Napoli-Roma line-ups: Rensch a surprise, Cristante starts

Roma line up for their Serie A Matchday 8 trip to Napoli's Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, with Bryan Cristante starting from the first minute alongside Matías Soulé. Gian Piero Gasperini's side face Napoli, coached by Massimiliano Allegri, in a live-blogged fixture that is one of the big games of the round. Roma arrive after a Champions League win but have injury problems in the attacking midfield zone, with Lorenzo Pellegrini and Paulo Dybala both ruled out. The club are chasing points to keep pace with the top of the Serie A table, making a result at the Maradona important in the race for the leading positions. The official line-ups confirmed Cristante in the starting XI with Soulé, a sign of how Gasperini has reshaped his options without two of his key attacking players. Romanews.eu is providing live coverage with real-time updates throughout the match.

Roma's Primavera side came from two goals down to salvage at least a point against Genoa at the Tre Fontane, a result coach Scala said should give the young squad confidence. Scala, head coach of the Roma Primavera side, wanted to highlight the group's spirit, choosing to focus on the positives after a very intense match. The match was one of two faces, with Roma once again falling behind before showing the ability to turn the game around. Scala gave his assessment to the club's official channels. He said: "We started well and could have gone ahead in the first few minutes on two occasions. Then came an ingenuity from a set piece, not only in the action that led to their goal, where we were too passive, but also in the request for a medical check, which was not necessary. The team certainly has in its DNA the ability to come back into games and never give up. But we must not need to go behind before we bring the right competitive fire that allows us to recover. We also need to get back to taking the lead and managing the result." Asked how the team can grow in this area, Scala said: "We have to keep working on the mental side and have a little patience. Today we were facing a side with five 2007-born players and one 2006, while we had many 2009s whom we are gradually bringing in, and the lack of a certain experience at these levels is paid for. It is part of our journey, we have said it from day one, and we take what comes." Roma had a large number of absentees, with injured, called-up and suspended players. Asked whether next week will allow better preparation, Scala said: "The prospect is of a better week to work, and that is positive. There are never any excuses of any kind. The absences put us in a position to give other young players a chance and showcase them, so they are an opportunity. Some of those who had played little at the start, in my opinion, did very well today, such as Ballarin or Giammattei, who came on and changed the match for us. The squad is long, we wear an important shirt, and we must prove in every match that we are stronger than the opponent." On the mood in the dressing room, Scala said: "The atmosphere at half-time was boiling, because I made myself heard, and quite a lot. I think the boys have understood that they must give more, because we have a great responsibility. They are certainly disappointed, not so much by how the first half went, but at finding themselves behind and not taking home the three points we probably deserved." Scala also acknowledged the team's attacking output: "We are collecting little compared with what we produce. It happens often. Today we hit a crossbar and a post, and their goalkeeper made a couple of important saves. We are building a lot, and this happens because in the few days we can work together we get to pass on certain concepts that are starting to show. However, we must avoid always going behind and then being forced to come back into matches."

Roma head to Naples looking to keep their strong start to the Serie A season going, with Gian Piero Gasperini's only real selection question centring on who will partner Donyell Malen and Matías Soulé up front. Cristante is ahead in the race for that role, while Rodrigo Mora is expected to start on the bench. The fixture is a clash with Antonio Allegri's... [CORRECTED BELOW]

Gasperini's Roma face Massimiliano Allegri's Napoli in Serie A's eighth round this afternoon at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Kickoff is at 18:00, with the turnstiles open from 15:30. Roma travel without Svilar, Koné, Dybala and Pellegrini. Gasperini does have Cristante available again, and Malen is back in the starting frame after serving a one-match suspension. Cristante is the favourite to start in a more advanced role ahead of Mora. Napoli are expected to rely on Højlund, supported by Politano and Lang. In Roma's expected line-up, Lulli is favoured over Molina on the right flank. Cristante is set to play further forward, with Soulé and Malen completing the attack. The choice over Cristante's role is the main open question before the team sheets are released. Napoli (4-3-3): Milinkovic-Savic; Di Lorenzo, Badiashile, Rafa Marin, Olivera; Anguissa, De Bruyne, McTominay; Politano, Højlund, Lang. Substitutes: Meret, Contini, Beukema, Marianucci, Rrahmani, Spinazzola, Gilmour, Lobotka, Vergara, Giovane, Lucca. Coach: Massimiliano Allegri. Roma (3-4-1-2): Gollini; Mancini, Ndicka, Hermoso; Lulli, De Roon, Pisilli, Wesley; Cristante; Soulé, Malen. Substitutes: Vasquez, De Marzi, Rensch, Koulierakis, Molina, Balerdi, Ghilardi, Di Nunzio, Mora, Castro, Camara. Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini. The referee is Colombo of Como, with assistants Bindoni and Rossi M. Fourth official: Sacchi J.L. VAR: Aureliano. Assistant VAR: Meraviglia.

Roma head to Napoli's Stadio Maradona today, 24 October, for a difficult big match with a kickoff at 18:00, and they must do without Svilar, Koné, Pellegrini and Dybala through injury. The club's mood has been lifted by recent contract renewals, and Il Messaggero reports that the eve of the game was marked by the renewal of Emanuele Lulli until 2031. The 19-year-old is preparing for his sixth start, a milestone that at that age only Marquinhos had reached in the giallorosso shirt. Cristante and Malen return as key figures for Roma, and both are expected to lead the team on what promises to be a hot night in Naples. Malen will lead the attack and dreams of repeating the brace he scored at the Maradona a year ago, with Soulé alongside him. Molina will rest ahead of Tuesday's match against Cagliari. The final selection question is the attacking midfield, where Mora is pushing for a place but could make way for the experience and energy of Cristante. Cristante would also be valuable in covering Lobotka, McTominay and Anguissa. At the back, the starting trio of Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso is reassembled. Lulli's rise is the standout detail of the build-up, with his contract running until 2031 and his sixth start coming in the space of a few months. Roma will be relying on Cristante's and Malen's experience to offset a long list of absentees against a Napoli side featuring Lobotka, McTominay and Anguissa.

Roma travel to Naples to face Napoli at the Maradona in a big-match clash, and coach Gian Piero Gasperini must still do without Mile Svilar, Manu Koné, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Paulo Dybala. Cristante and Donyell Malen are back, with Cristante pushing for a starting place in the three-quarter role, where he is locked in a battle with Rodrigo Mora. Malen is described as an undisputed fixture in the Giallorossi attack. Evan N'Dicka returns to the back line, and Emanuele Lulli is expected at right-back. The Italian newspapers largely agree on the shape Gasperini is likely to use. Corriere dello Sport and La Repubblica both predict a 3-4-2-1 with Soulé and Mora behind Malen, while Gazzetta dello Sport, Il Messaggero, Il Tempo and Corriere della Sera go with a 3-4-1-2 featuring Cristante in the hole. Tuttosport also backs a 3-4-2-1 but keeps Pisilli in midfield alongside de Roon. Across the predictions, Francesco Gollini is in goal, with Gianluca Mancini and Mario Hermoso alongside N'Dicka in a back three, and Wesley and Lulli providing width. The four players ruled out are a significant absence for a side looking to secure a result in a fixture of this profile. Gasperini's selection options are shaped by the return of Cristante, Malen and N'Dicka, and by the continuing fight between Cristante and Mora for a central attacking berth.

Roma line up for their Serie A Matchday 8 trip to Napoli's Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, with Bryan Cristante starting from the first minute alongside Matías Soulé. Gian Piero Gasperini's side face Napoli, coached by Massimiliano Allegri, in a live-blogged fixture that is one of the big games of the round. Roma arrive after a Champions League win but have injury problems in the attacking midfield zone, with Lorenzo Pellegrini and Paulo Dybala both ruled out. The club are chasing points to keep pace with the top of the Serie A table, making a result at the Maradona important in the race for the leading positions. The official line-ups confirmed Cristante in the starting XI with Soulé, a sign of how Gasperini has reshaped his options without two of his key attacking players. Romanews.eu is providing live coverage with real-time updates throughout the match.

Gasperini's Roma face Massimiliano Allegri's Napoli in Serie A's eighth round this afternoon at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Kickoff is at 18:00, with the turnstiles open from 15:30. Roma travel without Svilar, Koné, Dybala and Pellegrini. Gasperini does have Cristante available again, and Malen is back in the starting frame after serving a one-match suspension. Cristante is the favourite to start in a more advanced role ahead of Mora. Napoli are expected to rely on Højlund, supported by Politano and Lang. In Roma's expected line-up, Lulli is favoured over Molina on the right flank. Cristante is set to play further forward, with Soulé and Malen completing the attack. The choice over Cristante's role is the main open question before the team sheets are released. Napoli (4-3-3): Milinkovic-Savic; Di Lorenzo, Badiashile, Rafa Marin, Olivera; Anguissa, De Bruyne, McTominay; Politano, Højlund, Lang. Substitutes: Meret, Contini, Beukema, Marianucci, Rrahmani, Spinazzola, Gilmour, Lobotka, Vergara, Giovane, Lucca. Coach: Massimiliano Allegri. Roma (3-4-1-2): Gollini; Mancini, Ndicka, Hermoso; Lulli, De Roon, Pisilli, Wesley; Cristante; Soulé, Malen. Substitutes: Vasquez, De Marzi, Rensch, Koulierakis, Molina, Balerdi, Ghilardi, Di Nunzio, Mora, Castro, Camara. Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini. The referee is Colombo of Como, with assistants Bindoni and Rossi M. Fourth official: Sacchi J.L. VAR: Aureliano. Assistant VAR: Meraviglia.

Former coach Andrea Stramaccioni has praised Donyell Malen, likening the Dutch forward's movement to that of Andriy Shevchenko, as Roma prepare to face Napoli at the Maradona. Speaking to Corriere dello Sport, Stramaccioni also highlighted the way Gian Piero Gasperini's side defends by attacking. Roma's form has been strong, with a clear identity, a productive attack and an effective defensive phase. Stramaccioni said: "It is impressive, ever more in tune with the verticality of Roma's final pass. His half-moon of movement away from his marker, the first controlled touch oriented forward, and the speed with which he does it remind me, with the appropriate comparisons, of the movements Andriy Shevchenko liked to make." He then turned to the team as a whole: "Roma have scored with 11 different players, and Dybala, Mancini, Wesley and Pellegrini are still missing. But the out-of-possession phase stands out more: Gasperini's side 'defends by attacking' while controlling the ball. It is the best defence in Serie A (and two of the three goals conceded came against Inter) and has the best goal difference in the league." On the Napoli fixture, Stramaccioni said: "He is too experienced, he knows that at Napoli the level of difficulty is very high. He will find a side 'wounded', which cannot afford to lose again and will play to the death in front of their very hot crowd. And Gasp knows this well. He will prepare a high-intensity match, taking time and space away from Napoli's build-up, meaning limiting Lobotka and De Bruyne. And trying to exploit the vertical spaces that may open up." He also pointed to a potential weakness. "Roma have conceded little when defending in a set shape, but have suffered from second balls from dead-ball situations: look at Inter and Real Madrid. On the other side, isolating the attackers one-on-one in open space and forcing Allegri's wide players to chase Wesley and company can cause Napoli problems." On squad depth, Stramaccioni said: "Without injuries I would have said Napoli, although they are a little short in midfield. But now, with Roma missing key players, I see them as similar. Roma's real advantage is a year of work with Gasperini: more certainty and enthusiasm." Finally, he assessed the ambitions of both clubs. "Napoli are a great potential in search of certainty, continuity and solidity. Roma are a group full of enthusiasm who have plenty of certainty, but to stay up there they must win matches like this one."

Gian Piero Gasperini has spoken to Dazn ahead of Roma's match against Napoli, praising Bryan Cristante's return as an important boost for the squad. Roma have lost Lorenzo Pellegrini, but Gasperini says Cristante's value to the team is significant. Gasperini described the fixture as a match between sides of quality, adding: "Napoli-Roma is a match between teams of quality. They are two of the best in the league, it is an important game." Cristante is a key return, and the coach explained the reasoning behind his impact on the side. Gasperini said: "Yes, because in that area we have often played with the same men. His value is important. It makes the team more versatile, we can play him in the deeper midfield role. It gives us the chance to have variations." Asked how much the match could shape the season, he said: "It is difficult to say now, but if we win today it is a further step in awareness. It would be a great boost."

Roma line up for their Serie A Matchday 8 trip to Napoli's Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, with Bryan Cristante starting from the first minute alongside Matías Soulé. Gian Piero Gasperini's side face Napoli, coached by Massimiliano Allegri, in a live-blogged fixture that is one of the big games of the round. Roma arrive after a Champions League win but have injury problems in the attacking midfield zone, with Lorenzo Pellegrini and Paulo Dybala both ruled out. The club are chasing points to keep pace with the top of the Serie A table, making a result at the Maradona important in the race for the leading positions. The official line-ups confirmed Cristante in the starting XI with Soulé, a sign of how Gasperini has reshaped his options without two of his key attacking players. Romanews.eu is providing live coverage with real-time updates throughout the match.

Gasperini's Roma face Massimiliano Allegri's Napoli in Serie A's eighth round this afternoon at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Kickoff is at 18:00, with the turnstiles open from 15:30. Roma travel without Svilar, Koné, Dybala and Pellegrini. Gasperini does have Cristante available again, and Malen is back in the starting frame after serving a one-match suspension. Cristante is the favourite to start in a more advanced role ahead of Mora. Napoli are expected to rely on Højlund, supported by Politano and Lang. In Roma's expected line-up, Lulli is favoured over Molina on the right flank. Cristante is set to play further forward, with Soulé and Malen completing the attack. The choice over Cristante's role is the main open question before the team sheets are released. Napoli (4-3-3): Milinkovic-Savic; Di Lorenzo, Badiashile, Rafa Marin, Olivera; Anguissa, De Bruyne, McTominay; Politano, Højlund, Lang. Substitutes: Meret, Contini, Beukema, Marianucci, Rrahmani, Spinazzola, Gilmour, Lobotka, Vergara, Giovane, Lucca. Coach: Massimiliano Allegri. Roma (3-4-1-2): Gollini; Mancini, Ndicka, Hermoso; Lulli, De Roon, Pisilli, Wesley; Cristante; Soulé, Malen. Substitutes: Vasquez, De Marzi, Rensch, Koulierakis, Molina, Balerdi, Ghilardi, Di Nunzio, Mora, Castro, Camara. Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini. The referee is Colombo of Como, with assistants Bindoni and Rossi M. Fourth official: Sacchi J.L. VAR: Aureliano. Assistant VAR: Meraviglia.