N'Dicka fights to reclaim starting berth as Balerdi impresses in early season

Lorenzo Pellegrini is poised to start for Roma at Como on Sunday lunchtime as Gian Piero Gasperini prepares a tactical masterclass against Cesc Fàbregas. The Roma midfielder has spent the international break working intensively at Trigoria to restore his physical condition and has positioned himself as a strong candidate for a starting place. The fixture promises to be a refined chess match between two coaches renowned for their strategic approach; the pair already registered counter-moves and in-game adjustments in their two direct meetings last season that shifted match momentum. Pellegrini's versatility is set to be the tactical switch of the game. Should Fàbregas confirm a four-man defence in his starting 4-2-3-1, Gasperini will deploy Pellegrini on the attacking midfield line, free to move between the lines and supply the attacking pair of Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. This setup is designed to remove reference points for Como's centre-backs and break the opposition's pressing lines. Roma's current strength lies in their capacity to adapt to the opponent's reading of play. In their last meeting by Lake Como, when Como switched to a three-man defence, Roma suffered from defensive escalation and had to shift Pellegrini into an unnatural wide position on the right. On Sunday, Gasperini's response will be far more fluid and effective. Should Fàbregas move to a three-man line mid-match, Roma will redraw their attacking setup without losing balance: Dybala on the right, Pellegrini in his favoured left position, and Malen as the central pivot. This variety of solutions is also supported by alternatives on the bench, where Matías Soulé and young Rodrigo Mora offer guarantees to replace either Dybala or the Dutch forward in the closing stages.

Lionel Messi is set to relinquish Argentina's number 10 shirt after tonight's match, triggering a competition among the next generation to claim one of football's most storied jerseys. Matías Soulé and Nico Paz are the leading candidates to inherit the iconic number, with both young players impressing Argentina's coaching staff in recent fixtures. Soulé, the AS Roma forward, is among those being considered. He possesses quality, personality and significant room for development, making him a contender for the honour. However, Paz has made an equally compelling case, continuing to impress in Argentina's last two friendlies and earning increasing prominence in the national team's plans. Goalkeeper Dibu Martínez has already formed a view on the succession. "There are several lads who would deserve it. But the favourite is Nico Paz," Martínez said, according to TNT Sports Argentina. With Messi's departure from the number 10 confirmed after tonight, the race to become its next custodian has officially begun.

Roma's interest in Jayden Oosterwolde has not ended despite the dramatic collapse of negotiations last summer. The Dutch player arrived in the capital for medical examinations, but concerns emerged over his muscle injury during those tests. In early September, he underwent surgery with a recovery period estimated at around three months. Director Tony D'Amico and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini have kept Oosterwolde on their radar, with January potentially offering a second opportunity to complete the deal. Gasperini had already approved the move in summer, and both he and D'Amico continue to monitor the player's rehabilitation. The club has not crossed Oosterwolde off their list and remain interested in the former Parma player once he returns to full fitness. A recent encounter in Istanbul before Roma's match against Fenerbahçe showed the relationship remains intact: Oosterwolde greeted several Roma players and met with Gasperini, the medical staff and the fitness team. Roma are watching the progress of his recovery without urgency but without having closed the door either. If his physical condition provides adequate assurances, January could bring Oosterwolde back to the centre of Roma's transfer activity. The summer halt to negotiations need not mark the end of the story.

Roma players will begin filtering back to Trigoria from tomorrow, 6 October, as Gian Piero Gasperini prepares his squad for the trip to Como on Sunday 11 October at 12:30. The club have trained with a reduced group during the international break, and the staggered returns will allow Gasperini to resume full preparations. Evan N'Dicka, Konstantinos Koulierakis and Giorgio De Marzi are expected back in the morning, with further arrivals throughout the day. The Italy contingent—Gianluca Mancini, Daniele Ghilardi, Niccolò Pisilli and Emanuele Lulli—will arrive in the evening. Manu Koné, the France midfielder, will be the last to rejoin, returning to the squad on Wednesday and training with the group a day behind the initial batch of returnees.

Roma's radio stations have focused heavily on the upcoming Como fixture and squad selection as Gasperini's side prepares for a demanding period. Checco Oddo Casano argued that Devyne Rensch, bought for €5 million, could be sold in January for a profit to bring in a stronger left-back in the style of Moreira. "Rensch is a little player who can fit in Roma's squad, but he'll hardly become a new Gosens, a new Zappacosta or a new Wesley," Casano said. "You bought him at a good price and you can make a profit—maybe in January you can sell him and get a stronger player to improve in that area of the pitch." David Rossi noted that Roma's last league defeat came in April when they lost to Inter at San Siro, despite playing a strong first half. He questioned whether Roma are genuinely weaker than Como or whether the psychological pressure of the fixture is one-sided. Gianluca Piacentini acknowledged Como's strength—demonstrating a solid project over the past season and a half—but emphasised that Roma are equally capable, with both teams among the three strongest in the league. Fabio Petruzzi said Roma and Como have shown significant growth over the last 18 months and play the best football in Italy, even better than Inter, though Inter's superior squad makes them favourites. Piero Torri predicted De Roon will start against Como, saying "he seems made specifically to play with Gasperini." Torri noted Lorenzo Pellegrini could play as a midfielder but has never featured in that role under Gasperini and hasn't played a match since April, making an immediate start unlikely. Torri stated: "I'll be called mad, but for me the Como match is harder than the Real Madrid one." Marco Valerio Corsi reported that Bryan Cristante appears to have a lateral knee ligament problem and will miss both Como and Real Madrid, with the length of the absence still unclear. Roberto Pruzzo called De Roon "a proven reliable player" and "a solid used buy," saying he cannot be ignored as an option despite potential fitness concerns over a run of ten consecutive matches. Nando Orsi said De Roon will "challenge the titularity of one of the two sacred monsters of midfield" if he is physically fit, having praised the signing in advance. Stephan El Shaarawy was not mentioned. Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso featured prominently in defenders' debate, with Carina suggesting N'Dicka was sidelined too easily and forming the best back three with Balerdi and Hermoso. Pruzzo still favoured Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso as the core defensive line, while Mattioli predicted Balerdi will become immovable once fully integrated into Italian football and Roma's system.

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has decisions to make ahead of the trip to Como, with injuries and international commitments affecting selection in midfield and defence. Matías Soulé, who has been with Argentina, is expected back at Trigoria only on Thursday, opening the door for either Lorenzo Pellegrini or Rodrigo Mora to start alongside Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen in the attacking midfield role. Pellegrini, who has not played since 10 April, is fully fit and ready to return; a start would mark his 350th appearance for Roma. Mora, meanwhile, is currently with the Portugal U21 side and is chasing continuity after scoring an overhead kick against Gibraltar. Gasperini has built a significant strength on Roma's flanks this season—a reversal of last season's problems. The club's wingers have created 24 goal-scoring chances so far: 13 from Wesley, 7 from Nahuel Molina and 4 from Emanuele Lulli, a tally that places Roma second only to Inter. The coach is expected to field Molina on the right and Wesley on the left at Como, with the Brazilian given a more attacking brief and the Argentine tasked with greater defensive responsibility, though Gasperini has signalled he does not regard the flanks as fixed assignments and may shuffle them during the match. Defence has also emerged as a major weapon. Gasperini described Roma's back line as a "difesa di gladiatori" (defence of gladiators), and the numbers back that assessment. Roma lead Serie A with 5.8 recoveries per match in the attacking third and 141 regained possessions in the central areas, generating 17 shots from high-pressure recoveries. The coach has several defensive options in Evan N'Dicka, Gianluca Mancini, Leonardo Balerdi, Mario Hermoso, Daniele Ghilardi and Konstantinos Koulierakis. N'Dicka could return to the starting line-up at Como in place of Balerdi, who is still with Argentina and due back at Trigoria later. Gasperini's defensive philosophy is encapsulated in one of his favourite sayings: "Si difende in 11, si attacca in 11"—defence involves all eleven, as does attack.

Steve Mounié has recalled a confrontation with Leonardo Balerdi from a Ligue 1 match between his former club and Marseille, when the Roma defender was at the French side. Mounié was sent off after a reactive foul on Balerdi, and has now characterized the incident in an interview ahead of Argentina's friendly against Benin scheduled for the night of 6–7 October. Bareldi is a current Roma player, making this a rare insight into the defender's playing style and reputation away from Serie A. Mounié's account underscores a contrast in how South American football is perceived — the Benin captain captain drew a direct parallel to his experience facing Argentine players across different competitions. Mounié said: "He's cunning and rather nasty, an insidious player. I was sent off because he grabbed my arm and shook me; I reacted with a punch to the chest and he immediately threw himself to the ground in tears. He showed a lot of cunning, even though fortunately they lost that match." He added broader context: "The entire Argentine national team is like that. It's a specialty of South American teams, they like to get into the opponent's head and play dirty. I had an excellent relationship with Joaquín Blázquez at a club, but facing them was always a battle. Whether it was a clash with Balerdi or with Messi, who runs you over even when he's not at his best. I would rather have Argentines as teammates than as opponents."

Steve Mounié, captain of Benin's national team, has spoken about a clash with Leonardo Balerdi during a Ligue 1 match against Marseille, ahead of Benin's fixture against Argentina. Mounié described the Roma defender's conduct on the pitch: "He is clever and quite dirty, an insidious player. I was sent off because he grabbed my arm and shook me; I reacted with a punch to the chest and he immediately threw himself to the ground in tears. He showed a lot of cunning, even though fortunately they lost that match in the end," he told Cadena 3. Bareldi joined Roma on a free transfer from Atlético Madrid in the summer of 2024 and has since become a regular in the club's defence. Mounié's comments reflect broader observations about Argentine footballing style, which he suggested extends across the national team. The Benin captain broadened his critique to Argentina's approach as a whole, citing both Balerdi and Lionel Messi: "The entire Argentine national team plays that way. It is a specialty of South American teams; they like to get into the opponent's head and play dirty. But I had an excellent relationship with Joaquín Blázquez in a club, yet facing them was always a battle. Whether it was a clash with Balerdi or with Messi, who overpowers you even when he is not at his best. I would prefer to have Argentines as teammates rather than as opponents."

Roma's radio stations have focused heavily on the upcoming Como fixture and squad selection as Gasperini's side prepares for a demanding period. Checco Oddo Casano argued that Devyne Rensch, bought for €5 million, could be sold in January for a profit to bring in a stronger left-back in the style of Moreira. "Rensch is a little player who can fit in Roma's squad, but he'll hardly become a new Gosens, a new Zappacosta or a new Wesley," Casano said. "You bought him at a good price and you can make a profit—maybe in January you can sell him and get a stronger player to improve in that area of the pitch." David Rossi noted that Roma's last league defeat came in April when they lost to Inter at San Siro, despite playing a strong first half. He questioned whether Roma are genuinely weaker than Como or whether the psychological pressure of the fixture is one-sided. Gianluca Piacentini acknowledged Como's strength—demonstrating a solid project over the past season and a half—but emphasised that Roma are equally capable, with both teams among the three strongest in the league. Fabio Petruzzi said Roma and Como have shown significant growth over the last 18 months and play the best football in Italy, even better than Inter, though Inter's superior squad makes them favourites. Piero Torri predicted De Roon will start against Como, saying "he seems made specifically to play with Gasperini." Torri noted Lorenzo Pellegrini could play as a midfielder but has never featured in that role under Gasperini and hasn't played a match since April, making an immediate start unlikely. Torri stated: "I'll be called mad, but for me the Como match is harder than the Real Madrid one." Marco Valerio Corsi reported that Bryan Cristante appears to have a lateral knee ligament problem and will miss both Como and Real Madrid, with the length of the absence still unclear. Roberto Pruzzo called De Roon "a proven reliable player" and "a solid used buy," saying he cannot be ignored as an option despite potential fitness concerns over a run of ten consecutive matches. Nando Orsi said De Roon will "challenge the titularity of one of the two sacred monsters of midfield" if he is physically fit, having praised the signing in advance. Stephan El Shaarawy was not mentioned. Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso featured prominently in defenders' debate, with Carina suggesting N'Dicka was sidelined too easily and forming the best back three with Balerdi and Hermoso. Pruzzo still favoured Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso as the core defensive line, while Mattioli predicted Balerdi will become immovable once fully integrated into Italian football and Roma's system.