Mancini double condemns Lazio as Roma reclaim fourth and Champions League spot

Rodrigo Mora has scored in three consecutive Serie A matches, and his latest goal on Friday night at the Stadio Olimpico drew a standing ovation from the Roma fans when he was substituted. The Portuguese forward, who is listed as a midfielder in Roma's squad, has been one of the standout talents of the current campaign, according to Lorenzo Cascini in La Gazzetta dello Sport. Mora's third straight league goal follows strikes against Cagliari, in a match where he was decisive, and Udinese. In between, he produced a outstanding performance for Manchester in the Champions League, providing two assists for Matías Soulé, one for a goal and one for a penalty won that led to Donyell Malen's second goal. Gian Piero Gasperini, who wanted the 2007-born talent strongly this summer, has praised and protected him throughout. Mora is enjoying his form and his coach's backing. Mora's path to the first team began in his youth. At nine he left the Porto youth academy, where he was not finding a place, to return to playing for fun on a small pitch near his home in Matosinhos, a seaside town just outside Porto. After winning a couple of tournaments, Porto took him back to the Estádio do Dragão, and he made his debut at 15 years and 255 days. Cascini describes him as a talent who is currently bewitching everyone. The Olimpico applauded him several times during the match for his touches and his initiative. When he came off eight minutes after his third goal, the Giallorossi fans rose to their feet to applaud him.

Roma closed their run of fixtures before the international break with a 3-0 win over Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini has granted the squad three days of rest. Eleven Giallorossi will join their respective national teams in the coming days, while the players who remain in the capital will return to work. Roma players who are not called up will resume training at Trigoria on Wednesday afternoon, when preparation for their next commitments begins. The rest period gives Gasperini a clear window to plan the work ahead of the club's upcoming fixtures. The Italian original also carries links to the club's free news channels on Telegram and WhatsApp, which are not part of the match or training report.

Roma beat Sassuolo with composure, quality and collective sharpness, with Soulé and Mora taking centre stage and Rodrigo Mora finding his third league goal in three consecutive matches. Mario Hermoso gave Roma the lead with a powerful strike just minutes after an own goal forced by Donyell Malen, and the match was effectively settled from there. Vásquez, in the words of the match report, had practically a day off in goal. The win followed a difficult spell for the club, and the report describes it as a cycle of passion that has now ended with a chance to breathe before the end of November, which brings Parma and PSG. Roma's form in the league has been strong, and Mora's scoring run has made him a key figure in the attack. Gasperini's side regained control of the match after a heavy setback in England, starting cautiously and calmly before finding the gap in the Sassuolo defence after half an hour. Hermoso was rated 7.5 for a performance in which he played as an improvised partner to Malen, opened the scoring with a goal from the edge of the box, and was involved in the third goal after winning the ball. Balerdi (6.5) produced a headed clearance on the line and a shot from distance, while N'Dicka (6.5) was calm and composed. Cristante (6.5) covered an impressive distance, and Koné (6.5) controlled the midfield with calm and intelligence, though the report suggested he could shoot more often. Soulé (6.5) was praised for his control but criticised for choosing not to shoot into an empty net. Mora was rated 7, with the report calling his left foot velvet-soft and noting he ran as much as Cristante in the first half. Malen (6.5) was marked closely throughout, but scored with a diagonal shot after a double deflection and created an assist for Mora. Gasperini was rated 7 for restoring the team's composure after the English defeat and taking total control of the game. Molina (6) was criticised for focusing too often on backward passes, while Wesley (6) was sharp when Sassuolo tried to close space. Substitutes included Ghilardi, Koulierakis, de Roon (6), Pisilli (6) and Castro. Gasperini said: "giochiamoci questo campionato", which can be rendered as: "Let's play for this league title." The sentiment follows his earlier comment that he would not settle for second place. Roma now face a short break before the Parma match and PSG at the end of November.

Roma's defenders are proving decisive this season, with Mario Hermoso among the central figures in Gian Piero Gasperini's side. Hermoso opened the scoring in a difficult match against Sassuolo with a finish more typical of a striker, and he has now reached three goals this season. He is not alone. Leonardo Balerdi scored twice in the win at Napoli, the second of which was decisive in securing a draw at the Maradona. Evan N'Dicka and Daniele Ghilardi have each scored once, with N'Dicka's goal coming in Udine last week. In total, Roma's defenders have scored seven goals across Serie A and the Champions League. According to Daniele Aloisi writing in Il Messaggero, the defensive unit's contribution goes beyond goals. Ghilardi has also registered two assists, as has Gianluca Mancini, who was out injured yesterday. Koulierakis has yet to find the net this season. Together, the defenders have been involved in eleven of Roma's forty goals this season, a share of 27.5 per cent. The unit is, without question, the most complete in the squad and allows Gasperini to rotate more players than any other.

Roma's intensive run of fixtures is over, and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has given the squad three days off. Training resumes on Wednesday, with Roma's next match away at Parma on 21 November, after the international break. Gasperini is hopeful of having Paulo Dybala and Mile Svilar back available. Gianluca Mancini will not join up with his national team because of a muscle strain in his right hamstring, and he will remain in Rome to receive treatment. Manu Koné will also be available to the coach for the next two weeks. Lorenzo Pellegrini's recovery is taking longer, and he is not expected back until 2027.

Roma bounced back from their defeat to Manchester United with a convincing 3-0 win over Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico, thanks to goals from Mario Hermoso and Mora and an own goal by Walukiewicz. The result gave Gasperini's side their third consecutive league win and lifted them to 27 points, temporarily moving them into second place in Serie A, one point behind Lazio. Gasperini had to contend with several absences, but Manu Koné returned to the starting lineup. Vasquez kept his place in goal, while the back three was made up of Balerdi, N'Dicka and Hermoso. Mancini was ruled out with a muscle injury. Koné partnered Cristante in midfield, with Wesley and Molina patrolling the flanks. Up front, Gasperini retained the front three used at Old Trafford, with Mora and Soulé behind Malen. Sassuolo started brightly and created the first chance after two minutes, when Matic's left-footed effort was deflected by Vasquez for a corner. Roma responded through Koné, whose shot was saved by Muric. In the 11th minute Balerdi came close with a header. Soulé's short corner found Mora, whose cross on the second post was met by Balerdi, who beat Muric with a tricky effort, only for Caleta-Car to clear on the line. Mora then fired a right-foot effort that was deflected just over the bar. The match was untidy and broken up by the constant whistle of referee Di Bello, which prevented either side from finding rhythm. Roma eventually broke the deadlock in the 27th minute. Hermoso started the move, exchanged passes with Malen and, arriving in the heart of the area, unleashed a perfect left-footed strike that flew under the bar. Less than three minutes later, Malen cut inside and drove a right-footed shot that was deflected by Walukiewicz into his own net, doubling the lead in the 30th minute. Roma controlled the game from there and came close to a third at the 35-minute mark, when Muric had to produce a strong save to push away a close-range effort from Balerdi. Idzes then fired a right-footed shot against the post for Sassuolo, the last spark of a first half that ended with Roma 2-0 up after one minute of added time. The second half saw Mora add the third goal in the 57th minute, completing a comfortable victory. Roma's win moved them into second place, one point behind Lazio, with the result sealing three important points. Roma return to action in the coming days.

Roma's intensive run of fixtures is over, and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has given the squad three days off. Training resumes on Wednesday, with Roma's next match away at Parma on 21 November, after the international break. Gasperini is hopeful of having Paulo Dybala and Mile Svilar back available. Gianluca Mancini will not join up with his national team because of a muscle strain in his right hamstring, and he will remain in Rome to receive treatment. Manu Koné will also be available to the coach for the next two weeks. Lorenzo Pellegrini's recovery is taking longer, and he is not expected back until 2027.

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini said his side will not be drawn into talk of finishing second, after a 3-0 win over Sassuolo, and insisted the team would "stay on the perch like owls" while focusing only on their own results. Speaking to Sky Sport after the match, Gasperini praised Balerdi, who had played well at Manchester, and said the defeats in the Champions League were different from one another. "There are defeats and defeats," he said. "We lost against Real and Manchester, we had a run of wins, we drew and then always won in the league. The defeats hurt because they came late, but with performances of a high level and against teams of absolute value." Gasperini explained how Roma have been scoring goals with ease. "We reach the goal in a different way and with many players: we have reached confidence and clarity. The goal Hermoso scores is that of a quality striker. Soulé's performance was extraordinary, we have a predisposition to score, and we have done it even in defeats. This squad gives confirmations, not answers, and then you can lose." He added: "There was an unlucky episode at Manchester, that of Balerdi, and the match was born from an absurd penalty, and that must be said." Asked whether he would sign up for second place, Gasperini replied: "No. It is nice to play this championship. You must not have illusions, but neither should you be disappointed, especially when you make a journey like ours. Inter are the most accredited team, and for everything else we can compete like all the others. If you want Lazio too, I put them among these. If Inter slip up a bit, everyone else can have a go. We do not look at the others, they do not interest us: we will stay on the perch like owls." Gasperini also responded to Ciro Ferrara, who had recalled his early steps in Juventus's youth sector. "You were an incredible powerhouse, I learned a lot watching your training sessions. At that time Italian football was really strong. It was a great school." On the international break, which interrupts the league again, though only for one week this time, he said: "I hope to find the squad just as I left it. International matches please me when they play for something important. For friendlies or matches of little substance it is a shame to lose so many players, although wearing the national team shirt is always a milestone for a player." Gasperini concluded by discussing the fixture schedule: "It is difficult to play 9 matches in 27 days. We have had tough clashes against Como, Napoli, Manchester and Real Madrid. Managing the workload has not been a problem, and this allowed us to rotate the whole squad and everyone has played several times. It has also been an advantage in giving value to everyone." He turned to injuries: "The problem is injuries. We have had Svilar out for 9 matches, Cristante at the start, Dybala, Koné has returned today, and we have lost Pellegrini. Our squad is competitive but numerically it is not among the largest. We have had some injuries to strong players but not very long ones, and not many in number, at most 3-4."

Roma were coasting at the Stadio Olimpico, leading Sassuolo 3-0 in their Serie A eleventh-round match. Hermoso opened the scoring at 26′ with a left-footed strike under the crossbar, and Sassuolo's Walukiewicz turned a Malen shot into his own net at 30′. Rodrigo Mora made it three at 58′, cutting inside, beating a defender and finishing across Muric after a pass from Malen. The result came straight after Roma's painful comeback defeat by Manchester United in the Champions League, and Gian Piero Gasperini's side were looking to bounce back immediately and stay in the upper reaches of the table. Gasperini was without several players: Svilar, Dybala, Pellegrini and Rensch were all out, while Gollini was not yet fully fit, which meant Vásquez started in goal again. Sassuolo, coached by Alberto Aquilani, arrived without Berardi and Volpato and after four consecutive league defeats. Roma named Vásquez; Balerdi, Ndicka and Hermoso; Molina, Cristante, Konè and Wesley; Soulé and Mora; and Malen. Konè started alongside Cristante, with Balerdi replacing the injured Mancini in defence. Sassuolo lined up with Muric; Walukiewicz, Idzes, Caleta-Car and Cinquegrano; Sulemana, Matic, Thorstvedt and Doig; Laurienté and Esposito. Roma struggled to find space in the first half against a compact Sassuolo side, which made Hermoso's opener all the more important. Sassuolo's only real danger before half-time came late through Idzes, whose diagonal shot tested Vásquez. Roma missed several chances to extend the lead. Soulé failed to score from close range after a 48′ breakaway, Malen had a 54′ effort that Muric saved, and Malen again wasted a 70′ opportunity with a soft touch that did not beat the keeper. Molina also fired a 68′ shot wide, and Pisilli saw a 78′ strike blocked by Muric. Sassuolo made changes at the break, with Van der Brempt replacing Matic. Roma did not change at half-time. Gasperini made several substitutions later in the match: at 65′ De Roon and Pisilli came on for Konè and Mora, at 76′ Castro replaced Malen and Koulierakis replaced Hermoso, and at 84′ Ghilardi came on for Balerdi. Sassuolo brought on Adzic and Lipani for Thorstvedt and Esposito at 69′. The match was officiated by referee Di Bello of Brindisi, with assistants Peretti and Scatragli, fourth official Abisso, VAR Pezzuto and assistant VAR Guida. The live coverage ran from the pre-match build-up until the final whistle, with team news and in-game updates throughout.

Roma beat Sassuolo with composure, quality and collective sharpness, with Soulé and Mora taking centre stage and Rodrigo Mora finding his third league goal in three consecutive matches. Mario Hermoso gave Roma the lead with a powerful strike just minutes after an own goal forced by Donyell Malen, and the match was effectively settled from there. Vásquez, in the words of the match report, had practically a day off in goal. The win followed a difficult spell for the club, and the report describes it as a cycle of passion that has now ended with a chance to breathe before the end of November, which brings Parma and PSG. Roma's form in the league has been strong, and Mora's scoring run has made him a key figure in the attack. Gasperini's side regained control of the match after a heavy setback in England, starting cautiously and calmly before finding the gap in the Sassuolo defence after half an hour. Hermoso was rated 7.5 for a performance in which he played as an improvised partner to Malen, opened the scoring with a goal from the edge of the box, and was involved in the third goal after winning the ball. Balerdi (6.5) produced a headed clearance on the line and a shot from distance, while N'Dicka (6.5) was calm and composed. Cristante (6.5) covered an impressive distance, and Koné (6.5) controlled the midfield with calm and intelligence, though the report suggested he could shoot more often. Soulé (6.5) was praised for his control but criticised for choosing not to shoot into an empty net. Mora was rated 7, with the report calling his left foot velvet-soft and noting he ran as much as Cristante in the first half. Malen (6.5) was marked closely throughout, but scored with a diagonal shot after a double deflection and created an assist for Mora. Gasperini was rated 7 for restoring the team's composure after the English defeat and taking total control of the game. Molina (6) was criticised for focusing too often on backward passes, while Wesley (6) was sharp when Sassuolo tried to close space. Substitutes included Ghilardi, Koulierakis, de Roon (6), Pisilli (6) and Castro. Gasperini said: "giochiamoci questo campionato", which can be rendered as: "Let's play for this league title." The sentiment follows his earlier comment that he would not settle for second place. Roma now face a short break before the Parma match and PSG at the end of November.

Roma eased past Sassuolo 3-0 at the Stadio Olimpico this evening in their Serie A matchday 11 fixture, a comfortable win that was never in serious doubt. Gian Piero Gasperini's side took the lead through Mario Hermoso, who controlled the ball in the area, set it onto his left foot and drove it into the net, a goal that broke open a difficult game. Malen's cross-field play led to an own goal that doubled the lead, and Rodrigo Mora finished off the 3-0 scoreline in the second half. The result came against a Sassuolo side that offered little in attack. Roma struggled to break down their wall for long spells, which made Hermoso's finish all the more important. Gasperini's team were not at their most fluent, but they controlled the match and showed the qualities and organisation that have marked their season. Arriving at the international break with this level of performance, despite a crowded fixture schedule and several absences, is a strong return for the squad. In the player ratings, Hermoso earned a 7.5 for his goal and a display of quality, with openings and illuminating touches. Balerdi was rated a 7 for a commanding performance, going close with a central run that Muric turned behind for a corner. Koné also received a 7, providing balance in midfield and offering dangerous central runs, while Cristante rose to a 7 after a shaky start, taking control of the midfield in the second half. Mora, also rated 7, was described as having a special touch, with a finish in the second half that was far from straightforward. Gasperini himself was given a 7. Ndicka and Molina both earned 6.5, Ndicka for a solid defensive display and Molina for growing into the game after a quiet first half. Wesley and Soulé were each rated 6.5. Wesley worked tirelessly but lacked the final ball, while Soulé kept possession well without a goal or assist. Vásquez received a 6, having had little to do. Malen was rated a 6, having wasted an incredible number of chances despite his involvement in the opening goal, the own goal and the assist for Mora's third. Pisilli, who came on in the 65th minute, was also rated a 6 after several efforts that Muric stopped, and De Roon, also introduced on 65 minutes, earned a 6 for his composure in midfield. Koulierakis and Castro came on in the 76th minute, and Ghilardi replaced Balerdi in the 84th, with no ratings given for their short appearances. The result leaves Roma with a clean sheet and three goals, with Gasperini's side described as having made a significant step forward. The next Roma fixture is not covered in the report.

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini spoke to SkySport after his side beat Sassuolo, saying the win came through patience and quality. He said Roma had been patient against a Sassuolo side that sat deep, and that the goal from Mario Hermoso, which broke the deadlock, was the key moment. Gasperini said: "Loro si chiudevano, abbiamo avuto pazienza e abbiamo vinto la partita" ("They were shutting up shop, we had patience and we won the game"). He also praised Balerdi's performance after Old Trafford, saying he had put in a strong display apart from one incident, and said Hermoso's goal was the work of a striker. Soulé also drew praise. On reacting to defeat, Gasperini said there are defeats and defeats. He noted that Roma lost to Real Madrid and Manchester United but then put together a run of wins, only dropping points in games against Como and Napoli. He said: "Sono sconfitte che bruciano per come sono arrivate ma sono state prestazioni di livello e contro due grandi squadre" ("Those defeats hurt because of how they came, but they were top-level performances against two great teams"). He said the team had increased its ability to score in different ways and with different players, and had gained important composure alongside confidence. He added that the squad keeps confirming itself and that Roma had scored plenty of goals against Real and United too. He also referred to a fortunate episode for Balerdi and a dubious penalty. Asked whether he would sign up to second place, Gasperini said: "Brutale: no." He added: "Però è bello giocarlo questo campionato. Non bisogna illudersi e nemmeno deludersi" ("But it is nice to play this championship. You must not get carried away, nor be disappointed"). He believes Inter are the most favoured side, while the rest of the table, including Lazio, can compete. On Como versus Inter, he joked that everyone is perched like owls. Speaking to DAZN, Gasperini said he was very satisfied, that winning is always enjoyable, and that the team had shown personality and quality. He recalled his time coaching Juventus youth teams, when Roma's Primavera side had beaten them, and said he had learned a great deal from watching their training sessions. Discussing the international break, he said he hopes to get the squad back in the same condition he left it, noting the break interrupts the league for just one week. He said national team call-ups are welcome when the matches are important, but that losing many players for friendlies is a shame. On the schedule, Gasperini said playing nine matches in 27 days was difficult, but the rotation policy worked and gave value to the whole squad. He said injuries were the main problem: Svilar was out for nine matches, Cristante was out at the start, Koné has returned and Pellegrini was lost. He said the squad is competitive but not numerically large, and that Roma had suffered injuries to strong players that were not long-term. Asked about improvement, he said there is always room and that the team wants to remove a few flaws, mentioning a few too many missed chances. He said the team gives its fans satisfaction, and that the club's aim is beyond results. Asked whether this is his strongest team, he said he had been unlucky in his career and that he could not make comparisons. On the transfer market, he said he is focused on the league and on getting players back, adding that Roma are clearly not well covered in attack. He said: "A gennaio si farà quel che sarà possibile, per ora non ne abbiamo parlato" ("In January we will do what is possible, for now we have not discussed it"). Gasperini confirmed Koné's return was a relief, as he had been out for seven matches. He said Koné had joined the group the previous day and was going well, and that De Roon, Cristante and Pisilli had all played a lot. He said Koné wanted to play and was given the chance. France, he noted, had made their own call-ups. Gasperini also said he would be in Genoa for an award the next day at 18:00.