Lulli set to start at right-back as Roma face Torino

Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar will not return from his foot injury early and will instead come back only after the November international break, according to Filippo Biafora of Il Tempo. The club took the decision after further tests carried out this morning to assess his recovery. Svilar will therefore miss the Champions League trip to Manchester United on 3 November and the Serie A match against Sassuolo on 7 November. Until a few hours earlier, there had been hope that he could be available for the European fixture or, at the latest, for the league game against Sassuolo. The latest checks, however, led Roma not to accelerate his timetable, avoiding any risk to one of their most important players. Pierluigi Gollini will therefore continue in goal for the next three matches in Svilar's absence. Gollini has produced convincing performances while the first-choice keeper has been out. His most recent display, particularly positive, came against Cagliari and earned him praise from Gasperini. The club can afford to wait for Svilar's full recovery without forcing his return, which is an important reassurance for Roma.

Mile Svilar will not return before the November international break, meaning the Roma goalkeeper will miss the games against Udinese, Manchester United and Sassuolo. The club had hoped to bring him back early for the Champions League clash with Manchester United, but the medical staff did not give the green light after he underwent instrumental tests on his foot injury. According to Il Tempo, Svilar will only be available again after the November pause. The decision was taken after further checks carried out this morning, which confirmed that his recovery time should not be forced. Roma will therefore have to manage without their No 1 across the Champions League and Serie A fixtures before he is back in contention. Filippo Biafora reported on social media that Svilar will be back at the club's disposal after the break, based on the examinations carried out today.

Mile Svilar will not return early from injury and will miss Roma's next three matches, against Udinese, Manchester United and Sassuolo. The goalkeeper underwent an MRI scan on his fifth toe this morning, but the medical staff did not give the green light for an early return. The bone callus has not yet reformed, and the Giallorossi do not want to rush his recovery. Svilar is set to return to action on 21 November, in the away fixture at Parma. The news is a blow for head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who will be without his number one for the coming games.

Roman radio pundits debated Roma's squad depth, Paulo Dybala's fitness and the Udinese and Manchester United fixtures in a round-up of the capital's football talk shows. David Rossi of Rete Sport said he was worried that Roma are short of players, pointing to Matías Soulé and Niccolò Pisilli, who he said have been playing three matches a week for some time. He said Roma play a demanding style and that the midfield is very thin: if Roma rest Roon, who is not in good shape, Cristante still has to play against Udinese, and then in Manchester he asked what would happen without him. Rossi called the decision to use four midfielders, attributed to Gasperini and D'Amico, an enormous error of judgement. He said Gasperini had wanted the contracts of Dybala and Pellegrini, adding that Roma would be in a better position had they signed two players who were alive, even if less talented. On Dybala, Rossi said: "Dybala was a beast here, a beast there, but now Gasperini has realised he has the pain threshold of a 5-year-old child. Mora has done more than Dybala, the same as Soulè, but you can't say it..." Fabio Petruzzi of Rete Sport said Roma have clearly improved on last year, showing they are a strong side. He said last year you struggled and created little, while now Roma look like a stronger Atalanta. He said they have reached the top but can improve in the transfer market with two wide players and a midfielder. He said Roma were less of a team than usual against Cagliari but still won, and that Cagliari had given them more problems than Como and Inter. He added that some tiredness is to be expected. Claudio Moroni, also of Rete Sport, argued that Dybala should be sacrificed on the left with Soulè on the right, saying Soulè's best form comes from the right and that Dybala's performance hardly changes between the two flanks. Mario Corsi of Tele Radio Stereo praised Mora for a fine headed goal, but warned against calling him a new Messi. Turning to Juventus, he said their crisis was 80% the team's fault and 20% Spalletti's, adding that Conte was not being considered and that Pioli is the available option. Lorenzo Pes of Tele Radio Stereo said Dybala only did physiotherapy yesterday but he remains convinced the player wants to play the Champions League match against Manchester United. He said the injury has healed, that Dybala can theoretically train and has overcome the physical problem. He said the medical staff and the player's own feelings will decide, and that Dybala would probably try to rejoin the group partially today. He said keeping the door open for Manchester is important, and that having him on the bench for Udine would also be valuable. Piero Torri of Manà Manà Sport said Roma were robbed in yesterday's match against Venezia. He said Udinese have shown signs of revival, having recovered most of their players including Zaniolo, and that the fixture worries him. If Balerdi has recovered, he expects him to start, with Ghilardi possibly replacing Mancini, and expects Lulli alongside Wesley and Pisilli with Cristante. On Como, he said they have always been title candidates and that anyone who thinks otherwise is wrong, given their strong players, great football and a fine coach. Roberto Pruzzo of Radio Radio said he had backed Castro but that a player who has not played for two months cannot simply step in and become a star. He said the transfer market has brought Roma reserves, good alternatives who are not able to play as starters, and that when Malen is missing you notice straight away. Nando Orsi of Radio Radio questioned whether Roma are too dependent on Malen, pointing out that he brought Roma into the Champions League. He said that when he has been absent, Roma have struggled to score, but that Roma are not bottom of the table despite heavy absences, noting Lazio are top despite missing four key players. Ilario Di Giovambattista of Radio Radio named the Roma players he would take for Lazio: Malen, Svilar, and Ghilardi, whom he said he adores. He would also take Koné for midfield, and said that for Soulè he would keep Isaksen and put Soulè on the bench.

Roma's win over Cagliari has underlined how central the club's young players have become to Gian Piero Gasperini's project. The Giallorossi rely confidently on their Under-23 players, who have made decisive contributions at key moments of matches, as shown by the performances and goals of those who came through the youth sector and have been developed by the coach. Among the positives is the steady progress of Emanuele Lulli, who recently renewed his contract until 2031. The 2005-born defender scored his second consecutive league goal in front of the Curva Sud, and has established himself as a valuable asset and an important presence in the rotation. Alongside him, Niccolò Pisilli has become a consolidated certainty in midfield, combining consistent performances with a nose for goals. According to Il Tempo, the Olimpico clash was also the night of breakthrough for Rodrigo Mora. The 19-year-old Portuguese, who was initially greeted with scepticism over his market valuation, unlocked the match by scoring his first goal in front of the Roma crowd. Gasperini himself praised the young Portuguese's technical qualities after the game, stressing that his imagination is a fundamental factor for the season. The young group is completed by the gradual integration of players such as Koulierakis and Castro, who are asked to provide valid alternatives in a squad that blends the freshness of the youth ranks with the maturity of the senior players. For Gasperini's Roma, young players are no longer just a future prospect but a solid reality capable of making the difference.

Pierluigi Gollini has won over head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and the Roma fanbase since taking over the goal after Mile Svilar suffered a foot fracture in early October. Across six matches, the 31-year-old has eased the doubts that surrounded his return to a starting role. Roma had not expected much from a goalkeeper who had not played regularly for more than two years, but Gollini has responded on the pitch. His early reliability came in Como, where Roma held on while down to ten men. His performance against Cagliari is considered his best in the giallorossi shirt so far. On Tuesday evening, with Roma struggling to contain the Sardinians, Gollini kept the team in the game with a series of decisive saves. He stopped Adopo's effort, then Deiola's long-range shot, then denied Mendy and Trepy. Roma won 4-2, and without him the score could have told a very different story. Gollini and Lulli were named the best players on the pitch, and Gasperini praised his goalkeeper as "strepitoso". The relationship between the two men has a history. Gollini and Gasperini clashed during their time together at Atalanta, where disagreements contributed to the goalkeeper's departure from Bergamo, so reuniting in Rome seemed almost like a twist of fate. Gasperini said that Gollini has grown considerably since those years, when he was more exuberant and less willing to work at improving himself. "Abbiamo rimesso un po' di puntini a posto," the coach admitted, adding that he had never doubted his technical qualities. Gollini is now described as a more mature goalkeeper, more aware of his abilities and his responsibilities. He will soon become a father, according to Gazzetta dello Sport, which reports that his personal life has also found new balance. At Atalanta he had reached the Nazionale and played in the Champions League as a key figure, and the problem was sustaining that level. He now appears to have found the right path again. This development also changes the outlook for Svilar's recovery. The Belgian remains Roma's first-choice goalkeeper and one of the best in Serie A, but his return no longer has to be a race against time. Tests scheduled for today will establish whether he can be available for the Champions League trip to Manchester United. Gasperini now has a reliable alternative, which allows Svilar to recover without the pressure of an emergency. The article raises the idea of giving Gollini the goal in the Coppa Italia, which would let Svilar manage his energy and keep Gollini in regular competitive football. Gasperini has not announced this choice, but the option is being considered in light of Gollini's recent displays.

Jorge Mendes is working to arrange the departure of his client Alejandro Balde from Barcelona, who is not playing as much as he would like, and has offered the left-back to Roma in recent days. The Giallorossi were keen on the player in the summer and did not reject the suggestion, Il Messaggero reports, via AllFootball. Roma are missing a left-footed specialist, but their wing-backs have been solid so far. Emanuele Lulli has been an early revelation and recently extended his contract until 2031. Balde has featured just three times this campaign. Juventus are also close to Mendes and tracked Balde in the past, but Barcelona placed a €40/50M price tag on him and the Bianconeri did not proceed. That price could be significantly lower a few months later, but Balde is under contract until 2029, so the Catalans still hold plenty of leverage. The negotiation could be eased by including Andrea Cambiaso in the deal. He is far from untouchable for Juventus, but they still value him highly, at about €30M. Juventus would rather part ways with Juan Cabal, but would pull the trigger on Cambiaso's sale for a worthy offer. January often presents this kind of opportunity, but Balde's price tag is out of reach for Italian sides unless the parties get creative. Roma can comfortably stay as they are on the flanks. Their move would be to part ways with Devyne Rensch and bring in a left-footer. Juventus have struggled to find destinations Cambiaso might like after Manchester City approached him in the past, and Barcelona would offer an excellent escape route.

Roma's unbeaten run has reached 16 matches following their win over Cagliari, a streak that began after the 5-0 defeat by Inter. Coach Gasperini has equalled Garcia's mark and now has his sights set on the club's historic records. Ahead of the other stories in the round-up, former striker Marco Borriello, speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, offered a measured view of Donyell Malen, who has scored 10 goals this season. He said: "He has quality, Gasperini brings it out of him, but Serie A today has more mediocrity than in my time. If you put him in a big Spanish or English club, he sits on the bench." Borriello was far warmer about Daniele De Rossi, saying: "He is a predestined one. He is proving to be a competent and intelligent coach, the 'Smart One'. If I were the president of Genoa, I would hold on to him tightly." The unbeaten run is now 16 matches, and Gasperini has matched Garcia's figure. Roma's historic benchmarks lie ahead, with runs of 19, 20, 24 and 25 matches all above them. The most significant mark is the 30 consecutive unbeaten league results set by Liedholm, a record that has stood since the 1980-81 season. In the player ratings, Lulli was named the best player on the pitch unanimously by the newspapers, with a 7.50. Mora followed on 7.25, a standout performance after coming off the bench. Gollini (7.08) and Malen (6.92) also earned praise, while Ghilardi and Soulé (both 6.75) received positive reviews. At the bottom, Mancini was rated 5.08, clearly the worst, followed by Rensch (5.58) and Castro (5.75).

Roma came from behind to beat Cagliari 4-2 at the Stadio Olimpico, with goals from Lulli, Pisilli, Mora and Malen. Italian newspapers have handed out their player ratings for a side that was patched up for the match, and the Giallorossi showed plenty of youthful boldness along the way. Emanuele Lulli was the standout performer, rated 7.5 by most of the papers, while Gollini earned 7 across the board for his goalkeeping. Pisilli and Mora both found the net, and Mora came off the bench to earn strong marks in midfield. Malen also scored after replacing Castro and was rated 6.5 to 7 by the papers. Soulé was another bright spark, rated 6.5 to 7 in the attack. Gian Piero Gasperini was rated between 6 and 7 for his side's performance. Mancini was the disappointment in defence, with ratings ranging from 4.5 to 6, and Ghilardi came on to earn a 7 from some of the newspapers. Wesley replaced Molina at half-time, with his marks ranging from 5.5 to 6. Rensch was given a 5 or 6 after coming on for Lulli. Castro had a quiet afternoon and was rated between 5 and 6 before being replaced by Malen. The ratings reflect a match in which Roma's depleted squad showed resilience and attacking spirit, with the goals coming from both established players and those who came off the bench.

Roman radio pundits debated Roma's squad depth, Paulo Dybala's fitness and the Udinese and Manchester United fixtures in a round-up of the capital's football talk shows. David Rossi of Rete Sport said he was worried that Roma are short of players, pointing to Matías Soulé and Niccolò Pisilli, who he said have been playing three matches a week for some time. He said Roma play a demanding style and that the midfield is very thin: if Roma rest Roon, who is not in good shape, Cristante still has to play against Udinese, and then in Manchester he asked what would happen without him. Rossi called the decision to use four midfielders, attributed to Gasperini and D'Amico, an enormous error of judgement. He said Gasperini had wanted the contracts of Dybala and Pellegrini, adding that Roma would be in a better position had they signed two players who were alive, even if less talented. On Dybala, Rossi said: "Dybala was a beast here, a beast there, but now Gasperini has realised he has the pain threshold of a 5-year-old child. Mora has done more than Dybala, the same as Soulè, but you can't say it..." Fabio Petruzzi of Rete Sport said Roma have clearly improved on last year, showing they are a strong side. He said last year you struggled and created little, while now Roma look like a stronger Atalanta. He said they have reached the top but can improve in the transfer market with two wide players and a midfielder. He said Roma were less of a team than usual against Cagliari but still won, and that Cagliari had given them more problems than Como and Inter. He added that some tiredness is to be expected. Claudio Moroni, also of Rete Sport, argued that Dybala should be sacrificed on the left with Soulè on the right, saying Soulè's best form comes from the right and that Dybala's performance hardly changes between the two flanks. Mario Corsi of Tele Radio Stereo praised Mora for a fine headed goal, but warned against calling him a new Messi. Turning to Juventus, he said their crisis was 80% the team's fault and 20% Spalletti's, adding that Conte was not being considered and that Pioli is the available option. Lorenzo Pes of Tele Radio Stereo said Dybala only did physiotherapy yesterday but he remains convinced the player wants to play the Champions League match against Manchester United. He said the injury has healed, that Dybala can theoretically train and has overcome the physical problem. He said the medical staff and the player's own feelings will decide, and that Dybala would probably try to rejoin the group partially today. He said keeping the door open for Manchester is important, and that having him on the bench for Udine would also be valuable. Piero Torri of Manà Manà Sport said Roma were robbed in yesterday's match against Venezia. He said Udinese have shown signs of revival, having recovered most of their players including Zaniolo, and that the fixture worries him. If Balerdi has recovered, he expects him to start, with Ghilardi possibly replacing Mancini, and expects Lulli alongside Wesley and Pisilli with Cristante. On Como, he said they have always been title candidates and that anyone who thinks otherwise is wrong, given their strong players, great football and a fine coach. Roberto Pruzzo of Radio Radio said he had backed Castro but that a player who has not played for two months cannot simply step in and become a star. He said the transfer market has brought Roma reserves, good alternatives who are not able to play as starters, and that when Malen is missing you notice straight away. Nando Orsi of Radio Radio questioned whether Roma are too dependent on Malen, pointing out that he brought Roma into the Champions League. He said that when he has been absent, Roma have struggled to score, but that Roma are not bottom of the table despite heavy absences, noting Lazio are top despite missing four key players. Ilario Di Giovambattista of Radio Radio named the Roma players he would take for Lazio: Malen, Svilar, and Ghilardi, whom he said he adores. He would also take Koné for midfield, and said that for Soulè he would keep Isaksen and put Soulè on the bench.

Roma have scored more late goals than almost anyone in Serie A this season, with only Inter having a better record in the closing stages of matches. Their latest late surge came against Cagliari, where Rodrigo Mora and Malen struck in the final five minutes. Roma have now scored seven goals after the 75th minute in nine league matches, two fewer than Inter, who beat the Giallorossi yesterday. The pattern marks a clear change from last season. Writing in Il Tempo, Lorenzo Pes noted that Gasperini's first Roma side struggled badly to overturn results and often lost games once they fell behind. This season's team attacks with order even when little time remains, and it has shown a hunger for major targets. The comeback at Napoli was followed by another late strike against Cagliari, and the squad has rallied in the closing stages of several games. Gasperini can now draw on important options from the bench, and the numbers show that substitutes have often decided matches. Two of the late goals came against Cagliari from Mora and Malen. Balerdi made the difference at Napoli, Soulé did so against Atalanta, and Pisilli did so in the first matchday against Fiorentina.

Roma's win over Cagliari has underlined how central the club's young players have become to Gian Piero Gasperini's project. The Giallorossi rely confidently on their Under-23 players, who have made decisive contributions at key moments of matches, as shown by the performances and goals of those who came through the youth sector and have been developed by the coach. Among the positives is the steady progress of Emanuele Lulli, who recently renewed his contract until 2031. The 2005-born defender scored his second consecutive league goal in front of the Curva Sud, and has established himself as a valuable asset and an important presence in the rotation. Alongside him, Niccolò Pisilli has become a consolidated certainty in midfield, combining consistent performances with a nose for goals. According to Il Tempo, the Olimpico clash was also the night of breakthrough for Rodrigo Mora. The 19-year-old Portuguese, who was initially greeted with scepticism over his market valuation, unlocked the match by scoring his first goal in front of the Roma crowd. Gasperini himself praised the young Portuguese's technical qualities after the game, stressing that his imagination is a fundamental factor for the season. The young group is completed by the gradual integration of players such as Koulierakis and Castro, who are asked to provide valid alternatives in a squad that blends the freshness of the youth ranks with the maturity of the senior players. For Gasperini's Roma, young players are no longer just a future prospect but a solid reality capable of making the difference.