Mora in line to start at Como as Roma prepare for Serie A clash

Rodrigo Mora is in line to start behind the Paulo Dybala–Donyell Malen partnership in Roma's match against Como, three days out from kick-off. The Portugal midfielder edges out Matías Soulé and Lorenzo Pellegrini not only on fitness grounds but because of his profile: Mora thrives operating between midfield and attack in the central zones, where he has already made an impact during the recent international break with Portugal. Gasperini appears likely to deploy Mora as the tactical answer to Como's build-up play from deep. Como coach Cesc Fabregas will field a conventional four-man defensive line, and Roma have already shown against Fiorentina and Atalanta that Mora can disrupt low defensive constructions through his positioning. Como have failed to impose their passing game only against Frosinone—which, like Roma, ranks among Serie A's most intense pressing teams. Mora could be tasked with marking one of Como's two playmakers (Da Cunha or Milla/Perrone), leaving Wesley and Nahuel Molina free at full-back without forcing wholesale tactical changes. Roma will press high at the Sinigaglia, and Como will attempt to exploit that on the break using the pace of Diao and the craft of Nico Paz and Baturina. Mora, however, has demonstrated he can be a potent weapon with his play in the attacking third and can elevate Roma's threat both in sustained possession and in transition, troubling Como from the opening minutes.

Roma will face Como on Sunday 11 October at 12:30 at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia in Serie A's sixth round of matches, resuming their campaign after the international break. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has already begun preparing the side, using a warm-up friendly against Sernanese to test his lineup. Rodrigo Mora (Portugal) was deployed as a starter alongside Paulo Dybala, operating behind Donyell Malen, and the Portuguese midfielder is keen to earn a first-team place in the fixture against Como, managed by Cesc Fàbregas. Three Argentine squad members—Leonardo Balerdi, Santiago Castro and Matías Soulé—recently returned from international duty and will only complete their first group training session tomorrow, so they will not start against Como. This decision reflects Gasperini's management of workload and recovery for players just back from the break.

Rodrigo Mora is in line to start on the trequarti for Roma's trip to Como on Sunday, having impressed with Portugal Under 21 with a goal and an assist across three matches. Matías Soulé will train with the main group for the first time on 9 October, while Lorenzo Pellegrini returns after six months out through injury. Mora started today against Sorianese, putting him ahead of both teammates in the pecking order according to Sky Sport. Pellegrini featured in the second half of that friendly. The forward pairing of Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala is unchanged. At the back, Evan N'Dicka is favored over Leonardo Balerdi, while Marten de Roon steps in midfield in place of the injured Bryan Cristante.

Rodrigo Mora is in line to start behind the Paulo Dybala–Donyell Malen partnership in Roma's match against Como, three days out from kick-off. The Portugal midfielder edges out Matías Soulé and Lorenzo Pellegrini not only on fitness grounds but because of his profile: Mora thrives operating between midfield and attack in the central zones, where he has already made an impact during the recent international break with Portugal. Gasperini appears likely to deploy Mora as the tactical answer to Como's build-up play from deep. Como coach Cesc Fabregas will field a conventional four-man defensive line, and Roma have already shown against Fiorentina and Atalanta that Mora can disrupt low defensive constructions through his positioning. Como have failed to impose their passing game only against Frosinone—which, like Roma, ranks among Serie A's most intense pressing teams. Mora could be tasked with marking one of Como's two playmakers (Da Cunha or Milla/Perrone), leaving Wesley and Nahuel Molina free at full-back without forcing wholesale tactical changes. Roma will press high at the Sinigaglia, and Como will attempt to exploit that on the break using the pace of Diao and the craft of Nico Paz and Baturina. Mora, however, has demonstrated he can be a potent weapon with his play in the attacking third and can elevate Roma's threat both in sustained possession and in transition, troubling Como from the opening minutes.

Rodrigo Mora is in line to start on the trequarti for Roma's trip to Como on Sunday, having impressed with Portugal Under 21 with a goal and an assist across three matches. Matías Soulé will train with the main group for the first time on 9 October, while Lorenzo Pellegrini returns after six months out through injury. Mora started today against Sorianese, putting him ahead of both teammates in the pecking order according to Sky Sport. Pellegrini featured in the second half of that friendly. The forward pairing of Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala is unchanged. At the back, Evan N'Dicka is favored over Leonardo Balerdi, while Marten de Roon steps in midfield in place of the injured Bryan Cristante.

Roma travel to Como on Sunday at 12:30 with the aim of maintaining their position at the top of the table. Gian Piero Gasperini has confirmed that Donyell Malen and Wesley are fully fit after both featured in a friendly played today, recovering from earlier absences. Gasperini has minor doubts in defence but expects to field Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso as his back three, with Leonardo Balerdi pushing for a place after returning from a trip overseas. Marten de Roon will replace Bryan Cristante in midfield alongside Manu Koné, while Nahuel Molina and Wesley occupy the flanks. Rodrigo Mora is set to start as an attacking midfielder, ahead of Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini, with Donyell Malen leading the line. Roma's probable formation: Svilar; Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Molina, Koné, De Roon, Wesley; Dybala, Rodrigo Mora; Malen.

Rodrigo Mora is in line to start behind the Paulo Dybala–Donyell Malen partnership in Roma's match against Como, three days out from kick-off. The Portugal midfielder edges out Matías Soulé and Lorenzo Pellegrini not only on fitness grounds but because of his profile: Mora thrives operating between midfield and attack in the central zones, where he has already made an impact during the recent international break with Portugal. Gasperini appears likely to deploy Mora as the tactical answer to Como's build-up play from deep. Como coach Cesc Fabregas will field a conventional four-man defensive line, and Roma have already shown against Fiorentina and Atalanta that Mora can disrupt low defensive constructions through his positioning. Como have failed to impose their passing game only against Frosinone—which, like Roma, ranks among Serie A's most intense pressing teams. Mora could be tasked with marking one of Como's two playmakers (Da Cunha or Milla/Perrone), leaving Wesley and Nahuel Molina free at full-back without forcing wholesale tactical changes. Roma will press high at the Sinigaglia, and Como will attempt to exploit that on the break using the pace of Diao and the craft of Nico Paz and Baturina. Mora, however, has demonstrated he can be a potent weapon with his play in the attacking third and can elevate Roma's threat both in sustained possession and in transition, troubling Como from the opening minutes.

Roma will face Como on Sunday 11 October at 12:30 at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia in Serie A's sixth round of matches, resuming their campaign after the international break. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has already begun preparing the side, using a warm-up friendly against Sernanese to test his lineup. Rodrigo Mora (Portugal) was deployed as a starter alongside Paulo Dybala, operating behind Donyell Malen, and the Portuguese midfielder is keen to earn a first-team place in the fixture against Como, managed by Cesc Fàbregas. Three Argentine squad members—Leonardo Balerdi, Santiago Castro and Matías Soulé—recently returned from international duty and will only complete their first group training session tomorrow, so they will not start against Como. This decision reflects Gasperini's management of workload and recovery for players just back from the break.

Rodrigo Mora is in line to start on the trequarti for Roma's trip to Como on Sunday, having impressed with Portugal Under 21 with a goal and an assist across three matches. Matías Soulé will train with the main group for the first time on 9 October, while Lorenzo Pellegrini returns after six months out through injury. Mora started today against Sorianese, putting him ahead of both teammates in the pecking order according to Sky Sport. Pellegrini featured in the second half of that friendly. The forward pairing of Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala is unchanged. At the back, Evan N'Dicka is favored over Leonardo Balerdi, while Marten de Roon steps in midfield in place of the injured Bryan Cristante.

Roma travel to Como's Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia on Sunday 11 October at 12:30 for a Serie A encounter with high stakes and sharply contrasting tactical visions. The hosts arrive on 10 points and eighth place after a surprise 2–0 defeat to Frosinone before the international break, despite fielding their starting XI with Douvikas, Baturina, Paz and Diao. In their first five matches Como won four, drew one and lost one, and have recorded the fourth-best attack in Serie A with nine goals at a rate of 1.8 per match. They rank second only to Inter for shots on target, averaging 7.2 per game. However, Como have conceded at least one goal in every match so far and showed difficulty converting chances against Frosinone, striking a post but failing to score. The two sides last met in Serie A on matchday 29 of the 2025–26 season at the Sinigaglia, where Como won 2–1 with goals from Malen in the first half and a second-half turnaround through Douvikas and Diego Carlos. Wesley was controversially sent off for a second yellow card in that fixture. At the Olimpico earlier that season, Wesley had decided the match with a 1–0 goal. Gasperini did not shake Fabregas's hand at the end of the Sinigaglia match—an episode the Spanish coach called "unexpected and unsporting"—while Gasperini subsequently criticised Como's use of the goalkeeper in build-up play, saying: "They play a lot with the goalkeeper; it is a situation that is spreading in football: it is not spectacular." At the Festival dello Sport in Trento, however, the tone shifted. Fabregas praised Gasperini: "For me what he does is incredible. If he sees me making a mistake in something, I prefer him to come and tell me after the match and tell me. I listen and learn." Gasperini acknowledged Como's progress: "Those who follow football appreciate the evolution of Como under Fabregas. It is not only the result of investments by a wealthy ownership but also the quality of play they express. It is among the best in the championship." Fabregas builds his system through possession, positional superiority and varied ball circulation that adapts rhythm across phases. Como moves the ball patiently, draws opposing pressure and strikes through the spaces that open between the lines—a philosophy rooted in play from the back via goalkeeper and defenders, aimed at control through technical quality. Gasperini pursues an entirely different path: a three-man defence, man-to-man pressing, wing-backs high up the pitch and immediate vertical play after winning the ball. Roma seek to aggress, break lines, force the opponent into narrow spaces and convert every recovery into a scoring chance—a more direct, physical, transition-orientated game. Fabregas hopes to have Nico Paz fit, coming off a goal with an assist from Messi while on international duty. Douvikas is certain to start in attack; Kean is unavailable after muscle fatigue. On the flanks, Couto and Smolcic are competing, with the Brazilian favoured. Como's probable formation is 4–2–3–1: Butez; Couto, Ramon, Chalobah T., Valle; Da Cunha, Perrone; Diao, Paz N., Baturina; Douvikas.

Rodrigo Mora is in line to start behind the Paulo Dybala–Donyell Malen partnership in Roma's match against Como, three days out from kick-off. The Portugal midfielder edges out Matías Soulé and Lorenzo Pellegrini not only on fitness grounds but because of his profile: Mora thrives operating between midfield and attack in the central zones, where he has already made an impact during the recent international break with Portugal. Gasperini appears likely to deploy Mora as the tactical answer to Como's build-up play from deep. Como coach Cesc Fabregas will field a conventional four-man defensive line, and Roma have already shown against Fiorentina and Atalanta that Mora can disrupt low defensive constructions through his positioning. Como have failed to impose their passing game only against Frosinone—which, like Roma, ranks among Serie A's most intense pressing teams. Mora could be tasked with marking one of Como's two playmakers (Da Cunha or Milla/Perrone), leaving Wesley and Nahuel Molina free at full-back without forcing wholesale tactical changes. Roma will press high at the Sinigaglia, and Como will attempt to exploit that on the break using the pace of Diao and the craft of Nico Paz and Baturina. Mora, however, has demonstrated he can be a potent weapon with his play in the attacking third and can elevate Roma's threat both in sustained possession and in transition, troubling Como from the opening minutes.

Roma will face Como on Sunday 11 October at 12:30 at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia in Serie A's sixth round of matches, resuming their campaign after the international break. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has already begun preparing the side, using a warm-up friendly against Sernanese to test his lineup. Rodrigo Mora (Portugal) was deployed as a starter alongside Paulo Dybala, operating behind Donyell Malen, and the Portuguese midfielder is keen to earn a first-team place in the fixture against Como, managed by Cesc Fàbregas. Three Argentine squad members—Leonardo Balerdi, Santiago Castro and Matías Soulé—recently returned from international duty and will only complete their first group training session tomorrow, so they will not start against Como. This decision reflects Gasperini's management of workload and recovery for players just back from the break.