Malen: The man of dreams

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.

AS Roma have already opened talks over a contract extension for defender Mario Hermoso, according to La Repubblica, with the Spaniard's current deal due to expire in June 2027. The discussions are reportedly at an advanced stage, with both sides keen to reach an agreement that would secure the defender's long-term future at the club. Hermoso has become one of the fixed points of Gian Piero Gasperini's side this season. He has earned the coach's trust through consistent performances and his ability to contribute in attacking phases, a level of form that is carrying growing weight both in team selection and in the club's thinking about the future of the squad. Gasperini is reportedly the main driving force behind keeping the player, having already pushed for him to stay at Trigoria last season. The coach's faith has been repaid on the pitch, and a renewal would strengthen one of the key figures in the back line. The report does not contain any details on the length of a new agreement or its financial terms. Hermoso joined Roma in July 2024 as a free transfer from Atlético Madrid, and his contract expiry in June 2027 makes the renewal a priority for the club as the season progresses.

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.

Mora says his form has turned around after a difficult start, with three goals in a row lifting his confidence and his standing in the Roma side. "Things weren't going well a month ago, but things change," he said, describing his magical run. The Portuguese forward struggled early on and admitted it himself, with some understandable difficulties complicating his progress before something clicked. Gian Piero Gasperini can no longer do without him, having always regarded him as a "superior" player who simply needed time, and less of it than expected was needed. His latest strike came against Sassuolo, his second goal at the Olimpico, and it was another gem, the latest of the season. He now has four Serie A goals, one more than Nico Paz, who has three. His output has him second in Roma's scoring charts behind Donyell Malen, who has eight. Those who doubted he was ready for the biggest stages have been forced to think again, and he was applauded at Old Trafford in the first half. Asked for the secret, Mora pointed to hard work: "I'm improving in everything, every day." He has understood Gasperini's methods and thrown himself into them, day after day. That commitment has also earned him a call-up to the Portugal squad. "It's a good moment for me and my family," he said. Portuguese supporters will now get to enjoy his talent just as the farewell to their idol, Cristiano Ronaldo, approaches. Mora may one day rewrite his country's history as Ronaldo did, but he is not thinking about that and is taking things one small step at a time.

Radio pundits Fabrizio Aspri and Andrea Pugliese have praised Gian Piero Gasperini's handling of Mora, with Aspri calling the coach very intelligent for the way he has used the player. Aspri said: "The situation with Mora tells us that Gasperini is very intelligent. Mora was not a useful player for the coach. The player is moving very well, that goal is a number 10's goal. Not everyone makes that diagonal run, and it is important players who score those goals. Gasperini is wise and has re-evaluated the player. Well done Gasperini first and foremost, and a little further on, well done Mora." Aspri said Roma have found the right way to make their chances count, though there is always room for improvement. He added: "Roma are the team with the best football." He praised the defensive unit, which he said gives the side more and more security. Turning to Donyell Malen, Aspri said the forward is useful and valuable but is sometimes seen struggling. He said: "I don't rate him as a normal player, he has something extra. I would like him more as a centre-forward, occupying the box more often. He drops too deep to link play too often." He added: "Roma must change, they must not fail in the big head-to-head games." Pugliese was more critical of Mora's role. He said: "Mora is an attacking midfielder, he doesn't have the pace to play on the flank. In January D'Amico will find a winger with legs. Mora was not used to defending at Porto. Last year he had different numbers." On Malen, Pugliese said the forward did not expect the assist from Matías Soulé when he missed a chance. Looking ahead, he said Bologna are a side in form and that the giallorossi must arrive there with six points. He noted that Roma have drawn with Inter, Como and Napoli this season, adding: "If you want to make the real leap you have to win the head-to-head games."

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 bounced back from their defeats to Real Madrid and Manchester United with a 3-0 win over Sassuolo, a result that briefly left them one point behind the Serie A leaders. The match was effectively decided in just over twenty minutes. Sassuolo coach Alberto Aquilani set his side out with almost everyone behind the ball, looking to crowd the midfield and close off space on the edge of the box, and for a while the plan worked, even though Roma had already begun to create danger. Then Mario Hermoso, who for one evening played as a centre-forward, controlled the ball in the area and drove a powerful left-foot shot under the crossbar. From that moment the game changed. Roma grew in confidence while Sassuolo lost their shape and belief. Three minutes later, Donyell Malen's shot was deflected into his own net by Walukiewicz, which effectively settled the contest. Roma kept attacking, building and looking for goals, and early in the second half Rodrigo Mora added his name to the scoresheet, another step forward for the 19-year-old, who is growing visibly. The rest was a Roma monologue, with Sassuolo unable to trouble Vásquez. The result is significant because of the way Roma won it. Gasperini's side were not overwhelmed by a stronger opponent. They were patient, ruthless when the opening came and mature in their response to disappointment. The Champions League defeats to Real Madrid and Manchester United showed that there is still progress to make against the very best, but in Serie A Roma have answered each setback immediately. After the Real Madrid defeat they won, and after Manchester they did the same. Roma have now collected 27 points from eleven matches, have won three league games in a row and sat second in the table, one point off the top, for a night. The result came after a punishing run of nine matches in 27 days, a schedule Gasperini himself pointed out. Malen had one of his less productive evenings in front of goal, wasting chances he would normally convert, even though team-mates tried everything to set him up. He still played a part in Hermoso's goal, caused the own goal that doubled the lead and provided the assist for Mora. Roma won 3-0 without a goal from their centre-forward and even wasted others. Defensively, another clean sheet restored calm to a back line that had suffered some lapses recently. Manu Koné also returned, and his presence in midfield was clearly felt, bringing dynamism, aggression and balance to a area that had been badly missed in recent weeks. Mora said: "Sono sulla strada giusta. La Roma è forte, si vede anche in allenamento." Gasperini, asked whether he would be satisfied with second place, replied: "È bello giocarlo questo campionato. Noi ce lo stiamo veramente giocando." Roma reach the international break in strong form. Gasperini is expected to regain Svilar and, hopefully, Dybala after the break, two key players who could add quality and options to a squad already performing well. Injuries have been the main obstacle to the coach's selection choices so far. Tomorrow, Inter host Como and Lazio travel to Napoli, and Roma will watch the results from the sidelines, with a chance that their position could improve. Sporting director D'Amico confirmed before the match that the team lacks a quick, attacking winger and promised that the club will try to fill that gap in January.

Gian Piero Gasperini has said Roma will not settle for second place after a 3-0 win over Udinese, a result that took him to 303 Serie A victories, passing the legendary Nereo Rocco and setting a new personal record for the coach. The win also extended Roma's run to 18 consecutive useful home league games at the Stadio Olimpico, a sign of renewed solidity at home and of a squad that has responded to every tactical and mental demand placed on it. Speaking after the match, Gasperini rejected any scaling back of Roma's ambitions. He said: "I won't settle for second place. The beauty is fighting for this championship until the end. Of course, we mustn't fool ourselves too much, but it is imperative to believe." He named Inter as the main favourites, adding: "Inter are rightly the stronger favourites, but if they slip up a little... we can compete. We are there." The coach also praised the team's growing threat in front of goal: "We are increasing our ability to score a lot, we do it in many ways and we are happy about this." On the injury front, Mancini has picked up a strain to his right hamstring. Roma expect to have both Svilar and Dybala fully recovered for the trip to Parma after the international break.