Lulli's Breakthrough: Roma's Young Left-Back Shines on Serie A Debut

Roma travel to Como for a Serie A sixth-round match that has taken on major significance early in the 2026-27 season. Gasperini's side sit top of the table on 13 points after drawing 2-2 with Inter, while Como have accumulated 10 points and are chasing ground. The two clubs are emerging as the only realistic challengers to Inter's dominance this season. Roma will be without Bryan Cristante and must reshuffle their midfield, with Marten de Roon stepping in alongside Manu Koné. Como, managed by Fabregas, are also dealing with an absence—Moise Kean is out, leaving Douvikas to lead their attack once again.

Rodrigo Mora has emerged as a contender for a starting berth on the attack ahead of Roma's visit to Como on 11 October at 12:30, with his recent overhead-kick goal for Portugal Under 21 catching the eye of head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and supporters alike. The young midfielder from Porto is in sharp form and poses a direct threat to Matías Soulé's place in the side. Soulé is hampered by fatigue from a long journey back from Argentina and sparse training time, raising the prospect he may begin on the bench alongside Leonardo Balerdi to allow fresher legs into the line-up. Should Mora start, he would complete a front three alongside Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. Dybala remains fully available after Roma firmly blocked his departure for Argentina's farewell match for retiring Messi, keeping the forward at the club's Trigoria training ground to concentrate entirely on the league campaign and title contention. The midfielder picture is complicated by Bryan Cristante's knee injury, opening a contest between the experience of Marten de Roon and the attacking thrust of Niccolò Pisilli. De Roon appears favoured to provide defensive balance, though Pisilli offers running power and forward involvement.

Roma travel to Como on Saturday 10 October 2026 in a fixture that carries multiple subplots. The match will pit Wesley, Roma's Brazilian defender, against Como's Yan Couto, another Brazilian fullback operating as an attacking outlet. Both remain without a goal this season but have featured for Brazil's senior squad—Couto with 4 appearances and Wesley with 8. The encounter at the Sinigaglia will serve as a meaningful indicator ahead of Carlo Ancelotti's future selections for the national team. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini stands on the brink of a significant milestone: victory would deliver his 300th win in Serie A, a threshold previously crossed only by Trapattoni, Allegri, Spalletti and Rocco—all of whom won the Scudetto. Roma's record against Como in the last ten Serie A meetings offers encouragement: they have never drawn, winning seven times and losing three. The midfield and attacking line remain in flux, with Matías Soulé, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Rodrigo Mora competing for the attacking midfield role; Soulé has returned from international duty but remains in contention for the starting lineup. Paulo Dybala and Como's Nico Paz will showcase an Argentine dimension to the match. Dybala arrives with 4 assists but without a goal in the season so far, while Paz has scored once and supplied one assist. Forward Donyell Malen and Como's Christos Douvikas share a formative Dutch connection: Malen developed through PSV's academy and became the club's second-youngest player in history to score at least 10 goals in three consecutive seasons by age 22. Douvikas established himself at Utrecht with 32 goals in 77 matches before winning the Eredivisie's top-scorer award in 2022–23 with 19 goals.

Gian Piero Gasperini faces a series of tactical decisions ahead of Roma's trip to Como, with the international break having left several squad members fatigued and the imminent Champions League fixture against Real Madrid looming large in his planning. In midfield, Marten De Roon is set to anchor the team, on course to reach 362 appearances under Gasperini's management, filling the void left by the absence of Bryan Cristante. The most significant selection puzzle centres on the attacking midfield position behind the strike pairing of Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. Matías Soulé returned to Roma only on Thursday morning after a lengthy journey from Argentina and has completed just one training session with the squad, making him vulnerable to dropping to the bench. That has opened the door for Rodrigo Mora, the young Portuguese midfielder who has impressed in Under-21 international football and has caught the eye in training at Trigoria. Lorenzo Pellegrini remains another option, having used the two-week break to focus on his fitness and condition. On the right flank, Nahuel Molina faces competition from young squad member Emanuele Lulli, who could be handed a starting role to give the Argentine a rest ahead of the European encounter. Wesley is expected to start at left-back after recovering from a muscle problem picked up before the international break. In defence, Evan N'Dicka looks favourites to complete the back three alongside Gianluca Mancini and Mario Hermoso, with Leonardo Balerdi likely to miss out due to staggered return times for the South American contingent. Roma will lean on the attacking quality of Dybala and Malen, with the Argentine chasing an important away goal and the Dutch forward looking to maintain his impressive goalscoring run in a Roma shirt. Defensive solidity, which saw the club concede only 34 goals in Serie A last season, will be critical as Roma test themselves against Cesc Fabregas's Como.

Gian Piero Gasperini will name his side to face Como within 24 hours, with the Giallorossi boss still weighing final selection calls before Sunday's Serie A fixture. The Dutch midfielder Marten de Roon is a certainty in the center of the park, replacing the injured Bryan Cristante; his appearance on Sunday will take him to 362 career games. Niccolò Pisilli, who returned to group training yesterday following a minor flu, remains behind in the hierarchy. The forward line will feature Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen as regulars. Since joining Roma, the Dutch forward has scored 20 goals in 23 appearances—a tally that outpaces both Kane and Raphinha, who stand at 18 each. Malen also holds the best goals-per-minute ratio in Serie A during the three-points era, averaging one goal every 91 minutes, ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Ronaldo. The main puzzle surrounds the third member of the attacking trio. Matías Soulé has completed only one full training session since returning to the capital on Thursday morning but remains in contention, though Rodrigo Mora currently holds the advantage. Lorenzo Pellegrini, who stayed at Trigoria throughout the international break, is also an option but has not featured for six months. On the right flank, both Nahuel Molina and Emanuele Lulli were tested yesterday; whoever plays Sunday could rest in the Champions League. Wesley will operate on the left. Evan N'Dicka leads Leonardo Balerdi for a centre-back place alongside Gianluca Mancini and Mario Hermoso rounding out the defence. Gasperini must also account for Roma's upcoming Champions League fixture against Real Madrid when making his selections.

Roma are close to securing a contract renewal with Emanuele Lulli after the defender emerged as a standout performer in the club's opening weeks of the 2026-27 season. Lulli impressed Gasperini during a pre-season friendly against Dortmund in mid-August, confirming his credentials for the campaign ahead. The club is now moving to tie down his future. With Lulli's contract set to expire in 2027, Roma's management and the player's representatives are in final negotiations. The proposed deal would extend his terms until 2031 on a salary of €500,000 annually, with performance bonuses to increase the package further.

Roma radio pundits debated the squad and tactics ahead of the Como match on a programme featuring Ugo Trani, Francesco Balzani, Simone Valdarchi, Roberto Pruzzo and Mario Mattioli. The discussion ranged from ownership prospects to midfield selection and the tactical approach Gasperini will adopt. Trani raised the prospect of the Friedkin Group selling Roma in future, noting their acquisition of Everton and other global assets. He argued that the owners made an "all-in" decision by keeping Koné and Svilar this summer and are now trying to strengthen the squad to win silverware and raise its value before a potential sale after the new stadium is built. He contrasted this with José Mourinho's recent interview, saying the former manager showed more attachment to Roma than the owners themselves do. Trani expected strong rotation against Genoa, with Wesley, Molina, Lulli and Rensch all on alert, and suggested Mora is ahead of Pellegrini in the manager's thinking for the Como fixture. Balzani agreed that the Everton sale signals the Friedkin Group's strategic pivot, though he noted they could remain Roma's owners until 2030–32 at minimum. He suggested Mora could be tactically decisive against Como and their four-man defence. Valdarchi cautioned that Pellegrini's potential benching would not signal a defensive approach from Gasperini, but rather reflect the manager's assessment of which midfielder could press Como's build-up play more effectively. Pruzzo highlighted how the long international break creates uncertainty and stressed the importance of extending Roma's lead over Como. Mattioli voiced confidence in the squad's form: "I don't understand the doubts about de Roon. He is an inexhaustible engine in midfield." He praised the giallorossi's momentum and noted that Como, while strong, lack the experience Roma possess.

Wesley was one of the standout performers in Roma's campaign last season, playing a decisive role in the drive to third place, but the Brazilian winger has endured a tougher start to the 2026-27 campaign, hampered by physical issues that have affected his consistency and output. During the international break, he chose to remain at Trigoria and work intensively with Gasperini rather than accept a Brazil call-up, prioritising his recovery ahead of Sunday's away trip to Como. The Como fixture carries particular weight for Wesley. In December last season at the Olimpico, he decided the match with a brilliant volley beneath the Curva Sud. In the return game, however, Como staged a comeback and Wesley was sent off for a second yellow card in a highly disputed incident—the contact with Diao was barely perceptible, perhaps only a slight touch involving Rensch. Those moments are now behind him. With just one assist in five league matches this season, Sunday offers the ideal platform for redemption. Roma need the true Wesley, and the winger has everything required to become a decisive force on the flank within Gasperini's system.

Roma's pursuit of Real Madrid forward Endrick remains at an impasse two months after a summer rejection, with the Spanish club offering neither discussion nor closure on a potential move. The international break has revived interest in the 20-year-old, who has made only four minutes of league action and no Champions League appearances under Carlo Ancelotti and remains keen to leave in search of regular playing time. Endrick has repeatedly told Real Madrid he wants to join Roma and wear the giallorosso, most recently reiterating this to José Mourinho before reporting to the Brazilian national team two weeks ago. Ancelotti has publicly acknowledged the forward needs consistent minutes to develop. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has not prioritised the signing, concentrating instead on upcoming fixtures rather than transfer activity—a perspective that makes sense given the January window lies three months away. Roma's primary target remains a winger with specific qualities: physically strong and capable of explosive pace. Endrick is not that profile, though Gasperini would accept him as a secondary option, potentially deploying him on the right wing or as a second striker. The first-choice targets remain Chelsea's Gittens, Stuttgart's Lewelling and Zenit's Luiz Henrique, all of whom were discussed in the closing stages of the summer market and remain on Roma's radar. Only Henrique received significant playing time after negotiations halted in August. Another barrier exists: the Friedkin family's likely demands for departures before any arrival. Soulé has been repeatedly pursued—both in summer and now through the winter window—while a possible move for defender Oosterwolde could mean Rensch or Ghilardi leaving. Oosterwolde was abandoned at the end of August due to physical problems, which are reportedly now resolved. For any Endrick deal to progress, Real Madrid must break its silence, the player must remain committed despite minimal minutes, and Roma must find clarity on squad-trimming priorities.

Roma travel to Como on 11 October for a 12:30 kickoff where Paulo Dybala will face emergent talent Nico Paz in a meeting of two left-footed attackers bound by their connection to Lionel Messi's career and legacy. Both have been identified at different points as potential successors to Messi in the Argentina national team. For Dybala, born in 1993, the comparison has carried weight since 2017, when he scored a brace for Juventus against Messi's Barcelona in a Champions League quarter-final. Paz, 21 and born in 2004 as Messi debuted for Barcelona, has been recently acclaimed after scoring from an assist by Messi at the Monumental stadium, marking a symbolic generational handover. Dybala's role in Roma's title push is underlined by a strategic decision ahead of the fixture. Although invited to Messi's farewell gathering with the Argentina national team, Dybala was retained at Trigoria to prepare for Como alongside teammate Nahuel Molina. Roma prioritised ensuring the number 21 arrived at maximum freshness ahead of a crowded schedule spanning domestic and European competition. The match carries particular weight in Roma's season as they pursue their championship ambitions in Serie A.

Gian Piero Gasperini faces a series of tactical decisions ahead of Roma's trip to Como, with the international break having left several squad members fatigued and the imminent Champions League fixture against Real Madrid looming large in his planning. In midfield, Marten De Roon is set to anchor the team, on course to reach 362 appearances under Gasperini's management, filling the void left by the absence of Bryan Cristante. The most significant selection puzzle centres on the attacking midfield position behind the strike pairing of Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. Matías Soulé returned to Roma only on Thursday morning after a lengthy journey from Argentina and has completed just one training session with the squad, making him vulnerable to dropping to the bench. That has opened the door for Rodrigo Mora, the young Portuguese midfielder who has impressed in Under-21 international football and has caught the eye in training at Trigoria. Lorenzo Pellegrini remains another option, having used the two-week break to focus on his fitness and condition. On the right flank, Nahuel Molina faces competition from young squad member Emanuele Lulli, who could be handed a starting role to give the Argentine a rest ahead of the European encounter. Wesley is expected to start at left-back after recovering from a muscle problem picked up before the international break. In defence, Evan N'Dicka looks favourites to complete the back three alongside Gianluca Mancini and Mario Hermoso, with Leonardo Balerdi likely to miss out due to staggered return times for the South American contingent. Roma will lean on the attacking quality of Dybala and Malen, with the Argentine chasing an important away goal and the Dutch forward looking to maintain his impressive goalscoring run in a Roma shirt. Defensive solidity, which saw the club concede only 34 goals in Serie A last season, will be critical as Roma test themselves against Cesc Fabregas's Como.

Roma travel to Como on 11 October for a Serie A fixture that pits two Argentine talents shaped by reverence for Lionel Messi against each other. Paulo Dybala, 21, and Nico Paz of Como will lead their sides at the Stadio Sinigaglia, 11,200 kilometres from the Monumental in Buenos Aires where Messi played his farewell match for Argentina on Tuesday. Both have been discussed in Argentina as potential partial heirs to Messi in the national team. Dybala, who carries the number 10 at Roma, grew up in parallel with Messi's career trajectory, while Paz, born in 2004, emerged later—after Messi had already debuted for Barcelona and played in Argentina's youth sides. On Tuesday at the Monumental, Paz scored a spectacular goal assisted by Messi in a friendly against Benin, with Messi then playing his final international match. Dybala watched that farewell ceremony from his home at the Infernetto, having been on Messi's invitation list but retained by Roma at Trigoria alongside teammate Molina ahead of the Como fixture. The timing reflects the club's proximity to the match and the importance Roma place on preparation. The trip to Como comes as Roma seek to answer an early-season question: can they mount a title challenge against Inter? According to reporting by Simone Valdarchi in Corriere della Sera, both players have been positioned as potential successors to Messi's legacy, though their careers have taken different paths. The fixture carries symbolic weight beyond its place in the league calendar—a meeting of two Argentine midfielders whose development has been shadowed by admiration for football's greatest player.