Okaka hails Gasperini as a top coach and says Roma will fight for the Scudetto

Rafa Benitez has backed Gian Piero Gasperini and Roma's style of play ahead of their Champions League fixture against Slovan Bratislava. Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Spanish coach said the Italian clubs in Europe are not out of contention, pointing to Chivu, Allegri, Fabregas and Gasperini as the first sources of confidence. "Nulla è perduto, lo sanno meglio di me uomini di calcio come Chivu, Allegri, Fabregas e Gasperini. Loro sono le prime certezze. Ci sono partite per niente semplici, ma sanno cosa li aspetta." Translated: "Nothing is lost. Men of football like Chivu, Allegri, Fabregas and Gasperini know this better than I do. They are the first certainties. There are matches that are far from simple, but they know what awaits them." Asked about Gasperini's absences, Benitez focused on the team's approach rather than the availability of players. "Ha un gioco che l'ha aiutato a battere il Genoa con padronanza. È quello il fattore decisivo, probabilmente." In English: "He has a style of play that helped him beat Genoa with control. That is probably the decisive factor." He added that Donyell Malen is returning to the squad, a boost for the attack. Benitez also looked ahead to the result that would follow a win over Slovan. "Battere lo Slovan significa mettersi a 4 punti in classifica." In English: "Beating Slovan means getting to 4 points in the table." He rounded off by praising Roma's recent performance against Real Madrid: "Però io insisto: contro il Real la Roma ha giocato molto, ma molto bene." In English: "But I insist: against Real, Roma played very, very well."

Radio pundits across Rome's stations have been debating Paulo Dybala's latest setback, Gian Piero Gasperini's squad management and Roma's upcoming Champions League fixture against Slovan, in the latest edition of the On Air round-up of Roman radio shows. Rete Sport commentator David Rossi said the Dybala situation was initially described as simple fatigue, but that the forward rested, tried to train again and felt pain. Rossi said: "Su Dybala c'avevano detto che era solo un affaticamento, va a capire se era già lesione e c'hanno fatto il gioco delle tre carte o se era affaticamento, si è riposato un po', poi ha provato a fare qualcosina e ha sentito dolore. Io francamente non sono sorpreso, anzi, sono abbastanza stanco di commentare l'ovvio." He added that Gasperini's remark that Dybala is a "beast" would not prevent the muscle problems, and that Gasperini can make mistakes, such as choosing to field only four midfielders. Rossi said: "E questa su Dybala è sbagliata, va gestito, perchè Dybala si fa male. E ora sei corto nelle rotazioni anche davanti…" Gianluca Piacentini, also of Rete Sport, said Dybala should have played a few minutes less in some matches, when there was no need to keep him on the pitch until the 90th minute. He said Lorenzo Pellegrini alongside Marten de Roon, with Mora and Soulé behind Donyell Malen, "è una soluzione che ci può stare". On Slovan, Piacentini said: "Se pensi di aver già vinto, non la vinci, ne abbiamo già avuto ampie dimostrazioni." He noted that Napoli, reigning Serie A champions, finished 30th in the Champions League last year. Checco Oddo Casano said he considered the match against PSG lost and did not take the Roma-Sporting fixture for granted, as the Portuguese side are strong. He said Lille and AEK Athens are within reach. He suggested Roma could finish the league phase with 13 points, and that 13 points would not be enough to reach the top eight by much. He added: "Rischieresti di non arrivare nelle prime otto per Roma-Real Madrid…" Mario Corsi of Tele Radio Stereo said Slovan have never been strong in their history, adding: "Non dico che sia una partita da vincere con la pippa in bocca, ma insomma…" He said finishing third or fourth would still mean Champions League football, and called Gasperini "tanta roba", saying he is "il 50% della squadra, forse anche di più." Francesca Ferrazza of Tele Radio Stereo said Roma have resources, as shown against Genoa, but that Dybala's latest stop is worrying. She said Gasperini had spoken of two more weeks out, adding: "andiamo per eccesso: parliamo di una mesata." She said Gasperini had not ruled out using Santiago Castro alongside Malen, and that Roma lack quality up front with only Pellegrini, Mora and Soulé to alternate behind Malen. Paolo Cosenza, also on Tele Radio Stereo, said that finishing below third would be a total disappointment. He said: "Quest'anno dunque non è Gasperini il valore aggiunto, c'è un valore disgiunto da parte delle altre squadre." Lorenzo Pes, on Tele Radio Stereo, said Malen and Castro together is not a combination that excites Gasperini, and that Roma will stick with one striker supported by attacking players. He said Pellegrini and Mora do not look a strong pairing in the hole, so Soulé is likely to start before a switch with Mora. He said the stated aim is to reach the playoff, and that 10-11 points looks achievable given the fixture list. He said that apart from PSG, Roma could compete at Old Trafford. He added: "Stasera però sarà importante cercare di fare più gol possibile per la differenza reti che può essere decisiva per la classifica finale…" Piero Torri of Manà Manà Sport said Dybala felt pain again and will return after the international break. He compared Evan N'Dicka to Aldair for his ability to play every two days without fatigue, and said Leonardo Balerdi's presence increases competition and he can also play as a right centre-back. Daniele Lo Monaco of Radio Romanista said Slovan had faced the most shots in the first two Champions League matches, with 51 shots on target against them. He said this could allow Roma to play more openly and that Pellegrini could play in midfield, though he had been tried up front. Roberto Pruzzo of Radio Radio said Roma must win while conserving energy, and that given the injuries, the effort must be limited. He said: "Lo Slovan è sicuramente più forte del Genoa e serve attenzione, ma il turnover fatto contro il Genoa ha avuto buoni risultati." On Malen he said: "Il suo è strapotere assoluto…" Nando Orsi of Radio Radio asked whether Molina or Lulli should start, saying Molina does not seem to be convincing Gasperini while Lulli does. He said that for a 19-year-old, there should be no tiredness at this moment, only enthusiasm Gasperini should use more. On Malen he said: "Nessuno si aspettava un'esplosione del genere."

Francesco Totti presented his new autobiography, "Oltre", at the Teatro Brancaccio in Rome, an evening of memories, emotion and a surprise appearance from Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Totti described his retirement from football as a painful and forced farewell that still weighs on him, saying: "I died, in a certain sense. It was a forced moment, a forced farewell. One I did not want and did not feel. I knew that sooner or later it would come, because everything has a beginning and an end. But for me it was painful, different from how I had imagined it. I could not understand what was happening, I felt lost." He admitted that he still thinks often about death: "Yes, it's true. I'm still afraid today. Not of leaving football any more, but of death. I think about it often, it's a thought that hangs over me." The former captain was visibly moved when he spoke about his father, Enzo, who he said was the centre of everything. Totti also spoke openly about the difficulties he has faced with his children in recent years. He said: "I don't have an idyllic relationship with them, but I hope that as they grow up they will understand where the truth lies. There have been friction, clashes and separations that I did not accept but pretended to accept. What matters is returning to how we were before." The mood lifted when Gasperini joined the evening by video link and was greeted with a long round of applause from the audience. Totti thanked him straight away: "Thank you, boss, you brought us back to the Champions League. You gave us the chance to relive those magical nights that Roma should see and play in. Rome deserves that stage, and thanks to you we are back there." Gasperini recalled the atmosphere of the recent night against Real Madrid: "The most beautiful spectacle the other evening was the stadium. It was a good match, but seeing so much enthusiasm in this city was something exciting. I'm sorry I can't take part directly tonight, but I wanted to take part in some way." There were also jokes. Referring ironically to the controversy that arose months ago after a dinner between the two men, Totti asked: "Did he ask if he could come along, or not?" Gasperini replied: "Who, me? There was no need." Totti shot back: "Otherwise tomorrow we won't see you on the Roma bench." Gasperini said: "We'll have the dinner again anyway." Totti agreed: "Absolutely, whenever you want. Tonight read the book, boss, you've got nothing else to do." Totti also said he would try to attend the match at the Olimpico against Slovan Bratislava: "Alright, if I can find tickets I'll come." On a possible return to the club, Totti sounded a note of bitterness: "Usually when you meet, the meeting takes place between two people, not alone. In seven or eight years it has never happened, they have never called me. It seems that on the other side they don't have the same thinking, the same idea. They have other ideas about life, thinking and work. But that's fine, I accept it gladly." He added: "Either things are done together, or they aren't done. If on the other side you aren't willing or don't share my thinking, let's stop there. I hope the Friedkins go as far as possible, and they have chosen a great coach. I stay behind the scenes, but for Roma I am always there." Fans chanted "You are Roma" in response, and Totti closed the discussion with a line in keeping with the book's title: "That's enough, we won't go beyond that."

Roma head to Bratislava for their third Champions League match looking for a first win of the campaign, after a draw with Fenerbahce and a defeat to Real Madrid. Gian Piero Gasperini has left Evan N'Dicka and Gianluca Mancini out of the starting line-up, with Daniele Ghilardi and Leonardo Balerdi starting in defence. Donyell Malen leads the attack, with Rodrigo Mora and Lorenzo Pellegrini behind him. Roma line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation: Pierluigi Gollini in goal; Ghilardi, Balerdi and Mario Hermoso in the back three; Nahuel Molina, Marten de Roon, Niccolò Pisilli and Wesley in midfield; Mora and Pellegrini in the attacking pair; and Malen up front. On the bench are Giorgio De Marzi, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Mancini, N'Dicka, Devyne Rensch, Emanuele Lulli, Di Nunzio, Bryan Cristante, Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro. Slovan Bratislava, coached by Yaya Touré, set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Takac starts in goal, protected by Blackman, Bajric, Markovic and Sandro Cruz. Pokorny and Gajdos form the double pivot, with Barseghyan, Ibrahim and Suleman Camara behind Marcelli.

Gian Piero Gasperini has named his squad for Roma's Champions League league-phase match against Slovan Bratislava, the third matchday of the 2026-27 competition. Bryan Cristante is back in the group. The defenders selected are Rensch, Koulierakis, N'Dicka, Molina, Hermoso, Mancini, Balerdi, Wesley, Lulli and Ghilardi. The midfielders named are Cristante, Pellegrini, De Roon, Pisilli, Di Nunzio and Mora.

Bryan Cristante is back in the Roma squad for Thursday's home clash with Slovan Bratislava, Gian Piero Gasperini's team news boost on the eve of the Champions League League Phase third matchday. The midfielder had missed the last few matches with physical problems, and his return gives Gasperini an important alternative in a department already without the injured Manu Koné. The call-up also includes Di Nunzio, who has been added to the group at a time when the emergency is forcing Gasperini to widen his rotations. Paulo Dybala remains out, sidelined by a lesion revealed by the latest tests, along with Koné. Cristante's return is therefore the main development ahead of tonight's fixture at the Olimpico, with Gasperini regaining an important option at the most delicate moment of the midfield crisis. The full squad list is as follows. Goalkeepers: Vasquez, De Marzi, Gollini. Defenders: Rensch, Koulierakis, N'Dicka, Molina, Hermoso, Mancini, Balerdi, Wesley, Lulli, Ghilardi. Midfielders: Cristante, Pellegrini, De Roon, Pisilli, Di Nunzio, Mora. Forwards: Castro, Malen, Soulé.