Koné breaks silence on World Cup disappointment, vows Roma will bounce back

Leonardo Balerdi has spoken to DAZN after Roma's win over Napoli, admitting that scoring a brace was a first for him. He said the goals were not chance and credited head coach Gian Piero Gasperini for giving him the freedom to make attacking runs. Asked whether he expected to be a key figure in the match, Balerdi said: "No, it is the first time I have scored a brace." Asked whether Gasperini is teaching him these attacking movements, he replied: "Of course, he gives me this freedom. I try to do what he asks me." Balerdi also reflected on how settled he feels at the club. He said: "I am very happy here, I said it from the first day. They welcomed me very warmly. I feel that I have been here for 2-3 years thanks to them. This gives me the strength to play the way I am playing."

Roma midfielder Niccolò Pisilli spoke to Dazn before the match against Napoli, saying the team arrives at the game full of energy after playing well in recent fixtures. "We have played well in the last few matches. We arrive with a lot of energy and we want to do well," he said. Pisilli, a Roma academy product, was asked about his increased responsibilities after wearing the captain's armband in the most recent match. He said: "It was an honour to wear the armband, but I am focused on today's match." The midfielder, who is a Roma academy product and has never signed for another club, is now taking on a more prominent role in the squad as the team seeks momentum against a strong Napoli side. Asked whether he is a fan of the bordocam, the close-up camera used to show the players' bench and dressing area, Pisilli smiled and said: "Yes, I don't watch it straight away, but I always see them all."

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.