli, with the squad continuing its work at Trigoria. The back line has been one of the strengths of the start to the campaign, conceding just three goals in the first seven Serie A matches. The Italian report adds that the award reflects the solid form of a unit that has been central to Roma's strong start, with the three defenders combining for a shutout that underlined the club's improved resilience at the back. Roma are next in action against Napoli, with the squad focused on maintaining that defensive record.

Roma's central defenders Hermoso, Balerdi and Ghilardi have been named in Sofascore's Team of the Week for the latest Champions League round, after a performance that kept Slovan Bratislava out completely. The three Roma defenders gave away nothing to the side coached by Yaya Touré. Roma have conceded only three goals in their first seven Serie A matches, a record built on a back line that is growing more solid despite the absence of several players who were fundamental in recent years. The arrivals of Balerdi and Koulierakis, and the continued development of Ghilardi, have given Gasperini the option to rest two first-team regulars, Ndicka and Mancini. Sofascore's selection was described as deserved. The Team of the Week's defence, drawn from the best side in the League Phase, was dominated by Gasperini's Roma backline. The selection also includes attackers Doué, Nico Paz, Foden and Ngumoha from the wider group of top clubs in the competition.

Leonardo Balerdi spoke to Dazn after Roma's draw with Napoli, saying he feels he is getting further forward and that Gasperini is giving him more freedom to push on. Balerdi said: "What a match and what a reaction. It's the first double of my career. Now I'm getting a bit more involved, I saw it from Mancini and Hermoso. Today we wanted to win but at least we take a point home." Asked about the secret behind his current form, Balerdi credited the coach: "Gasperini is teaching me these new movements, he gives me more freedom to go forward." He also pointed to the freedom to get into the box as a key part of his game at the moment. When asked whether Roma can dream, Balerdi said: "I feel very good here, I've said it since day one. I've been welcomed really well, it feels like I've been here for three years. And that's thanks to the group."

Leonardo Balerdi has spoken after Napoli-Roma, the eighth-round Serie A match, admitting Roma wanted the win but at least came away with a point. The Argentine defender said scoring is not something he usually does, adding: "For me it is the first time. I saw Mancini and Hermoso, I saw that it was possible to get there. We wanted to win, but at least we take a point." Balerdi also credited Gian Piero Gasperini for his growing attacking role. Asked whether the coach is teaching him to get forward, he said: "Yes, he gives me the chance to get to the byline, and I do what he asks of me." The match was Balerdi's first goal for Roma, and the draw at Napoli leaves the club to build on a point rather than the three they had hoped for.

Roma came from behind twice to draw 3-3 with Napoli at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Serie A matchday eight, and Gian Piero Gasperini's side were rescued by Leonardo Balerdi, who came off the bench and scored a brilliant brace. Giallorossi.net's player ratings, written by Andrea Fiorini, gave Balerdi an 8 and Gasperini a 7 for a difficult away trip made without several important players. Gollini was rated 6, with a superb save from Olivera standing out, though he was uncertain with crosses into the box and could have done more on McTominay's shot. Ndicka was rated 6.5 for winning a physical duel with Hojlund, who had little impact. Hermoso, also 6.5, attacked often and tried several times to shoot, but his efforts were always deflected for corners, and Politano often took him on. Mancini was rated 5.5, lacking quality in attack and pace in defence, improving slightly after the break. Rensch, rated 6, made a crucial intervention on Lang but was rated as playing with the handbrake on, offering little going forward. Molina, who replaced him at 58', was rated 6.5 after Gasperini deployed him on the left, where his runs brought energy to the flank. De Roon, rated 6.5, grew into the game and was a wall in the second half. Pisilli was rated 5.5 and was not especially bright, with disappointing set-piece deliveries. Castro, who came on for him at 58', was rated 6 and gave the team a jolt, unsettling the Napoli defence. Wesley was rated 6, described as confused but running tirelessly, with a fine cross for Cristante that hit the post, and an assist for Balerdi's equaliser late on. Cristante was rated 6.5 for his physicality and a few good chances, though he lacked quality with the final pass. Soule was rated 7.5, a constant threat who troubled Napoli and set up Malen inside the area, though Malen wasted the chance. In the second half Soule struck a stunning left-foot shot that revitalised Roma and changed the momentum of the match. Malen was rated 6, wasting a penalty by hitting a weak effort in the area, and was saved only by his assist for Soule. Mora came on late without a rating. Gasperini was praised for his substitutions, which proved decisive in the final 3-3.

Nahuel Molina has said he is happy to accept rotation with his fellow wide players and that he came to Roma to help the team in every way possible, following the 0-0 draw at Napoli...

Gianluca Mancini has said Roma never give up, speaking in full after the Napoli-Roma clash, an Serie A matchday eight fixture. "This Roma doesn't give up. We never have. This season we always believe, against strong teams we have never been knocked down. We believed, today Molina, Ghilardi, Balerdi and the others who came on added extra quality, the team always stays active. We're happy." Mancini was asked how the newcomers have settled in. "We were missing a bit, they have all arrived strong and young. Balerdi has brought leadership, Molina and De Roon, everyone who has arrived has increased the value of the squad. Last year we missed that a bit. We give everything for this shirt to bring home the result." On Anguissa's goal, Mancini said: "Sometimes you get them, other times you don't. How the Anguissa goal came about, we could have managed the ball better. It's part of these matches. The important thing was not to let ourselves be knocked down. Given how the game had gone, a point is fine."

Nahuel Molina has spoken at a press conference after Roma's draw with Napoli, saying the point is fair and important for the club on a difficult ground. Molina has been used both on the right and, at times, on the left of the back line, and he says he is happy wherever the coach asks him to play. Roma are keeping pace near the top of the table, and Molina admits the result was a helpful one given the club's ambitions. Asked how he feels about rotating with his fellow wide players, Molina said: "Bene, tranquillo. Sappiamo che ci sono tante partite quindi sono tranquillo e contento se gioca un altro compagno. Siamo una squadra." He was signed to play on the right, and he has also featured on the left, a switch the coach asked him to consider when he arrived. "E' una scelta del mister. Mi ha chiesto se potevo giocare anche a sinistra quando sono arrivato. Ho sempre giocato a destra, ma mi trovo bene anche a sinistra. Dove gioco sono contento, sono venuto per aiutare la squadra in tutti i modi." On the result, Molina said: "Alla fine penso che il pareggio sia giusto. Anche il Napoli ha fatto una grande partita. Volevamo vincere e portare punti a casa, ma alla fine è un punto importante in questo campo per restare sopra." Asked how hard it is to come on in a complex situation, he replied: "Non lo so. Ci alleniamo tutti i giorni per questo e penso che tutti dobbiamo essere concentrati per il nostro momento, non si sa mai cosa possa succede. Sono entrato nel secondo tempo e per fortuna è andata bene." Roma have played Como, Inter and Napoli recently. Asked which of the three sides had caused them most problems, Molina said: "Non so dirtelo. Sicuramente in tutte e tre le partite potevamo fare meglio e più punti. Non abbiamo perso. Dobbiamo continuare così e migliorare ogni partita per essere sopra fino alla fine." Speaking to DAZN, Molina added: "Si certamente. Avevamo tanta voglia di portare punti a casa. Anche loro hanno fatto grande partita, penso che il punto sia buono per noi. Soprattutto se vogliamo essere lassù." On whether Roma can dream of more, he said: "Io ci credo tanto in questa Roma, però bisogna lavorare e continuare a pensare di vincere ogni partita. Abbiamo un grande gruppo e tutta la gente dietro che lavora con noi. Io la penso così, se tutti abbiamo la stessa quadra abbiamo grandi possibilità." Finally, on the Argentine group at the club, Molina said: "Questo è bellissimo, trovarsi tanti argentini in questo gruppo è bello. Siamo in cinque. Noi pensiamo a vincere, non importante se siamo in panchina. Noi portiamo il sangue e siamo sempre a disposizione del mister."

Leonardo Balerdi scored twice off the bench as Roma came back to draw 3-3 at Napoli's Stadio Maradona on Saturday afternoon, the last day of daylight saving time in 2026. The defender's second goal came in the 89th minute and salvaged a result that looked lost. The match was a six-goal, end-to-end contest that the Italian commentary describes as chaotic yet disciplined, and it left Roma with a sense of growing maturity. The brace is notable beyond the scoreline. The article recalls that the last Roma player to score two goals in a match at Napoli was Agostino Di Bartolomei, who netted a double in a 5-2 win on 20 February 1983, when Roma were chasing the Scudetto. The statistic has been dormant for more than four decades. The Italian writer frames the result as a test of character for Gasperini's side, which played without Paulo Dybala, a significant absence on the day. Roma were two goals down early on, struggling with a poor start in which clarity seemed to be missing. Roma's response after going 3-2 down was the key point of the article. McTominay scored the goal that appeared to settle the match, and the writer argues that this was the moment Roma should have collapsed. Instead, the players kept their shape and their patience, and the bench provided energy. The article says neither side can feel entirely satisfied. Napoli could regret failing to protect their lead twice, while Roma could look back on the opening hour as poor. Still, the writer says Roma left with the lesson that the team can absorb blows without losing its balance. The piece closes with the image of a team that looked into the abyss, remembered who it was, and chose to rewrite the story, with the feet of a defender and the head of a great side.

Napoli beat Roma 2-1 at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Serie A's eighth round, with Anguissa and McTominay scoring for the hosts and Matías Soulé pulling one back for Roma. Gian Piero Gasperini's side were without Mile Svilar, Manu Koné, Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini. Gasperini did, however, have Bryan Cristante back in the starting XI and Donyell Malen available again after serving a one-match suspension. Massimiliano Allegri started Højlund, supported by Politano and Lang, while Rrahmani was ruled out by flu and did not make the bench. Roma's starting line-up was Gollini; Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Rensch, De Roon, Pisilli, Wesley; Cristante; Soulé, Malen. Rensch lined up at right-back, and Cristante was pushed further forward, with Pisilli alongside him in midfield. Napoli: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rafa Marin, Badiashile, Olivera; Anguissa, De Bruyne, McTominay; Politano, Højlund, Lang. Colombo of Como refereed, with Bindoni-Rossi M. and Sacchi J.L. as assistants, Aureliano on VAR and Meraviglia as VAR assistant. Rafa Marin was booked after three minutes for a heavy challenge on Wesley, and Cristante and Rensch were also cautioned, in the 28th and 45th minutes. Roma had early chances through Soulé, who fired a left-footed effort wide in the 8th minute, and Cristante, whose powerful right foot struck the outside of the net in the 20th minute. Malen went close from the edge of the box in the 24th minute, when Meret saved with his foot. Gollini kept Roma in the game with a pair of saves, first rushing out to deny De Bruyne in the 34th minute and then stopping Olivera at close range in the 43rd. Cristante hit the left-hand post with a header in the 44th minute. Hermoso had a shooting chance in the 37th minute that was deflected wide. Napoli took the lead in the 27th minute when Anguissa scored with an overhead kick in the Roma area, although Gollini was unable to do anything. The move had started from a free kick that appeared to have no foul on De Bruyne. Before half-time Malen wasted a good opening for Roma. Napoli doubled their lead in the 47th minute, when Politano's right-wing cross was headed in by McTominay, who got ahead of Rensch. Gollini then made a save to deny Politano in the 56th minute, after Wesley had lost possession. Badiashile limped off with an injury in the 51st minute and was replaced by Beukema. Roma made three changes in the 58th minute, bringing on Molina, Balerdi and Castro for Rensch, Pisilli and Hermoso. Napoli also made a substitution in the 65th minute, with Giovane replacing Politano. Soulé reduced the deficit in the 69th minute with a left-footed strike from a tight angle, set up by Malen, to make it 2-1. Napoli held on to take the three points.

Roma face Napoli at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in the eighth round of Serie A, with the official line-ups now confirmed and Bryan Cristante starting from the first minute alongside Matías Soulé. Gian Piero Gasperini's side are up against a Napoli team coached by Massimiliano Allegri. The match is refereed by Andrea Colombo of the Como section. Roma arrive fresh from a Champions League win, but they are dealing with injury problems in the attacking midfield zone, with Lorenzo Pellegrini and Paulo Dybala both ruled out. The giallorossi are looking to take important points as they continue their push towards the top of the table. Romanews.eu is providing live coverage of the match with real-time updates throughout the game.