Mora pushes for Como start as Gasperini weighs option over Soulé

Marten de Roon is set to make his Roma debut as a starter against Como in place of the absent Bryan Cristante, a substitution that will force head coach Gian Piero Gasperini to reshape how the club's midfield operates. While De Roon offers similar experience and balance to Cristante, he brings a fundamentally different skillset to the role alongside Manu Koné. Cristante has been a cornerstone of Gasperini's Roma, his influence extending beyond defence into ball progression and playmaking. He reads space in advance, helps the team build from the centre, and can create danger through insertions and set-piece involvement. De Roon, by contrast, is built for Gasperini's principles of aggressive man-marking, preventive coverage, and reading space left vacant by pressing teammates. He arrived at Roma after 445 official appearances for Atalanta, where he learned the tactical language Gasperini demands. The Dutch midfielder requires no adjustment to the system and already understands the timing required for pressing and the cover needed behind players moving forward. Rather than spectacular individual play, his impact will register in ground covered without the ball. The relationship with Koné will inevitably shift. Alongside Cristante, the French midfielder could alternate driving runs, acceleration and high pressure knowing he had a governor behind him. De Roon can provide similar equilibrium through different methods: stronger familiarity with Gasperini's oriented marking and a tendency to accompany play by aggressively following his assignment. If De Roon keeps the centre tidy, Koné gains freedom to use his best quality—breaking lines with the ball. Roma's gain will primarily be in pressing and ball recovery. The risk is losing Cristante's ability to manage phases of play with possession and quickly find a vertical pass after winning the ball back. Como, managed by Cesc Fabregas, will attempt to build through possession and draw Roma's pressure to find space in behind the first line, a scenario where De Roon's understanding of Gasperini's defensive mechanics becomes particularly valuable. Gasperini brought De Roon to Roma in the final days of the transfer window—the operation took shape within 24–48 hours after the manager contacted Atalanta president Luca Percassi directly. The break has allowed De Roon to train with continuity and recover fitness after appearing in limited spells against Lecce, Torino and Fenerbahçe. Como–Roma will reveal more than a simple hierarchy between the two midfielders; it will show how much the squad can function without Cristante and how ready De Roon already is to become more than his replacement.

Gian Piero Gasperini faces a series of tactical decisions ahead of Roma's trip to Como, with the international break having left several squad members fatigued and the imminent Champions League fixture against Real Madrid looming large in his planning. In midfield, Marten De Roon is set to anchor the team, on course to reach 362 appearances under Gasperini's management, filling the void left by the absence of Bryan Cristante. The most significant selection puzzle centres on the attacking midfield position behind the strike pairing of Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. Matías Soulé returned to Roma only on Thursday morning after a lengthy journey from Argentina and has completed just one training session with the squad, making him vulnerable to dropping to the bench. That has opened the door for Rodrigo Mora, the young Portuguese midfielder who has impressed in Under-21 international football and has caught the eye in training at Trigoria. Lorenzo Pellegrini remains another option, having used the two-week break to focus on his fitness and condition. On the right flank, Nahuel Molina faces competition from young squad member Emanuele Lulli, who could be handed a starting role to give the Argentine a rest ahead of the European encounter. Wesley is expected to start at left-back after recovering from a muscle problem picked up before the international break. In defence, Evan N'Dicka looks favourites to complete the back three alongside Gianluca Mancini and Mario Hermoso, with Leonardo Balerdi likely to miss out due to staggered return times for the South American contingent. Roma will lean on the attacking quality of Dybala and Malen, with the Argentine chasing an important away goal and the Dutch forward looking to maintain his impressive goalscoring run in a Roma shirt. Defensive solidity, which saw the club concede only 34 goals in Serie A last season, will be critical as Roma test themselves against Cesc Fabregas's Como.

Gian Piero Gasperini will name his side to face Como within 24 hours, with the Giallorossi boss still weighing final selection calls before Sunday's Serie A fixture. The Dutch midfielder Marten de Roon is a certainty in the center of the park, replacing the injured Bryan Cristante; his appearance on Sunday will take him to 362 career games. Niccolò Pisilli, who returned to group training yesterday following a minor flu, remains behind in the hierarchy. The forward line will feature Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen as regulars. Since joining Roma, the Dutch forward has scored 20 goals in 23 appearances—a tally that outpaces both Kane and Raphinha, who stand at 18 each. Malen also holds the best goals-per-minute ratio in Serie A during the three-points era, averaging one goal every 91 minutes, ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Ronaldo. The main puzzle surrounds the third member of the attacking trio. Matías Soulé has completed only one full training session since returning to the capital on Thursday morning but remains in contention, though Rodrigo Mora currently holds the advantage. Lorenzo Pellegrini, who stayed at Trigoria throughout the international break, is also an option but has not featured for six months. On the right flank, both Nahuel Molina and Emanuele Lulli were tested yesterday; whoever plays Sunday could rest in the Champions League. Wesley will operate on the left. Evan N'Dicka leads Leonardo Balerdi for a centre-back place alongside Gianluca Mancini and Mario Hermoso rounding out the defence. Gasperini must also account for Roma's upcoming Champions League fixture against Real Madrid when making his selections.

Gian Piero Gasperini faces a series of tactical decisions ahead of Roma's trip to Como, with the international break having left several squad members fatigued and the imminent Champions League fixture against Real Madrid looming large in his planning. In midfield, Marten De Roon is set to anchor the team, on course to reach 362 appearances under Gasperini's management, filling the void left by the absence of Bryan Cristante. The most significant selection puzzle centres on the attacking midfield position behind the strike pairing of Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. Matías Soulé returned to Roma only on Thursday morning after a lengthy journey from Argentina and has completed just one training session with the squad, making him vulnerable to dropping to the bench. That has opened the door for Rodrigo Mora, the young Portuguese midfielder who has impressed in Under-21 international football and has caught the eye in training at Trigoria. Lorenzo Pellegrini remains another option, having used the two-week break to focus on his fitness and condition. On the right flank, Nahuel Molina faces competition from young squad member Emanuele Lulli, who could be handed a starting role to give the Argentine a rest ahead of the European encounter. Wesley is expected to start at left-back after recovering from a muscle problem picked up before the international break. In defence, Evan N'Dicka looks favourites to complete the back three alongside Gianluca Mancini and Mario Hermoso, with Leonardo Balerdi likely to miss out due to staggered return times for the South American contingent. Roma will lean on the attacking quality of Dybala and Malen, with the Argentine chasing an important away goal and the Dutch forward looking to maintain his impressive goalscoring run in a Roma shirt. Defensive solidity, which saw the club concede only 34 goals in Serie A last season, will be critical as Roma test themselves against Cesc Fabregas's Como.

Gian Piero Gasperini will name his side to face Como within 24 hours, with the Giallorossi boss still weighing final selection calls before Sunday's Serie A fixture. The Dutch midfielder Marten de Roon is a certainty in the center of the park, replacing the injured Bryan Cristante; his appearance on Sunday will take him to 362 career games. Niccolò Pisilli, who returned to group training yesterday following a minor flu, remains behind in the hierarchy. The forward line will feature Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen as regulars. Since joining Roma, the Dutch forward has scored 20 goals in 23 appearances—a tally that outpaces both Kane and Raphinha, who stand at 18 each. Malen also holds the best goals-per-minute ratio in Serie A during the three-points era, averaging one goal every 91 minutes, ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Ronaldo. The main puzzle surrounds the third member of the attacking trio. Matías Soulé has completed only one full training session since returning to the capital on Thursday morning but remains in contention, though Rodrigo Mora currently holds the advantage. Lorenzo Pellegrini, who stayed at Trigoria throughout the international break, is also an option but has not featured for six months. On the right flank, both Nahuel Molina and Emanuele Lulli were tested yesterday; whoever plays Sunday could rest in the Champions League. Wesley will operate on the left. Evan N'Dicka leads Leonardo Balerdi for a centre-back place alongside Gianluca Mancini and Mario Hermoso rounding out the defence. Gasperini must also account for Roma's upcoming Champions League fixture against Real Madrid when making his selections.

Marten De Roon will make his Roma debut as a starter in Sunday's away fixture at Como, taking over from the injured Bryan Cristante in midfield. The experienced Dutch midfielder, signed by Gian Piero Gasperini, carries responsibility for delivering quality, balance and experience in a high-stakes match that demands strong character—attributes the Roma boss knows well from De Roon's time at Atalanta. The international break proved crucial for De Roon's preparation. Without commitments to his national team, he trained continuously at Trigoria under the direction of Gasperini's long-time assistants Borelli and Boccolini, following an individual programme split between field and gym work to regain his sharpness. Alongside the manager, vice-coach Gritti and Fumagalli, De Roon studied tactical scenarios to arrive ready to step in from the first minute. Gasperini plans to build the rest of his formation on familiar foundations. The defensive line will feature Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso, with Wesley and Nahuel Molina operating on the flanks. Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen will lead the attack at the Stadio Sinigaglia. The sole significant question remains the attacking midfield role, where a close contest between Rodrigo Mora and captain Lorenzo Pellegrini remains unresolved. Pellegrini has used the two-week break to recover full fitness and is a strong candidate for a starting place. Gasperini will make his final decision only in the closing hours of training, selecting whoever best suits the role of unlocking the front pair and bridging the midfield and attack.

Gian Piero Gasperini faces a series of tactical decisions ahead of Roma's trip to Como, with the international break having left several squad members fatigued and the imminent Champions League fixture against Real Madrid looming large in his planning. In midfield, Marten De Roon is set to anchor the team, on course to reach 362 appearances under Gasperini's management, filling the void left by the absence of Bryan Cristante. The most significant selection puzzle centres on the attacking midfield position behind the strike pairing of Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. Matías Soulé returned to Roma only on Thursday morning after a lengthy journey from Argentina and has completed just one training session with the squad, making him vulnerable to dropping to the bench. That has opened the door for Rodrigo Mora, the young Portuguese midfielder who has impressed in Under-21 international football and has caught the eye in training at Trigoria. Lorenzo Pellegrini remains another option, having used the two-week break to focus on his fitness and condition. On the right flank, Nahuel Molina faces competition from young squad member Emanuele Lulli, who could be handed a starting role to give the Argentine a rest ahead of the European encounter. Wesley is expected to start at left-back after recovering from a muscle problem picked up before the international break. In defence, Evan N'Dicka looks favourites to complete the back three alongside Gianluca Mancini and Mario Hermoso, with Leonardo Balerdi likely to miss out due to staggered return times for the South American contingent. Roma will lean on the attacking quality of Dybala and Malen, with the Argentine chasing an important away goal and the Dutch forward looking to maintain his impressive goalscoring run in a Roma shirt. Defensive solidity, which saw the club concede only 34 goals in Serie A last season, will be critical as Roma test themselves against Cesc Fabregas's Como.

Roma travel to Como on 11 October for a Serie A fixture that pits two Argentine talents shaped by reverence for Lionel Messi against each other. Paulo Dybala, 21, and Nico Paz of Como will lead their sides at the Stadio Sinigaglia, 11,200 kilometres from the Monumental in Buenos Aires where Messi played his farewell match for Argentina on Tuesday. Both have been discussed in Argentina as potential partial heirs to Messi in the national team. Dybala, who carries the number 10 at Roma, grew up in parallel with Messi's career trajectory, while Paz, born in 2004, emerged later—after Messi had already debuted for Barcelona and played in Argentina's youth sides. On Tuesday at the Monumental, Paz scored a spectacular goal assisted by Messi in a friendly against Benin, with Messi then playing his final international match. Dybala watched that farewell ceremony from his home at the Infernetto, having been on Messi's invitation list but retained by Roma at Trigoria alongside teammate Molina ahead of the Como fixture. The timing reflects the club's proximity to the match and the importance Roma place on preparation. The trip to Como comes as Roma seek to answer an early-season question: can they mount a title challenge against Inter? According to reporting by Simone Valdarchi in Corriere della Sera, both players have been positioned as potential successors to Messi's legacy, though their careers have taken different paths. The fixture carries symbolic weight beyond its place in the league calendar—a meeting of two Argentine midfielders whose development has been shadowed by admiration for football's greatest player.

Gian Piero Gasperini will name his side to face Como within 24 hours, with the Giallorossi boss still weighing final selection calls before Sunday's Serie A fixture. The Dutch midfielder Marten de Roon is a certainty in the center of the park, replacing the injured Bryan Cristante; his appearance on Sunday will take him to 362 career games. Niccolò Pisilli, who returned to group training yesterday following a minor flu, remains behind in the hierarchy. The forward line will feature Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen as regulars. Since joining Roma, the Dutch forward has scored 20 goals in 23 appearances—a tally that outpaces both Kane and Raphinha, who stand at 18 each. Malen also holds the best goals-per-minute ratio in Serie A during the three-points era, averaging one goal every 91 minutes, ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Ronaldo. The main puzzle surrounds the third member of the attacking trio. Matías Soulé has completed only one full training session since returning to the capital on Thursday morning but remains in contention, though Rodrigo Mora currently holds the advantage. Lorenzo Pellegrini, who stayed at Trigoria throughout the international break, is also an option but has not featured for six months. On the right flank, both Nahuel Molina and Emanuele Lulli were tested yesterday; whoever plays Sunday could rest in the Champions League. Wesley will operate on the left. Evan N'Dicka leads Leonardo Balerdi for a centre-back place alongside Gianluca Mancini and Mario Hermoso rounding out the defence. Gasperini must also account for Roma's upcoming Champions League fixture against Real Madrid when making his selections.

Gian Piero Gasperini faces a series of tactical decisions ahead of Roma's trip to Como, with the international break having left several squad members fatigued and the imminent Champions League fixture against Real Madrid looming large in his planning. In midfield, Marten De Roon is set to anchor the team, on course to reach 362 appearances under Gasperini's management, filling the void left by the absence of Bryan Cristante. The most significant selection puzzle centres on the attacking midfield position behind the strike pairing of Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. Matías Soulé returned to Roma only on Thursday morning after a lengthy journey from Argentina and has completed just one training session with the squad, making him vulnerable to dropping to the bench. That has opened the door for Rodrigo Mora, the young Portuguese midfielder who has impressed in Under-21 international football and has caught the eye in training at Trigoria. Lorenzo Pellegrini remains another option, having used the two-week break to focus on his fitness and condition. On the right flank, Nahuel Molina faces competition from young squad member Emanuele Lulli, who could be handed a starting role to give the Argentine a rest ahead of the European encounter. Wesley is expected to start at left-back after recovering from a muscle problem picked up before the international break. In defence, Evan N'Dicka looks favourites to complete the back three alongside Gianluca Mancini and Mario Hermoso, with Leonardo Balerdi likely to miss out due to staggered return times for the South American contingent. Roma will lean on the attacking quality of Dybala and Malen, with the Argentine chasing an important away goal and the Dutch forward looking to maintain his impressive goalscoring run in a Roma shirt. Defensive solidity, which saw the club concede only 34 goals in Serie A last season, will be critical as Roma test themselves against Cesc Fabregas's Como.

Gian Piero Gasperini will name his side to face Como within 24 hours, with the Giallorossi boss still weighing final selection calls before Sunday's Serie A fixture. The Dutch midfielder Marten de Roon is a certainty in the center of the park, replacing the injured Bryan Cristante; his appearance on Sunday will take him to 362 career games. Niccolò Pisilli, who returned to group training yesterday following a minor flu, remains behind in the hierarchy. The forward line will feature Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen as regulars. Since joining Roma, the Dutch forward has scored 20 goals in 23 appearances—a tally that outpaces both Kane and Raphinha, who stand at 18 each. Malen also holds the best goals-per-minute ratio in Serie A during the three-points era, averaging one goal every 91 minutes, ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Ronaldo. The main puzzle surrounds the third member of the attacking trio. Matías Soulé has completed only one full training session since returning to the capital on Thursday morning but remains in contention, though Rodrigo Mora currently holds the advantage. Lorenzo Pellegrini, who stayed at Trigoria throughout the international break, is also an option but has not featured for six months. On the right flank, both Nahuel Molina and Emanuele Lulli were tested yesterday; whoever plays Sunday could rest in the Champions League. Wesley will operate on the left. Evan N'Dicka leads Leonardo Balerdi for a centre-back place alongside Gianluca Mancini and Mario Hermoso rounding out the defence. Gasperini must also account for Roma's upcoming Champions League fixture against Real Madrid when making his selections.

Marten De Roon will make his Roma debut as a starter in Sunday's away fixture at Como, taking over from the injured Bryan Cristante in midfield. The experienced Dutch midfielder, signed by Gian Piero Gasperini, carries responsibility for delivering quality, balance and experience in a high-stakes match that demands strong character—attributes the Roma boss knows well from De Roon's time at Atalanta. The international break proved crucial for De Roon's preparation. Without commitments to his national team, he trained continuously at Trigoria under the direction of Gasperini's long-time assistants Borelli and Boccolini, following an individual programme split between field and gym work to regain his sharpness. Alongside the manager, vice-coach Gritti and Fumagalli, De Roon studied tactical scenarios to arrive ready to step in from the first minute. Gasperini plans to build the rest of his formation on familiar foundations. The defensive line will feature Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso, with Wesley and Nahuel Molina operating on the flanks. Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen will lead the attack at the Stadio Sinigaglia. The sole significant question remains the attacking midfield role, where a close contest between Rodrigo Mora and captain Lorenzo Pellegrini remains unresolved. Pellegrini has used the two-week break to recover full fitness and is a strong candidate for a starting place. Gasperini will make his final decision only in the closing hours of training, selecting whoever best suits the role of unlocking the front pair and bridging the midfield and attack.