Koulierakis switches shirt number after two weeks at Roma

Manu Koné returned from almost a month out with a dominant display against Sassuolo, and the numbers underline how much Roma miss him when he is absent. Gasperini blocked the midfielder's sale in the final days of the transfer window, and the midfielder's influence on the team is clear. Roma have conceded 4 goals in 7 matches with Koné on the pitch, compared with 14 in the same number of matches without him, more than three times as many. The article notes that the link is not a direct one, since Real Madrid and Manchester United are not Sassuolo, but Koné's cover, his ability to shorten the pitch and the transitions in which he excels are qualities the Roma midfield lacks badly when he is missing. Asked about the link between Koné's absence and the goals conceded, Gasperini replied: "Troppo facile così, i fattori sono tanti..." ("It's too easy like that, there are many factors..."). Koné was back after almost a month and looked rusty at times, yet he still showed why Gasperini kept him. In a game played at a low tempo, he intercepted passes, dominated physically and made runs into the area that repeatedly broke through the Sassuolo lines. His display came in only 66 minutes, against a Matic who, many felt, should have troubled him. The article's view is that the Roma midfield was short of energy and dynamism in the defeat at Old Trafford, and it leaves open whether Koné's presence would have changed the outcome there. His numbers were excellent: 56 of 56 passes completed, 11 passes into the opposition's final third, 11 passes to break an opposing line, one chance created, 3 balls recovered and 5 of 6 duels won. For Gasperini he remains irreplaceable, and Roma's task is to find other midfielders who can reduce the impact of his absence or who can play alongside him.

Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar continued training individually on Saturday in preparation for his return to the team after the international break, with a special guest by his side. His son Lio-Mile, aged one year and five months, was at Trigoria with him. Svilar posted a touching photo of the pair on the field together on social media, captioned: "Giorno speciale a lavoro" ("Special day at work"). Svilar's absence has been felt in some moments, and Gasperini, like all Roma fans, is eager to have him back between the posts. The rest of the squad will return to training on Wednesday, when the group resumes work ahead of the next fixture. Lio-Mile was born to Svilar and his wife June Peeters on 18 June 2025.

Leonardo Balerdi started in defence for Roma on Saturday as the club beat Sassuolo, collecting three points that matter for the table and beyond. The Argentine defender is building an increasingly important role in this Roma side, and his bond with the giallorossi continues to grow despite a costly error in Manchester. The win was Roma's last night at the Olimpico before the international break. Roma's official Instagram account, which Italian reports attribute to the club, marked the occasion with a message: "One last night at the Olimpico before the international break. A great win and many reasons to be proud. Now our minds turn to Argentina." Balerdi, who represents Argentina at international level, will now join his national squad. The three points are fundamental for Roma's league position, and the performance gave the squad plenty to take into the break.

Roma comfortably beat Sassuolo 3-0 last night, with goals from Hermoso, an own goal by Walukiewicz and a late strike from Mora completing the win. Italian newspapers handed out their player ratings, with Hermoso and Mora the standouts. Gazzetta dello Sport gave Hermoso 7.5 and Mora 7, while Corriere dello Sport rated Hermoso an 8 and Soulé 7.5, with Mora also at 7.5. Il Messaggero gave Hermoso 7.5 and Mora 7, and Corriere della Sera rated Hermoso 7.5 and Mora 7. La Repubblica gave Hermoso 7.5 and Mora 7, and Il Tempo rated Mora 7 and Balerdi and Ndicka 7. Coach Gasperini was rated 7 by Gazzetta, Il Tempo, La Repubblica and Corriere della Sera, and 7.5 by Corriere dello Sport. Across the newspapers, Vásquez, Molina, Wesley and Malen received mostly solid marks, with Koné and Cristante generally rated 6.5 to 7. Pisilli and De Roon were typically given 6, and Castro and Koulierakis were rated 6 by Gazzetta and Corriere dello Sport, with several reports not assigning them a mark.

Roma bounced back from their heavy defeat at Old Trafford with a convincing 3-0 win over Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico, and Mario Hermoso was named the best player on the pitch in the newspaper ratings. His goal broke the deadlock at the Olimpico, a striker's finish that set the tone for the afternoon. Mora was also impressive. He scored his third consecutive Serie A goal, and the Italian press described him as an important piece in Gasperini's plans. The win was Roma's fourth goal in giallorossi colours for the midfielder. Balerdi also drew praise after recovering from his error in Manchester, with a performance the papers described as showing great personality. The ratings across the papers varied. Vásquez received a 6 in every report. Hermoso was rated between 7 and 8, Mora between 7 and 7.5, and Soulé between 6.5 and 7.5. Balerdi ranged from 6 to 7 and Ndicka from 6.5 to 7. Koné earned between 6 and 7, Cristante between 6.5 and 7, and Malen between 6 and 7. Molina and Wesley were rated 6 to 6.5. Gasperini's performance was scored between 6.5 and 7.5. Substitutes were Koulierakis, who replaced Hermoso in the 77th minute, Castro, who replaced Malen at the same time, De Roon, who came on for Koné in the 66th minute, Pisilli, who replaced Mora in the same change, and Ghilardi, who replaced Balerdi in the 85th minute. Roma lined up in a 3-4-2-1 formation.

Gianluca Mancini will miss Italy's international fixtures after suffering a fresh pain in his right hamstring that forced him out of Roma's clash with Sassuolo. The defender will stay at Trigoria during the two-week break to continue his recovery, with the aim of returning for the league match against Parma. Thirteen Roma first-team players have been called up by their national teams. With Mancini out, only Ghilardi and Pisilli will travel to Italy's senior squad, while young Lulli is set to feature for Baldini's Italy Under-21 side. Mancini had already reported a muscle problem in the days before the Sassuolo game. Gasperini will use the break to recharge and take stock of the injury list. He has welcomed back Koné for the Sassuolo match and is optimistic about players returning for the resumption of competitions. The international picture is wide-ranging. Vásquez returns to the Colombia squad for the first time in three years, a welcome note after a special week that saw the goalkeeper make his Champions League and Serie A debuts for Roma. Young De Marzi has been called up by the USA Under-20s. Balerdi, Castro and Soulé will answer Argentina coach Scaloni's call. Wesley joins Brazil under Ancelotti, while Malen will play under Xavi for the Netherlands for the first time. N'Dicka (Ivory Coast) and Koulierakis (Greece) have also been named. Nineteen-year-old Rodrigo Mora is ready to make his senior debut for Portugal. On the injury front, Dybala's condition is improving markedly, and the break offers him the ideal chance to regain his best form. Mile Svilar is set to return between the posts in Parma, having put his right foot fracture firmly behind him.

Roma's loan contingent produced mixed results across European and domestic competitions this week, with midfielder Luigi Cherubini and midfielder Neil El Aynaoui delivering attacking contributions while others awaited their chance. Cherubini, on loan at Benevento with a right of option and obligation to buy, scored in the 93rd minute of Benevento's 2–0 win over Cesena. Introduced from the bench in the 79th minute, the 2004-born winger capitalized on a defensive error by Ilic, rounded the goalkeeper and finished to seal victory. He was booked in the 81st minute and initially had a goal ruled out for offside before his late winner. The performance earned him a rating of 7 from BeneventoNews24 and PianetaSerieB as Benevento secured a third consecutive victory. El Aynaoui, a midfielder on loan at RB Lipsia with a right of rescission, provided the assist for Banzuzi's opening goal after just one minute in a 6–0 Bundesliga demolition of Eintracht Frankfurt. Deployed in the starting lineup by Demichelis, El Aynaoui contributed to a dominant first half that saw Lipsia lead 4–0 at the interval, including a hat-trick from Nkunku. He was booked in the 27th minute and substituted in the 58th when the scoreline already stood at 5–0. Elsewhere, defender Filippo Reale (Carrarese, on loan with option and counter-option) played the full 90 minutes in a 2–0 away win over Padova, maintaining a clean sheet. Young defender Mohamed Seck (Foggia, on loan) completed all 90 minutes in a 3–1 home defeat to Potenza and received a rating of 5, criticized for poor positioning during the opposition's counter-attacks. Forward Artem Dovbyk (Bologna, on loan with right of rescission) returned to the squad after a muscular injury to his flexors but remained unused on the bench in Bologna's 2–1 away win at Lecce. Forward Robinio Vaz (Hull City) was named in the squad for a 2–2 Premier League draw against Everton but played no part, remaining on the bench for the full 90 minutes.

Roma's players on loan across Europe experienced a mixed week of midweek and league fixtures. Neil El Aynaoui performed well for RB Leipzig despite a 2–0 home defeat to Bayer Leverkusen, completing 31 of 34 passes and winning 8 of 14 duels while receiving a yellow card in the 74th minute. His statistical rating reached 7.2, among Leipzig's best performances. Anass Salah-Eddine made a convincing debut for Panathinaikos in a Greek Cup tie against Kifisia, playing all 90 minutes on the left flank in a 2–0 victory. FotMob rated him 7.3 for a clean display as Panathinaikos dominated with 71 per cent possession in the first half. By contrast, Angeliño's week at Deportivo La Coruña ended disastrously: he was sent off for a challenge on Miguel Sierra in the 59th minute of a midweek fixture against Sevilla—initially given a yellow card before the VAR review led to a direct red—leaving his side to lose 1–0 already down in the scoreline. Statistical ratings gave him just 5.7, and Deportivo manager Hidalgo noted how the expulsion undermined the team's comeback effort. Angeliño subsequently missed the following 1–1 draw against Betis through suspension. Mohamed Seck at Foggia produced sharply contrasting displays within days. Playing 90 minutes in a goalless midweek draw against Savoia, he was identified as Foggia's best performer, winning nearly every duel against opposing attackers. Coach Auteri retained him for the next match against Inter U23, but this time his form dipped noticeably. Foggia lost 2–1, and a careless passing error by Seck enabled the decisive goal from Fumagalli. Foggiacalciomania rated him 5.5, noting good physical condition but a costly mistake. The week illustrated the growth trajectory of a defender aged just 20, with evident talent and physicality that must be coupled with fewer lapses in concentration. Elsewhere, Federico Nardin at Pescara played the full 90 minutes in a 1–1 midweek draw against Gubbio, earning ratings of 6 and 6.9 for personality and reliability despite some refinements needed, but sat out the subsequent 1–0 win at Vado. Filippo Reale completed 90 minutes for Carrarese in a 1–0 home defeat to Benevento, earning 6 and 6.7 ratings for an orderly display, while Luigi Cherubini entered at the 77th minute for Benevento and struck the post with a close chance in the 83rd. Radoslaw Zelezny, Perugia's goalkeeper, conceded five goals across two matches but received ratings of 6 in both a 3–0 home loss to Spezia and a 2–0 away defeat at Grosseto, with no clear responsibility on most goals. Robinio Vaz at Hull City entered off the bench in the 78th minute during a 2–1 loss at Newcastle after more than ten minutes without notable incident, marking his second consecutive Premier League appearance. Marash Kumbulla remained unused at Rayo Vallecano despite being named in squads for a 2–1 win against Espanyol and a 1–1 draw at Osasuna. Jan Ziolkowski has not returned to action for Monza, continuing recovery from plantar fasciitis. Artem Dovbyk spent another week without playing time at Bologna.

Angeliño, loaned to Deportivo La Coruña this summer with a buy option, made his first start in a year in the sixth matchday of Liga between Deportivo and Seville on 17 September 2026. The move brought no luck. After sitting on the bench for the opening four rounds, Angeliño was fielded in the starting XI but lasted only until the 60th minute, when he was sent off for a hard challenge on Miguel Sierra. The referee initially showed yellow but upgraded it to red after consulting the VAR. The dismissal came at the worst moment for Deportivo, who were already trailing 0–1 following Sierra's goal in the 52nd minute. Seville held on to win 0–1, leaving Angeliño's long-awaited return to competitive action marked by a straight red card.