Malen named Serie A's best player at Scopigno and Pulici awards; Svilar wins best goalkeeper

Francesco Totti paid an emotional tribute to Sinisa Mihajlovic during the presentation of the book 'Oltre', in front of Mihajlovic's wife Arianna. Totti said: "For me it was fundamental, he arrived at the right moment." The former Roma number 10 spoke of Mihajlovic as a true friend, saying that for him the late coach is still here with them. The tribute came at a book launch, with Mihajlovic's widow in the audience, and it is one of the most personal reflections Totti has offered on a figure from his own time in the Roma dressing room. The moment will resonate strongly with Giallorossi supporters, who remember Mihajlovic as a fierce competitor and a deeply respected presence in Italian football. Totti's words underline the bond that remains between the club's former players and those who shaped their careers, and the warmth of the reception in the room reflected that shared affection.

Former Atalanta forward Aleksandar Pesic, now at Fatih Karagumruk, has described Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini as the best coach he has ever worked under, calling him "unreachable". Pesic made the comments to the MeridianSport website. He played for Atalanta in the 2016-17 season, when Gasperini was in charge of the club. Pesic ranked Gasperini above every other coach he has played for. Asked to name the best, he said: "He is number one, with Farioli right after him." He has been coached by many leading managers, including Diaz, Slaven Bilic, Farioli and Casanova, but he said he still tells everyone that Gasperini is unreachable. Pesic also allowed for a rival to catch up. He said: "It is possible that Farioli will manage to surpass him in terms of results, but Gian Piero remains number one."

Roma supporters living in Lazio will once again be barred from attending the match at the Maradona stadium against Napoli. The fixture is scheduled for Saturday 24 October with a 6pm kickoff and counts for matchday eight of Serie A. The decision was taken by the Naples prefect, Michele di Bari, on the recommendation of the Committee for the Analysis of Security at Sporting Events, after the police headquarters flagged high risk to public order and safety. The ban is not new, given the tension that has surrounded this fixture for years, but it marks yet another restriction on Roma fans travelling to Naples. Gian Piero Gasperini's side will face a hostile atmosphere at a ground where away supporters have repeatedly been limited. The restriction applies specifically to Roma supporters resident in the Lazio region, who will not be permitted to travel to the Maradona for the match.

Roma's probable starting line-up for their meeting with Slovan has been published, with Gian Piero Gasperini reportedly bringing back the No. 23 and Mario Hermoso returning to the defence. Gianluca Mancini is expected to start, while Soulé and Pellegrini are set to operate behind Malen. The central defensive berth is a contest between Leonardo Balerdi and Evan N'Dicka. Molina is pushing Lulli for a place at right-back, and in midfield Marten de Roon and Niccolò Pisilli are expected to start. Beyond the selection, the wider build-up has also produced news on the injury front. Paulo Dybala has a small tear and is expected to be out for a period, while Gasperini has said Roma need 10 points to qualify for the playoffs and that Dybala's recovery will take longer.

Roma host Slovan Bratislava at the Stadio Olimpico tomorrow at 21:00, and Gian Piero Gasperini is expected to make several changes to the side that played Genoa in the last league match. Slovan Bratislava are coached by Yaya Toure, according to the report. According to Sky Sport, Mancini and Hermoso return to start in defence, with N'Dicka confirmed at centre-back. Molina and Wesley are set to return on the flanks, while De Roon and Pisilli are expected in midfield. Soulé and Pellegrini are likely to support Malen up front. The probable Roma line-up in a 3-4-2-1 formation is: Gollini; Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Molina, Pisilli, De Roon, Wesley; Soulé, Pellegrini; Malen.

Slovan Bratislava head coach Yaya Touré and defender Kevin Wimmer spoke to reporters at the pre-match press conference ahead of their Champions League league-phase match against Roma, which takes place tomorrow, 20 October, at 21:00. The fixture is the third matchday of the league phase. Touré said he expected an interesting game and wanted to see his team's performance. "Roma are strong, with excellent players and an excellent coach. We have to give everything tomorrow evening." Asked whether the Stadio Olimpico is a special place for him, having already won the Champions League there, he said: "Yes, I hope it will be tomorrow too. Winning the Champions League is wonderful: the pitch will always be the same. I feel good, I am positive. We want to produce the best possible performance." On what he expects from the match, Touré said: "I expect a tough game after Real's comeback: they will want to get back on track. We want to play in the best way possible and give emotions to the 2000 fans who have travelled for us, always with respect for our opponents. Anything can happen in football." Asked for his view of Gian Piero Gasperini, Touré said: "You always learn. Gasperini has great experience and made an enormous contribution to Atalanta, improving every aspect of their game. The work he did there was incredible. For me it is complicated, but I want to think about things simply. We face a very strong team, with some absences, but they remain dangerous. They can hurt you. I focus on my own team." Touré also spoke of his emotions: "I am very excited. Roma are a huge club and having the chance to be here is an honour. It will be a fantastic experience for us. I hope to play an excellent game: we want to enjoy it." On how to stop Donyell Malen, Touré said: "Malen is in form, he is feeling great. He has always done well, including in the past. In recent matches he has scored several goals. It won't be easy: we will have to be aggressive from the start. Roma have quality. We need a great performance." Comparing with Roma's recent match against Milan, Touré said: "They are different games. Roma are strong defensively and press across the whole pitch: it is a very Italian style of play. They are tactically prepared, solid and also clinical. We must be aggressive and give them little space." When reminded that Roma lost to Slovan 15 years ago, he said: "I knew that: it was a great result for the club. We want to recreate the same atmosphere, although things have changed a lot. They are favourites, but we have not come here to watch. Let's see what we can do."

Roma host Slovan Bratislava at the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday 20 October in the Champions League league phase, a third-matchday fixture kicking off at 21:00, as Gian Piero Gasperini's side look for their first win in the competition. Roma have one point from two games after a draw with Fenerbahce and a 4-3 defeat to Real Madrid, while Slovan are still on zero points. Roma return to Europe on the back of a 2-0 Serie A win over Genoa, coached by Daniele De Rossi, at the Olimpico on Saturday, with goals from Castro and Lulli in the second half. Gasperini rotated heavily after the demanding Real Madrid game. Slovan have lost both opening matches heavily, 6-1 to Paris Saint-Germain and 3-0 to Stuttgart, before a 3-0 away win over Spartak Trnava in the league. Roma's injury list remains long. Mile Svilar is out with a stress fracture to the fifth toe of his foot, so Pierluigi Gollini is expected to keep his place in goal. Manu Koné is sidelined by a first-degree muscle tear suffered against Real Madrid, and Bryan Cristante is aiming to be back for the Serie A match against Napoli. Paulo Dybala has also been ruled out: he initially seemed set to attempt a return for the Champions League, but the latest tests revealed a small calf injury, and Gasperini said he will be out for about another two weeks. The expected Roma side is a 3-4-2-1 with Gollini; Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso in defence; Lulli, de Roon, Pisilli and Wesley in midfield; Soulé and Pellegrini behind Malen. Balerdi remains a possible option in central defence, while Lulli is favoured over Molina for the wing-back berth. Pellegrini is in contention with Mora for a place alongside Soulé. Roma's bench would include De Marzi, Vásquez, Balerdi, Koulierakis, Ghilardi, Rensch, Molina, Mora and Castro. Slovan Bratislava are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 under Yaya Touré, the formation they used in their recent European outings. Takac is in goal, with Blackman, Bajric, Markovic and Sandro Cruz in defence, and Mustafic and Pokorny in front of them. Barseghyan, Cristian Martinez and Camara are favoured for the attacking midfield, with Sporar leading the line and Griger pushing for a start. Slovan report no suspended players and no significant absences, and should have most of their squad available. The two clubs have met only twice in European competition, in the 2011/12 Europa League play-offs. Slovan won 1-0 away, and Roma could only draw 1-1 at the Olimpico, sending the Slovaks through 2-1 on aggregate. Tuesday's match is the first meeting between the two sides in the Champions League. The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sport and streamed via Sky Go and NOW. Official line-ups will be confirmed about an hour before kickoff at 21:00 on Tuesday 20 October, and will be available as a live update on the Romanews page.

Roma's injury list has grown again: Mile Svilar, Paulo Dybala, Manu Koné and Bryan Cristante all missed training at Trigoria on the eve of tomorrow evening's Champions League clash with Slovan Bratislava at the Stadio Olimpico. Cristante is the bright spot. He worked on a personalised programme on a separate pitch and had a brief conversation with Gian Piero Gasperini during the session, turning up with a visible bandage on his knee. Asked about his condition by reporters at the start of the session, he was optimistic: "Sto bene, ci siamo" ("I'm fine, I'm ready"). He will not be available against Slovan, but the staff aim to speed up his recovery for the upcoming fixtures, with the Napoli-Roma match in their sights. There is no such luck for Dybala. He underwent a scan yesterday that revealed a small muscle injury, and Gasperini hopes to have him back for the visit of Manchester United in early November. The absences have pushed Gasperini to call up several players from the Primavera, the club's youth side. Gioele Giammattei, Giacomo Arduini and Alessandro Di Nunzio took part in training with the first team. Di Nunzio is fresh from his Serie A debut, which came on Saturday against Genoa. Once again, the Giallorossi boss is turning to the youth sector to fill out the squad at a stage of the season when rotation options are limited. The sheer number of unavailable players underlines the pressure on Gasperini's squad selection as Roma prepare to host Slovan Bratislava. Cristante's progress offers encouragement, while Dybala's muscle injury, set against a Manchester United date in early November, means the coach will have to manage without a key attacking option for some time. Di Nunzio's debut and the call-ups of Giammattei and Arduini show how much the coach is relying on the academy to keep the squad numbers up.

Roma have called up three Primavera midfielders to the first-team squad for their Champions League match against Slovan Bratislava, as Gian Piero Gasperini deals with an injury crisis affecting almost every department. Gioele Giammattei, born 2009, Giacomo Arduini, born 2007, and Alessandro Di Nunzio, also born 2007, have been added to the senior group. Di Nunzio made his Serie A debut in the most recent match against Genoa. Paulo Dybala, Mile Svilar, Manu Koné and Bryan Cristante did not take part in the session at Trigoria. Cristante is the closest to a return. While his team-mates worked on the final tune-up, he carried out a personalised training programme on a separate pitch. Cristante spoke to reporters at Trigoria, who asked for updates on his recovery timeline. "Ci siamo," the midfielder assured them, meaning he is nearly ready. The aim is to have him available to Gasperini for the trip to Napoli. The squad completed an initial warm-up phase followed by the classic torelli drills.