Malen the difference-maker: 14 Serie A goals carry Roma to Champions League

Manu Koné is set to be included in the squad for tonight's home match against Sassuolo at the Olimpico, after more than twenty days on the sidelines. According to Francesco Balzani in La Gazzetta dello Sport, the final test yesterday produced positive answers, though not enough to say with certainty that he will start from the first minute. Paulo Dybala will miss the match because he still feels discomfort in his calf, and he will return when the league resumes against Parma. Mile Svilar is also set to return at that stage. Lorenzo Pellegrini faces a longer absence, with a return not expected before the end of January. Pierluigi Gollini has been given a thumbs down for tonight's game at the Olimpico. Devis Vásquez will be in goal again and will play in Serie A for the first time in 16 months. His last appearance in the top flight came on 25 May 2025 in Empoli-Verona.

Roma supporters will be able to attend the Bologna fixture at the Dall'Ara on 4 December, after the local authorities gave the go-ahead. The basketball match between Virtus Bologna and Partizan Belgrade, originally scheduled for Friday 4 December at 20.30 at the PalaDozza, has been brought forward to Thursday 3 December. The decision was linked to a public order issue and, above all, to the need to avoid a clash with another sporting event in the Emilian city. Tickets for the Roma fixture are not yet on sale. Until the meeting of the Osservatorio, the body overseeing matches, away tickets will remain unavailable. Supporters from the Lazio region will only be able to buy tickets for the away sector, and only if they hold a Roma Fidelity Card. Fans will therefore have to wait a few more days before they can secure a seat, but the club's travelling supporters will be able to be present at the stadium.

Devis Vásquez is set to start in goal for Roma again, with Pierluigi Gollini expected to miss the match against Sassuolo because of a back problem. The medical staff tried to get Gollini fit, but barring a dramatic turnaround he will not be available. Vásquez, a former Empoli and Milan goalkeeper, will make his second consecutive start after the match against Manchester United. It will be his first Serie A appearance in a year and a half; his last came in May 2025 against Verona. Ahead of him, Evan N'Dicka and Leonardo Balerdi are certain to play in defence. The only open question in the starting line-up is the central defensive berth, where Mario Hermoso and Gianluca Mancini are competing for a place.

Gian Piero Gasperini is starting Matías Soulé, Rodrigo Mora and Donyell Malen together against Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico, as Roma look to bounce back immediately from their defeat at Manchester. The three attackers all returned from international call-ups, and Gasperini is relying on their combination to drive the side forward. Paulo Dybala is absent from the squad for the match. Roma arrive at the fixture after a second-half display at Old Trafford that disappointed, and the club need a response before the international break. The side will rebuild around the Argentine-Portuguese partnership that shone in the first half in England. Soulé has been one of the club's standout performers this season, with four goals and five assists, and earned a call-up from Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni. Rodrigo Mora, born in 2007, has also impressed, and his performances convinced Jorge Jesus to promote him to the Portugal senior squad for the Nations League. Their combination was already on show at Udine and, in spurts, at Manchester. Their task is to set up Malen, who is also fresh from a call-up with the Netherlands. The forward is ready to face Sassuolo, coached by former Roma player Alberto Aquilani, to find the net again, put behind him the setbacks of the Champions League, and push for double figures in Serie A. Gasperini's main weapon is the combination of Soulé, Mora and Malen, turning flair and quality into three points while Serie A's leading sides also meet each other this weekend.

Manu Koné has not been named in France's squad for their matches against Italy and Turkey, meaning the midfielder will continue his recovery from injury rather than join up with Les Bleus. Rodrigo Mora has been recalled to the Portugal squad by Jorge Jesus for the games against Denmark and Wales. For the 2007-born player, it is a return to the senior national team after more than a year, although he is still waiting for his debut. Donyell Malen has been selected by the Netherlands for the matches against Greece and Germany, while Konstantinos Koulierakis will answer Greece's call-up to face the Netherlands and Serbia. On the transfer front, Roma continue to evaluate possible reinforcements for the attack ahead of the January window. Among the profiles being monitored by the Giallorossi management is English winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, currently at Chelsea. The London club would be willing to loan him out in the next transfer window, with Roma at the front of the queue should they open talks. Competition is strong, however: Leeds, Sunderland and Crystal Palace in the Premier League, as well as Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany, are also reportedly tracking the player. Ahead of the clash with Roma, Sassuolo boss Alberto Aquilani has called on his side to show character to escape their difficult run. For Aquilani, a former Roma midfielder, it will be a special match: "As a coach it is the first time I enter that stadium, and nobody can take that away from me. I have to set aside the emotions." On his team's form, Aquilani stressed the need to limit mistakes and increase intensity: "We have to run a bit more than the opponents, win the tackles and go for the second balls." Finally, his message to his players: "100% might not be enough, but we have to give 100% and more because we have dignity." Radio Bruno commentator Pedrelli said: "Leaving behind the defeat at Old Trafford and focusing on bringing home a full result against a Sassuolo in serious crisis is the primary goal. It will be a crucial day in the league, especially given Inter v Como and Napoli v Lazio. It would be wonderful to start talking about an anti-Roma in this Serie A." Radio Radio pundit Pruzzo said: "After Manchester we must restart immediately. Sassuolo have conceded ten goals in their last two matches. What is worrying is that they show no signs, they do not react. This allows Roma to manage the match and try to create danger up front. Malen occasionally has lapses, and Castro never plays: we'll see if this time there will be space for him."

Pierluigi Gollini is set to miss Roma's next match against Sassuolo, with the medical staff unable to resolve his back problem in time, barring a dramatic change. Vásquez, the former Empoli and Milan goalkeeper, is in line to start for the second match running, after the defeat to Manchester United. Koné will not be called up for France, and he is hoping to return to the matchday squad. France play Italy on 12 November and Turkey on 15 November. Zidane's side top the group with ten points, three more than the Azzurri, who can catch them in the head-to-head clash at San Siro. Ndicka will return to the starting lineup in defence. Up front, the attack will be made up of Mora, Soulé and Malen.