Mora handed another chance by Gasperini as Dybala's understudy against Cagliari

Roma return to action tonight at the Stadio Olimpico against Cagliari, aiming to get back to winning ways after a draw with Napoli. Paulo Dybala is back in the squad but will start on the bench. Matías Soulé, Mora and Donyell Malen are expected up front, with Lulli on the right side of the defence. On the left, Nahuel Molina and Wesley are in a head-to-head battle for a starting place. Mario Hermoso and Marten de Roon are rested. The predicted line-ups in the Roman press largely agree on a 3-4-2-1 shape. Gollini starts in goal, with Ghilardi, Evan N'Dicka and Leonardo Balerdi in the back three, and Cristante and Pisilli in central midfield. Il Messaggero, Corriere della Sera and Il Tempo all pick Gianluca Mancini in place of Ghilardi and Wesley in place of Molina. Corriere della Sera and Il Tempo both switch to a 3-4-1-2, with Mora and Soulé behind Malen. Leggo is the outlier, placing Hermoso in the back three alongside Ghilardi and Balerdi. The lineups show how much rotation Roma are considering for the Cagliari match, with several first-choice players either on the bench or resting. Balerdi appears in every projected starting eleven, and Malen leads the attack in all six predictions. Dybala's role as a substitute will be the main talking point for fans if he is not called into the starting line-up.

Roma host Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico tonight, and Gian Piero Gasperini is relying on Matías Soulé, who has been among the team's best performers in recent outings and is ready to lead the attack. Paulo Dybala is named among the substitutes and is expected to come on during the match as he returns gradually from a muscle problem. The coach is weighing options to complete the front three, where Donyell Malen and Santiago Castro are pushing for starting places, with Rodrigo Mora supporting from the wide attacking areas. Roma have finished a run of demanding fixtures and face a calendar that looks easier on paper. After recent draws, the side need to return to winning consistently and leave the recent controversies behind in order to strengthen their ambitions at the top of the table. Gasperini values the rotation options the squad now has to manage energy levels during this autumn schedule. According to Il Corriere della Sera, Soulé's transformation is one of the central themes of the season so far. After a summer spent at the centre of transfer speculation, and with the after-effects of a sports hernia (pubalgia) that had restricted his performances last season, the Argentine has turned the pecking order around through daily work. Gasperini has praised his consistency, saying that his technical and character growth offers decisive solutions in the development of the attacking play. Alongside the quality of the former Juventus player, Roma regain solidity and important rotation options.

Matías Soulé has turned his season around in two months, delivering what Il Corriere della Sera's Davide Stoppini describes as the best performance of his Roma career in the win at Napoli, where Roma came from behind. Roma were trailing in that match before recovering, and Soulé was the driving force throughout. Just two months ago the forward had spent a summer with a "for sale" tag hanging around his neck. Back from his holidays, he was stopped by reporters at Fiumicino asking whether he would stay at the club, and he could not even answer. Gasperini also made no secret in his press conference that the forward had returned overweight. The turnaround is significant because Soulé was criticised last season for often failing to perform in the big matches, when the level of games rose and he could not take control. Against Napoli, by contrast, he was consistent over the whole match rather than only in isolated moments. Stoppini writes that Soulé "did everything well" in the performance. Rodrigo Mora is set to play in the attacking trio as a pure number ten, and will move in the footsteps of Soulé, a curious and not trivial pairing for how the match will unfold. For the third forward spot, Donyell Malen and Santiago Castro are in a battle. Malen is still ahead, but Castro has good chances of overtaking him and regaining a starting place after scoring a goal a week ago against Genoa.

Roma return to action tonight at the Stadio Olimpico against Cagliari, aiming to get back to winning ways after a draw with Napoli. Paulo Dybala is back in the squad but will start on the bench. Matías Soulé, Mora and Donyell Malen are expected up front, with Lulli on the right side of the defence. On the left, Nahuel Molina and Wesley are in a head-to-head battle for a starting place. Mario Hermoso and Marten de Roon are rested. The predicted line-ups in the Roman press largely agree on a 3-4-2-1 shape. Gollini starts in goal, with Ghilardi, Evan N'Dicka and Leonardo Balerdi in the back three, and Cristante and Pisilli in central midfield. Il Messaggero, Corriere della Sera and Il Tempo all pick Gianluca Mancini in place of Ghilardi and Wesley in place of Molina. Corriere della Sera and Il Tempo both switch to a 3-4-1-2, with Mora and Soulé behind Malen. Leggo is the outlier, placing Hermoso in the back three alongside Ghilardi and Balerdi. The lineups show how much rotation Roma are considering for the Cagliari match, with several first-choice players either on the bench or resting. Balerdi appears in every projected starting eleven, and Malen leads the attack in all six predictions. Dybala's role as a substitute will be the main talking point for fans if he is not called into the starting line-up.

Roma host Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico tonight, and Gian Piero Gasperini is relying on Matías Soulé, who has been among the team's best performers in recent outings and is ready to lead the attack. Paulo Dybala is named among the substitutes and is expected to come on during the match as he returns gradually from a muscle problem. The coach is weighing options to complete the front three, where Donyell Malen and Santiago Castro are pushing for starting places, with Rodrigo Mora supporting from the wide attacking areas. Roma have finished a run of demanding fixtures and face a calendar that looks easier on paper. After recent draws, the side need to return to winning consistently and leave the recent controversies behind in order to strengthen their ambitions at the top of the table. Gasperini values the rotation options the squad now has to manage energy levels during this autumn schedule. According to Il Corriere della Sera, Soulé's transformation is one of the central themes of the season so far. After a summer spent at the centre of transfer speculation, and with the after-effects of a sports hernia (pubalgia) that had restricted his performances last season, the Argentine has turned the pecking order around through daily work. Gasperini has praised his consistency, saying that his technical and character growth offers decisive solutions in the development of the attacking play. Alongside the quality of the former Juventus player, Roma regain solidity and important rotation options.

Matías Soulé has turned his season around in two months, delivering what Il Corriere della Sera's Davide Stoppini describes as the best performance of his Roma career in the win at Napoli, where Roma came from behind. Roma were trailing in that match before recovering, and Soulé was the driving force throughout. Just two months ago the forward had spent a summer with a "for sale" tag hanging around his neck. Back from his holidays, he was stopped by reporters at Fiumicino asking whether he would stay at the club, and he could not even answer. Gasperini also made no secret in his press conference that the forward had returned overweight. The turnaround is significant because Soulé was criticised last season for often failing to perform in the big matches, when the level of games rose and he could not take control. Against Napoli, by contrast, he was consistent over the whole match rather than only in isolated moments. Stoppini writes that Soulé "did everything well" in the performance. Rodrigo Mora is set to play in the attacking trio as a pure number ten, and will move in the footsteps of Soulé, a curious and not trivial pairing for how the match will unfold. For the third forward spot, Donyell Malen and Santiago Castro are in a battle. Malen is still ahead, but Castro has good chances of overtaking him and regaining a starting place after scoring a goal a week ago against Genoa.

Roma are securing their future with a series of contract renewals, with Pierluigi Gollini and Mario Hermoso reportedly close to signing new deals. Emanuele Lulli's extension to 2031 has already been made official, and the club has also reached an agreement with goalkeeper Giorgio De Marzi. According to Il Tempo, the young goalkeeper, born in 2007, has already signed a new contract running to June 2031, although the club has yet to announce it officially. With the younger players sorted, attention has turned to four players whose contracts expire on 30 June 2027: Gollini, Hermoso, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Paulo Dybala. Roma are assessing each case individually. Gollini's situation is viewed optimistically. An extension of one more season, to 2028, appeared close during the summer, and the club's stance has reportedly not changed. Hermoso has returned to excellent form under Gasperini. Roma exercised their option in the spring to extend his contract to 2027, and initial contacts have reportedly begun to discuss a new agreement. Gasperini regards the Spaniard as an important part of his defensive unit and has never hidden his esteem for him. The situations of Dybala and Pellegrini are considered far more delicate. Both signed one-year renewals during the summer, a decision taken by the club to gain more time to assess their performances, consistency and physical condition before committing further. No final decision has yet been made. According to Il Tempo, the futures of the two players will probably not be settled until 2027, when Roma will have a fuller picture of their contribution this season. The coming months are therefore important for the club's management. While the path to keeping Gollini and Hermoso appears fairly clear, the futures of Dybala and Pellegrini remain open. Both are players of significant technical and economic weight, and the club wants to take the time it needs before deciding whether they will continue together beyond the current season.

Roma have confirmed new contracts for Emanuele Lulli and Giorgio De Marzi, both of whom have signed with the Giallorossi until 2031. Both were due to expire at the end of the season and have been retained. Four more players have contracts running out in June: Gollini, Hermoso, Pellegrini and Dybala, according to Lorenzo Pes writing in Il Tempo. A deal for goalkeeper Gollini was already close in the summer for another season, and talks are moving in that direction. Positive signs also surround Hermoso, the defender for whom an option for one additional year was activated in the spring. Initial contacts have taken place, and Gasperini has never hidden his high regard for the Spaniard, who has returned to excellent form under the Piedmontese coach. The situation is different for Dybala and Pellegrini. The club has opted for a one-year renewal for both players, allowing Roma to assess their form on the pitch before confirming them. The feeling is that a decision may only come deep into 2027, when the picture regarding both players' appearances will be clearer.

Rodrigo Mora has a chance to make his mark against Cagliari, with Pellegrini out and Dybala likely to be limited to a place on the bench. Il Messaggero's Stefano Carina writes that Mora has been under constant scrutiny since arriving in the Capital. Those who defend him praise even a simple pass of three metres, portraying him as a prodigy when he still has everything left to prove. The other side of the coin is that he arrived with the tag of a 50 million signing, when in reality he cost half that, and nothing is forgiven him. Carina believes Mora feels and carries the weight of that situation. When he steps onto the pitch he is never at ease. Against Genoa he seemed to be playing with a desire to prove he is good, a mistake because he is good, with the technique of a futsal player. The underlying problem is tactical positioning. Beyond the flights of fancy, Mora is a pure trequartista: he can roam across the whole attacking line, but he is the man for the final pass and needs to touch and play as many balls as possible. Roma, however, currently play in a different way, and the Portuguese is forced to adapt, almost always finishing on the left. Carina argues that at 19 a player can be tactically moulded, but basic characteristics remain. Soulé is an example: he can play on the left when Dybala is available but is seen on the right, as in Naples, and it becomes clear how much he loses when shifted wide. Mora's situation is similar. With a low base position, he tried to adapt in his first outings, although he often becomes unmarkable on the first dribble.

Roma are securing their future with a series of contract renewals, with Pierluigi Gollini and Mario Hermoso reportedly close to signing new deals. Emanuele Lulli's extension to 2031 has already been made official, and the club has also reached an agreement with goalkeeper Giorgio De Marzi. According to Il Tempo, the young goalkeeper, born in 2007, has already signed a new contract running to June 2031, although the club has yet to announce it officially. With the younger players sorted, attention has turned to four players whose contracts expire on 30 June 2027: Gollini, Hermoso, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Paulo Dybala. Roma are assessing each case individually. Gollini's situation is viewed optimistically. An extension of one more season, to 2028, appeared close during the summer, and the club's stance has reportedly not changed. Hermoso has returned to excellent form under Gasperini. Roma exercised their option in the spring to extend his contract to 2027, and initial contacts have reportedly begun to discuss a new agreement. Gasperini regards the Spaniard as an important part of his defensive unit and has never hidden his esteem for him. The situations of Dybala and Pellegrini are considered far more delicate. Both signed one-year renewals during the summer, a decision taken by the club to gain more time to assess their performances, consistency and physical condition before committing further. No final decision has yet been made. According to Il Tempo, the futures of the two players will probably not be settled until 2027, when Roma will have a fuller picture of their contribution this season. The coming months are therefore important for the club's management. While the path to keeping Gollini and Hermoso appears fairly clear, the futures of Dybala and Pellegrini remain open. Both are players of significant technical and economic weight, and the club wants to take the time it needs before deciding whether they will continue together beyond the current season.

Roma return to action tonight at the Stadio Olimpico against Cagliari, aiming to get back to winning ways after a draw with Napoli. Paulo Dybala is back in the squad but will start on the bench. Matías Soulé, Mora and Donyell Malen are expected up front, with Lulli on the right side of the defence. On the left, Nahuel Molina and Wesley are in a head-to-head battle for a starting place. Mario Hermoso and Marten de Roon are rested. The predicted line-ups in the Roman press largely agree on a 3-4-2-1 shape. Gollini starts in goal, with Ghilardi, Evan N'Dicka and Leonardo Balerdi in the back three, and Cristante and Pisilli in central midfield. Il Messaggero, Corriere della Sera and Il Tempo all pick Gianluca Mancini in place of Ghilardi and Wesley in place of Molina. Corriere della Sera and Il Tempo both switch to a 3-4-1-2, with Mora and Soulé behind Malen. Leggo is the outlier, placing Hermoso in the back three alongside Ghilardi and Balerdi. The lineups show how much rotation Roma are considering for the Cagliari match, with several first-choice players either on the bench or resting. Balerdi appears in every projected starting eleven, and Malen leads the attack in all six predictions. Dybala's role as a substitute will be the main talking point for fans if he is not called into the starting line-up.

Roma host Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico tonight, and Gian Piero Gasperini is relying on Matías Soulé, who has been among the team's best performers in recent outings and is ready to lead the attack. Paulo Dybala is named among the substitutes and is expected to come on during the match as he returns gradually from a muscle problem. The coach is weighing options to complete the front three, where Donyell Malen and Santiago Castro are pushing for starting places, with Rodrigo Mora supporting from the wide attacking areas. Roma have finished a run of demanding fixtures and face a calendar that looks easier on paper. After recent draws, the side need to return to winning consistently and leave the recent controversies behind in order to strengthen their ambitions at the top of the table. Gasperini values the rotation options the squad now has to manage energy levels during this autumn schedule. According to Il Corriere della Sera, Soulé's transformation is one of the central themes of the season so far. After a summer spent at the centre of transfer speculation, and with the after-effects of a sports hernia (pubalgia) that had restricted his performances last season, the Argentine has turned the pecking order around through daily work. Gasperini has praised his consistency, saying that his technical and character growth offers decisive solutions in the development of the attacking play. Alongside the quality of the former Juventus player, Roma regain solidity and important rotation options.