Napoli-Roma preview: Cristante favoured over Mora for the attacking midfield role

Roma line up at Napoli this afternoon in a Serie A eighth-round clash at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, with the turnstiles opening at 15:30. Gian Piero Gasperini's side are without Svilar, Koné, Dybala and Pellegrini, but Cristante returns to the starting XI and Malen is back in the attack after serving a suspension. Devyne Rensch is the surprise pick in the Roma line-up. Roma's confirmed starting XI is Gollini; Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Rensch, De Roon, Pisilli, Wesley; Cristante; Soulé, Malen, set up in a 3-4-1-2. Massimiliano Allegri's Napoli line up in a 4-3-3: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rafa Marin, Badiashile, Olivera; Anguissa, De Bruyne, McTominay; Politano, Hojlund, Lang. Napoli's attack is built around Hojlund, supported by Politano and Lang. The Roma bench contains Vasquez, De Marzi, Lulli, Koulierakis, Molina, Balerdi, Ghilardi, Di Nunzio, Mora, Castro and Camara. The Napoli bench features Contini, Beukema, Marianucci, Spinazzola, Gilmour, Lobotka, Vergara, Giovane and Lucca. Colombo of Como is the referee, assisted by Bindoni-Rossi M. and Rossi, with Sacchi J.L. as fourth official. Aureliano is the VAR, with Meraviglia as the assistant VAR. The absences of Svilar, Koné, Dybala and Pellegrini are the main concerns for Gasperini, who has used the selection to pair Cristante further forward and give Soulé and Malen the attacking roles alongside him. Two of the club's most important players are missing from the match-day squad, making the Maradona fixture a test of the depth in the Roma squad.

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 head to Napoli with their unbeaten Serie A run intact and aim to keep it going today. Gian Piero Gasperini has settled on his line-up for the clash with Antonio Allegri's side, who need a response after a heavy defeat at Venezia. Roma's starting XI is Gollini; Mancini, Ndicka, Hermoso; Rensch, de Roon, Pisilli, Wesley; Cristante; Soulé, Malen. Cristante plays further forward, alongside Soulé behind Malen. Napoli line up Milinkovic-Savic; Di Lorenzo, Badiashile, Marín, Olivera; Anguissa, De Bruyne, McTominay; Politano, Hojlund, Lang, in a 4-3-3. Roma's bench includes Vasquez, De Marzi, Lulli, Koulierakis, Molina, Balerdi, Ghilardi, Di Nunzio, Mora, Castro and Camara. Napoli's bench features Meret, Contini, Beukema, Gilmour, Giovane, Lobotka, Lucca, Marianucci, Rrahmani, Spinazzola and Vergara.

Roma line up at Napoli this afternoon in a Serie A eighth-round clash at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, with the turnstiles opening at 15:30. Gian Piero Gasperini's side are without Svilar, Koné, Dybala and Pellegrini, but Cristante returns to the starting XI and Malen is back in the attack after serving a suspension. Devyne Rensch is the surprise pick in the Roma line-up. Roma's confirmed starting XI is Gollini; Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Rensch, De Roon, Pisilli, Wesley; Cristante; Soulé, Malen, set up in a 3-4-1-2. Massimiliano Allegri's Napoli line up in a 4-3-3: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rafa Marin, Badiashile, Olivera; Anguissa, De Bruyne, McTominay; Politano, Hojlund, Lang. Napoli's attack is built around Hojlund, supported by Politano and Lang. The Roma bench contains Vasquez, De Marzi, Lulli, Koulierakis, Molina, Balerdi, Ghilardi, Di Nunzio, Mora, Castro and Camara. The Napoli bench features Contini, Beukema, Marianucci, Spinazzola, Gilmour, Lobotka, Vergara, Giovane and Lucca. Colombo of Como is the referee, assisted by Bindoni-Rossi M. and Rossi, with Sacchi J.L. as fourth official. Aureliano is the VAR, with Meraviglia as the assistant VAR. The absences of Svilar, Koné, Dybala and Pellegrini are the main concerns for Gasperini, who has used the selection to pair Cristante further forward and give Soulé and Malen the attacking roles alongside him. Two of the club's most important players are missing from the match-day squad, making the Maradona fixture a test of the depth in the Roma squad.

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 at Napoli this afternoon in a Serie A eighth-round clash at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, with the turnstiles opening at 15:30. Gian Piero Gasperini's side are without Svilar, Koné, Dybala and Pellegrini, but Cristante returns to the starting XI and Malen is back in the attack after serving a suspension. Devyne Rensch is the surprise pick in the Roma line-up. Roma's confirmed starting XI is Gollini; Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Rensch, De Roon, Pisilli, Wesley; Cristante; Soulé, Malen, set up in a 3-4-1-2. Massimiliano Allegri's Napoli line up in a 4-3-3: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rafa Marin, Badiashile, Olivera; Anguissa, De Bruyne, McTominay; Politano, Hojlund, Lang. Napoli's attack is built around Hojlund, supported by Politano and Lang. The Roma bench contains Vasquez, De Marzi, Lulli, Koulierakis, Molina, Balerdi, Ghilardi, Di Nunzio, Mora, Castro and Camara. The Napoli bench features Contini, Beukema, Marianucci, Spinazzola, Gilmour, Lobotka, Vergara, Giovane and Lucca. Colombo of Como is the referee, assisted by Bindoni-Rossi M. and Rossi, with Sacchi J.L. as fourth official. Aureliano is the VAR, with Meraviglia as the assistant VAR. The absences of Svilar, Koné, Dybala and Pellegrini are the main concerns for Gasperini, who has used the selection to pair Cristante further forward and give Soulé and Malen the attacking roles alongside him. Two of the club's most important players are missing from the match-day squad, making the Maradona fixture a test of the depth in the Roma squad.

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.

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 at Napoli this afternoon in a Serie A eighth-round clash at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, with the turnstiles opening at 15:30. Gian Piero Gasperini's side are without Svilar, Koné, Dybala and Pellegrini, but Cristante returns to the starting XI and Malen is back in the attack after serving a suspension. Devyne Rensch is the surprise pick in the Roma line-up. Roma's confirmed starting XI is Gollini; Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Rensch, De Roon, Pisilli, Wesley; Cristante; Soulé, Malen, set up in a 3-4-1-2. Massimiliano Allegri's Napoli line up in a 4-3-3: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rafa Marin, Badiashile, Olivera; Anguissa, De Bruyne, McTominay; Politano, Hojlund, Lang. Napoli's attack is built around Hojlund, supported by Politano and Lang. The Roma bench contains Vasquez, De Marzi, Lulli, Koulierakis, Molina, Balerdi, Ghilardi, Di Nunzio, Mora, Castro and Camara. The Napoli bench features Contini, Beukema, Marianucci, Spinazzola, Gilmour, Lobotka, Vergara, Giovane and Lucca. Colombo of Como is the referee, assisted by Bindoni-Rossi M. and Rossi, with Sacchi J.L. as fourth official. Aureliano is the VAR, with Meraviglia as the assistant VAR. The absences of Svilar, Koné, Dybala and Pellegrini are the main concerns for Gasperini, who has used the selection to pair Cristante further forward and give Soulé and Malen the attacking roles alongside him. Two of the club's most important players are missing from the match-day squad, making the Maradona fixture a test of the depth in the Roma squad.

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.