Pellegrini in contention for Como as Gasperini weighs starting options

Roma travel to Como this weekend as Serie A resumes after a three-week international break, with the clash carrying direct implications for Champions League qualification. Historically, Roma's record against Como is strong overall—16 wins, 8 draws and 7 defeats—and the Giallorossi have won both recent meetings at the Olimpico: 2-1 in 2025 and 1-0 last season, when Wesley scored. Away at the Sinigaglia, however, the picture is starkly different. Since Como's return to Serie A, Roma have lost every fixture there, falling 2-0 and 2-1 in those contests. The last Roma victory away from home against Como stretches back 37 years. On 30 April 1989, Roma won 0-1 with a goal from Manfredonia in the 2nd minute; that match also featured a missed penalty from Giannini. A defeat also came in 2003, underlining Como's status as a venue where Roma have consistently struggled.

Como sporting director Carlalberto Ludi has outlined his side's approach to Sunday's match against Roma, scheduled for 11 October at 12:30. Ludi told Sky Sport that the fixture will be "a stimulating match, extremely difficult, against one of the strongest teams in the league". He emphasised Como's ambition to compete seriously and demonstrate they can challenge Roma at the highest level. "We want to confront them in a serious way to prove we are their rivals," Ludi said. "We aim to be competitive and to manage our physical and mental energy as best we can ahead of the many commitments ahead. I am confident that we will be ready." Como's focus is on maintaining intensity across a congested fixture calendar while preparing a competitive challenge to one of Serie A's leading contenders.

Como sporting director Carlarberto Ludi has declared his side's ambition to demonstrate they can compete with Roma ahead of their match on Sunday at 12:30. Ludi told Sky Sport that Como will approach the fixture as a serious test against one of Serie A's strongest teams. "It will undoubtedly be a stimulating match, extremely difficult against one of the strongest teams in the championship," he said. "We want to face them seriously to show we are their rivals. We want to be competitive and manage our physical and mental energy for the many commitments ahead. I am confident we will be ready."

Roma return to action on Sunday 11 October at 12:30 at the Sinigaglia for Serie A's sixth round against Como, following the international break. Wesley and Malen trained partially with the group on 7 October, while Bryan Cristante remains sidelined and will miss the match. Rodrigo Mora and Manu Koné have returned to Rome after completing their international commitments; Matías Soulé, Santiago Castro and Leonardo Balerdi are expected back tomorrow after finishing their respective obligations. Lorenzo Pellegrini is in contention for a starting role in the offensive line, having remained at Trigoria throughout the break and trained consistently under coach Gian Piero Gasperini. He is reportedly ahead of Soulé and Mora in the selection battle, a positioning helped by his uninterrupted preparation while his rivals were engaged with their national teams. Soulé will arrive in the capital only close to kickoff following Argentina's campaign, while Mora returned today after Portugal's Under-21 commitments. Michael Fabbri of Ravenna has been appointed to referee the match, with Imperiale and Baccini as assistants and Sozza as fourth official. Gariglio will manage the VAR with Abisso as AVAR. Fabbri has refereed Roma on 19 occasions: the club holds a record of 9 victories, 4 draws and 6 defeats under him. His last match involving Roma was in the 2025-26 season, when he officiated Roma's 1–0 defeat to Atalanta in Bergamo in round 18. Radio commentary before the match has focused on the title race. Stefano Carina remarked: "We need to understand what effect the Champions League has, it costs many points. But it is too early for any judgment, Como and Roma are already going at maximum, difficult they can do more." Paolo Marcacci added: "I have positive feelings about the match with Como. After this break another championship begins: between 13 and 10 points there are eight teams, so this round can become important for the table. If I had to pick a result, I would say Roma will win or at least not lose. But it is too early to say that whoever wins will become the anti-Inter."

Roma will travel to Como in four days with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini preparing his squad for the match. Bryan Cristante is unavailable through injury, while Donyell Malen and Wesley have trained separately but pose no fitness concerns. Rodrigo Mora and Manu Koné returned to Rome today following the international break, with Matías Soulé, Santiago Castro and Leonardo Balerdi due back tomorrow. Como's prospects have improved ahead of the fixture. Moise Kean is recovering from muscle fatigue that forced him to leave the national team camp, and confidence is growing that he will feature against Roma. Como's director of sport Ludi addressed the upcoming match, saying: "It will undoubtedly be a stimulating match, extremely difficult against one of the strongest teams in the championship. We want to test ourselves seriously to prove we are their rivals." Michael Fabbri has been appointed as referee. Como's last meeting with Roma came in January, a 1–0 defeat at Atalanta where Scalvini scored an irregular goal after committing a foul on Mile Svilar.

Roma trained on 7 October ahead of their Serie A fixture against Como on 11 October at 12:30 at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia. Wesley and Malen trained partially with the squad during the session, while Cristante remained sidelined and will miss the Como match. Rodrigo Mora and Koné returned to Trigoria after completing their international commitments. Soulé, Castro and Balerdi are expected back tomorrow following the completion of their international fixtures.

Roma return to action on Sunday 11 October at 12:30 at the Sinigaglia for Serie A's sixth round against Como, following the international break. Wesley and Malen trained partially with the group on 7 October, while Bryan Cristante remains sidelined and will miss the match. Rodrigo Mora and Manu Koné have returned to Rome after completing their international commitments; Matías Soulé, Santiago Castro and Leonardo Balerdi are expected back tomorrow after finishing their respective obligations. Lorenzo Pellegrini is in contention for a starting role in the offensive line, having remained at Trigoria throughout the break and trained consistently under coach Gian Piero Gasperini. He is reportedly ahead of Soulé and Mora in the selection battle, a positioning helped by his uninterrupted preparation while his rivals were engaged with their national teams. Soulé will arrive in the capital only close to kickoff following Argentina's campaign, while Mora returned today after Portugal's Under-21 commitments. Michael Fabbri of Ravenna has been appointed to referee the match, with Imperiale and Baccini as assistants and Sozza as fourth official. Gariglio will manage the VAR with Abisso as AVAR. Fabbri has refereed Roma on 19 occasions: the club holds a record of 9 victories, 4 draws and 6 defeats under him. His last match involving Roma was in the 2025-26 season, when he officiated Roma's 1–0 defeat to Atalanta in Bergamo in round 18. Radio commentary before the match has focused on the title race. Stefano Carina remarked: "We need to understand what effect the Champions League has, it costs many points. But it is too early for any judgment, Como and Roma are already going at maximum, difficult they can do more." Paolo Marcacci added: "I have positive feelings about the match with Como. After this break another championship begins: between 13 and 10 points there are eight teams, so this round can become important for the table. If I had to pick a result, I would say Roma will win or at least not lose. But it is too early to say that whoever wins will become the anti-Inter."

Tonino Tempestilli, who played for both Roma and Como, gave an exclusive interview to Retesport ahead of Roma's visit to Como. Tempestilli expects a competitive match, noting that Roma will approach the fixture with the same intensity they have shown at the start of the season, though facing an organised Como side will present challenges. He believes a positive result at the Sinigaglia would be valuable for Roma, and predicted that Gasperini will field his team to win despite Como's quality. Templestilli drew a comparison between Como's current project and his own time there. "It didn't have an ownership backing it like this has," he said of Como's setup. "There was good work with the youth sector. Times have changed; now there is exceptional planning: the ownership has identified players who, at least to me, initially seemed unknown. Through Como I got to wear Roma's shirt." On Lorenzo Pellegrini's situation, Tempestilli cautioned against external judgment: "It's hard to judge from outside. When we see him on the pitch it will be because Gasperini thinks it's appropriate; the manager doesn't make exceptions for anyone. I hope he returns as soon as possible to being a value." When asked if Como's ownership had ever approached him, Tempestilli joked: "They don't even know who I am." Asked whether he misses Trigoria, Roma's training ground, he replied: "Absolutely yes. I'm doing well as things are, given that I have the chance to enjoy my family." On Gasperini's management style, Tempestilli drew a direct parallel: "Yes, because he doesn't look anyone in the face. He tries to impose his football against anyone; he's a coach capable of delivering results like what happened at Bergamo with Atalanta."

Jordan Veretout, who left Roma in 2022 after three seasons, has expressed his enduring affection for the club and suggested he would be open to a return if the opportunity arose. Speaking on Retesport, the midfielder reflected on his time in giallorosso from 2019 to 2022, when he made 131 appearances, scored 22 goals and provided 16 assists. "Roma has remained in my heart," Veretout said. "When Roma calls me, I'm there." Veretout departed Rome to join Marseille, describing the move as the right moment after three years at the club. He emphasised the difficulty of leaving, particularly after winning the UEFA Europa Conference League with Roma in 2022. "We won the Conference, it was difficult to leave," he recalled. "For me it was the right moment to return to France—there was an offer from Marseille, a great team in France just as Roma is in Italy, and after three years it was the right time to leave." The midfielder praised current head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's style of play, describing it as "vertical, strong football with constant pressure." He suggested the system would have suited his characteristics. "I would have enjoyed playing under him, and when I was at Roma, Atalanta wanted me, so I believe manager Gasperini wanted me with him," Veretout said. He expressed hope that Roma can win the Serie A title this season and spoke fondly of fellow midfielder Manu Koné, a French compatriot. "I watch him with affection, I'm happy that he is doing well in giallorosso and I wish him success at Roma because it's special." Veretout recalled his finest moment in Roma colours as a penalty against Napoli, struck "under the Sud" with help from teammates Dzeko and Kolarov. He named Radja Nainggolan as his Serie A midfield idol. On his final months at Roma under José Mourinho, Veretout acknowledged a "good relationship" with the Portuguese manager but cited complications over contract renewal and a subsequent Marseille offer. "I had a good relationship with him. I don't know if it was him or the club first that caused me to play less—we talked about a renewal but we didn't reach an agreement, then the Marseille offer came. He was always very close to the players, he is and remains number one," Veretout reflected. Now based in Doha, Veretout stated he is doing well but acknowledged that football remains challenging. He emphasised family as his priority and joked that his wife wants to return to Rome's capital. "I'm not finished, I can still help if Roma wants me, I'm there," he said. Veretout spoke passionately about Roma's 2022 Conference League victory in Tirana, describing the subsequent celebrations at Rome's centre as unforgettable. "When we celebrated in the centre of Rome with thousands of supporters, even today I get chills—I show my son the images," he said. He maintained contact with former teammates including Gianluca Mancini, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Bryan Cristante, and paid tribute to Roma's supporters as "top in Europe for passion and warmth."