Mora struggling but not yet a concern for Gasperini

Roma will be without Mile Svilar, Manu Koné and Paulo Dybala for the trip to Napoli, leaving Gian Piero Gasperini with just two attacking midfielders available, Rodrigo Mora and Matías Soulé. Bryan Cristante, who has just returned from injury, could be deployed in that role behind Soulé and Donyell Malen, and Gasperini is expected to settle his selection doubts in the coming hours. Lorenzo Pellegrini's situation has also dealt the squad a blow. Daniele Aloisi of Il Messaggero reports that the club must act urgently in the January window. Roma still lack the left-sided winger who plays on his right foot, a signing they did not make even in the previous window. Gasperini reportedly expects at least two additions: one forward and one player to complete the options on the wings of midfield. The club's scouts have Gittense Leweling on their list. Signing Endrick will be harder, though that lead is far from closed. Oosterwolde is also under consideration. The newest name is Balde of Barcelona, a left-back who is finding little playing time under Flick. His availability has been offered through Mendes, the same agent who represents Rodrigo Mora. Any strengthening will require a real effort from the Friedkin Group, which must reinforce a squad that risks reaching the midpoint of the season badly depleted. The hope in Rome is that another signing of Malen's quality can be secured to keep the team performing well.

Lorenzo Pellegrini will be sidelined for at least two months after suffering a high-grade tear to the semitendinosus in his right thigh, an injury picked up in Roma's Champions League match against Slovan Bratislava, Il Tempo reports. The midfielder's latest setback effectively ends his 2026 and leaves Gian Piero Gasperini facing a serious shortage ahead of the big match against Napoli. The Slovan Bratislava injury is Pellegrini's third in the same area this year, following a relapse in April, a surgical procedure in Finland and a summer spent in rehabilitation and contract renewal. He has played just 150 minutes and missed 14 matches, and he now risks missing the next 12 fixtures up to the December break. The run of injuries began last winter. With the Napoli trip approaching, Gasperini has limited options. Only Mora and Soulé are available in the attacking midfield zone, while Cristante's condition in midfield will need to be assessed, with De Roon and Pisilli already heavily relied upon.

Lorenzo Pellegrini faces a long spell on the sidelines after suffering a serious muscle injury, with Roma's captain expected to be out for at least two months and not back until 2027. The blow comes as Gian Piero Gasperini prepares for the tricky trip to Napoli with a depleted squad and is forced to look for emergency solutions. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Roma are going through a difficult period, hit by a long run of injuries that is limiting Gasperini's options. Tests revealed a high-grade tear to Pellegrini's right thigh, which will require around two months out. It is another cruel setback for the captain, who is already returning from a lengthy rehabilitation process that began in 2025. Manu Koné and Paulo Dybala are also absent, and with a packed fixture schedule the resources are stretched thin. For the trip to Napoli, Gasperini will have to improvise in the attacking midfield zone. One of the most concrete options is to field Pisilli, De Roon and Cristante together, with Cristante pushed forward into the trequarti. Cristante has recovered, although he is wearing a prominent strapping. The formation has already been used successfully against top-level opposition such as Milan, Inter and Lazio, where its purpose was to shield the opposing playmaker, in this case Lobotka, and to bring balance to a side that once again has to make a virtue of necessity.

Roma will be without Mile Svilar, Manu Koné and Paulo Dybala for the trip to Napoli, leaving Gian Piero Gasperini with just two attacking midfielders available, Rodrigo Mora and Matías Soulé. Bryan Cristante, who has just returned from injury, could be deployed in that role behind Soulé and Donyell Malen, and Gasperini is expected to settle his selection doubts in the coming hours. Lorenzo Pellegrini's situation has also dealt the squad a blow. Daniele Aloisi of Il Messaggero reports that the club must act urgently in the January window. Roma still lack the left-sided winger who plays on his right foot, a signing they did not make even in the previous window. Gasperini reportedly expects at least two additions: one forward and one player to complete the options on the wings of midfield. The club's scouts have Gittense Leweling on their list. Signing Endrick will be harder, though that lead is far from closed. Oosterwolde is also under consideration. The newest name is Balde of Barcelona, a left-back who is finding little playing time under Flick. His availability has been offered through Mendes, the same agent who represents Rodrigo Mora. Any strengthening will require a real effort from the Friedkin Group, which must reinforce a squad that risks reaching the midpoint of the season badly depleted. The hope in Rome is that another signing of Malen's quality can be secured to keep the team performing well.

Lorenzo Pellegrini will be sidelined for at least two months after suffering a high-grade tear to the semitendinosus in his right thigh, an injury picked up in Roma's Champions League match against Slovan Bratislava, Il Tempo reports. The midfielder's latest setback effectively ends his 2026 and leaves Gian Piero Gasperini facing a serious shortage ahead of the big match against Napoli. The Slovan Bratislava injury is Pellegrini's third in the same area this year, following a relapse in April, a surgical procedure in Finland and a summer spent in rehabilitation and contract renewal. He has played just 150 minutes and missed 14 matches, and he now risks missing the next 12 fixtures up to the December break. The run of injuries began last winter. With the Napoli trip approaching, Gasperini has limited options. Only Mora and Soulé are available in the attacking midfield zone, while Cristante's condition in midfield will need to be assessed, with De Roon and Pisilli already heavily relied upon.

Lorenzo Pellegrini faces at least two months on the sidelines after tests revealed a high-grade lesion at the distal musculotendinous junction of the semitendinosus in his right thigh, sustained against Slovan Bratislava. Recovery times will be assessed as the clinical picture evolves, but the midfielder could return in the first days of 2027. The setback adds to Roma's injury problems, following those of Svilar, Koné and Dybala. Roma continue preparations for their Serie A clash with Napoli on Saturday at 6pm at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Training took place at Trigoria, and there is positive news from Bryan Cristante, who has returned to regular group work despite visible strapping around his knee. The captain will be available to Gasperini for the match against the Partenopei and could even start from the first minute. Fans of both Napoli and Roma will be able to watch Saturday's match, valid for the eighth round of Serie A, free of charge on DAZN, including non-subscribers. Under the TV rights tender, five matches this season are being broadcast in free mode, and the Maradona fixture is among them. Supporters of both clubs need only log in following the instructions provided by DAZN to access the live stream. With the winter transfer window approaching, Roma have already begun identifying possible reinforcements for Gasperini. According to the English outlet Sport Witness, on Tuesday evening, while Roma beat Slovan Bratislava 4-0 at the Olimpico, several Roma scouts were at the Porto against PSV match. The fixture, won 1-0 by the Dutch side, also drew the attention of several Premier League clubs. Under observation are left-winger Esmir Bajraktarević, born 2005, and midfielder Sven Mijnans, born 2000, who had already been followed in the summer. On Rome radio, the Roma-Napoli fixture has been widely discussed. Luigi Ferrajolo told Radio Radio: "The absences of Koné and Dybala are heavy: Koné is the engine of the midfield and Dybala the inspiration. If Cristante can play, he can push Pisilli a bit further forward. Or Mora plays, hoping he wakes up a bit and makes a greater contribution." Alessandro Vocalelli added: "Roma have already passed some tests: not every match can be an exam. It is a stage in a journey in which the team must perform well, because it can help distance a direct Champions League rival. Physically he seems to be better, but Napoli have resources that make the match anything but simple."