Pisilli and Romano: a Serie A-fed Azzurri rivalry to watch at the Olimpico

Roma host Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico tonight, and Gian Piero Gasperini is relying on Matías Soulé, who has been among the team's best performers in recent outings and is ready to lead the attack. Paulo Dybala is named among the substitutes and is expected to come on during the match as he returns gradually from a muscle problem. The coach is weighing options to complete the front three, where Donyell Malen and Santiago Castro are pushing for starting places, with Rodrigo Mora supporting from the wide attacking areas. Roma have finished a run of demanding fixtures and face a calendar that looks easier on paper. After recent draws, the side need to return to winning consistently and leave the recent controversies behind in order to strengthen their ambitions at the top of the table. Gasperini values the rotation options the squad now has to manage energy levels during this autumn schedule. According to Il Corriere della Sera, Soulé's transformation is one of the central themes of the season so far. After a summer spent at the centre of transfer speculation, and with the after-effects of a sports hernia (pubalgia) that had restricted his performances last season, the Argentine has turned the pecking order around through daily work. Gasperini has praised his consistency, saying that his technical and character growth offers decisive solutions in the development of the attacking play. Alongside the quality of the former Juventus player, Roma regain solidity and important rotation options.

Gian Piero Gasperini has urged his Roma side to set no limits as they prepare to host Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico tonight in a midweek fixture. Speaking at his pre-match press conference, the head coach praised the steady growth and clear identity the team has built, and said the squad has put the weekend's controversy behind it to focus solely on the pitch. Gasperini also responded to Massimiliano Allegri's comments after the draw at the "Maradona". Gasperini said: "Uscita infelice di Allegri, per noi parlano i numeri", which translates as: "An unfortunate remark from Allegri; our numbers speak for us." He rejected the suggestions about Roma's past Champions League qualification, stressing that the place was earned purely through work on the pitch and consistent performances over the season. Roma are producing twice as much as they did last season and approach big matches with greater awareness of their capabilities. Gasperini pointed to a solid attacking mentality as the foundation of that growth. The team collected nineteen points from the last seven matchdays of last season's Serie A campaign, and their form has never dipped, giving them a well-defined identity. Against Cagliari, Gasperini is ready to make some rotations to manage the squad's energy ahead of upcoming fixtures played in quick succession, while stressing the importance of maintaining concentration. He said the squad is answering the call and fears no opponent, aiming to consolidate its ambitions of a place in the top half of the table. Roma, he added, intend to pursue this path without setting any boundaries.

Roma scouts were among those watching Genoa teenager Samuel Wiafe at the Stadio Ferraris on Sunday afternoon, as the club considers strengthening its midfield in the coming months. Leonardo Bonucci and scouts from several Serie A big clubs were also in the stands for the match between Genoa and Venezia, but Juventus and Roma were the two sides most closely interested in the 2008-born midfielder. The interest from both clubs is reported by Tuttosport. Juventus had previously tracked Wiafe, with the idea of bringing him to the Continassa to develop him in the Next Gen before a possible step up to the senior side. However, the midfielder, who had impressed in Serie B while still a minor, was not willing to accept that path. In the last summer transfer window he chose Genoa instead. The Rossoblu took him from Modena for 2.5 million plus bonuses, seeing off competition from the bigger clubs. In recent weeks Wiafe has established himself in the Genoa side under Daniele De Rossi, who has made him a starter in the matches against Roma and Venezia. De Rossi, a man who knows a thing or two about midfielders, has given the young player his opportunity at the heart of the team.

Roma return to action tonight at the Stadio Olimpico against Cagliari, aiming to get back to winning ways after a draw with Napoli. Paulo Dybala is back in the squad but will start on the bench. Matías Soulé, Mora and Donyell Malen are expected up front, with Lulli on the right side of the defence. On the left, Nahuel Molina and Wesley are in a head-to-head battle for a starting place. Mario Hermoso and Marten de Roon are rested. The predicted line-ups in the Roman press largely agree on a 3-4-2-1 shape. Gollini starts in goal, with Ghilardi, Evan N'Dicka and Leonardo Balerdi in the back three, and Cristante and Pisilli in central midfield. Il Messaggero, Corriere della Sera and Il Tempo all pick Gianluca Mancini in place of Ghilardi and Wesley in place of Molina. Corriere della Sera and Il Tempo both switch to a 3-4-1-2, with Mora and Soulé behind Malen. Leggo is the outlier, placing Hermoso in the back three alongside Ghilardi and Balerdi. The lineups show how much rotation Roma are considering for the Cagliari match, with several first-choice players either on the bench or resting. Balerdi appears in every projected starting eleven, and Malen leads the attack in all six predictions. Dybala's role as a substitute will be the main talking point for fans if he is not called into the starting line-up.

Roma head into tonight's home match against Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico, kicking off at 20:45, with coach Gian Piero Gasperini looking to return to winning ways after a draw at Napoli and to avoid losing ground in the race for the top positions. The Giallorossi have a run of fixtures that, on paper, offers a chance to build momentum: Cagliari tonight, then Udinese away and Sassuolo before the November international break. The challenge is balancing the need for points with the need to manage energy levels. The recent schedule of demanding clashes has left physical and mental fatigue, and Gasperini knows he cannot keep asking the same players for extra effort. The Champions League meeting with Manchester United, which falls between the trip to Udine and the Sassuolo match, adds to the pressure. Despite absences that continue to limit his options, Gasperini is considering a significant turnover. He admitted at yesterday's press conference that some changes are likely, stressing the need to use a squad now able to provide rotation. One of the most likely changes involves Emanuele Lulli, who is set to return to the starting line-up on the right flank just after officially renewing his contract until 2031. He could replace Wesley, one of the most used players so far this season, with Molina a candidate to occupy the left side. In defence, Leonardo Balerdi, who scored a brace at the Maradona, is pushing for a starting place. Daniele Ghilardi could also start in place of Gianluca Mancini. Rodrigo Mora is among the main candidates to start, with Bryan Cristante possibly dropping into midfield to add quality in the final third. The most notable surprise could come up front. According to reports in the press, including Il Messaggero, Gasperini is considering giving Donyell Malen a rest, with Santiago Castro leading the attack. The move is far from certain, as the Dutchman remains the team's main offensive reference and the favourite to start. However, the idea of preserving him for the upcoming fixtures is one of the options on the table, a sign that the coach wants to genuinely widen his rotation. The watchword remains to win. Cagliari, coached by Pisacane, are going through a difficult period, but matches like this one hide dangers for a side coming off many close fixtures. Gasperini must find fresh energy without lowering the level of competitiveness, and needs important responses from those who have had less playing time so far. Roma cannot afford slip-ups at a point in the season when the calendar offers a valuable opportunity: winning consecutive matches before the break and arriving at the next big clashes with an even stronger league position. The turnover is necessary, but the three points are even more so.

Gian Piero Gasperini is preparing further changes for Roma's home match against Cagliari, with Paulo Dybala close to a return and Mile Svilar possibly back sooner than expected. The fixture comes after Roma's costly 3-3 draw at the Maradona, and the kickoff at the Stadio Olimpico is at 20:45 tomorrow evening. The schedule leaves no time to rest, and Gasperini is set to rotate across the pitch. Emanuele Lulli is the favourite to start at right-back in place of Devyne Rensch, and the young full-back's contract renewal to 2031 is also drawing closer. In midfield, Gasperini is considering resting either Marten de Roon or Niccolò Pisilli, with Bryan Cristante moving back into the middle. Rodrigo Mora is a candidate to start alongside Matías Soulé behind Donyell Malen, adding quality and creativity in the final third. In defence, Leonardo Balerdi is heading for a starting place after his outstanding brace against Napoli. The Argentine could replace one of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka or Mario Hermoso, with Hermoso coming off a difficult display at the Maradona. Gasperini wants to exploit the form of the former Marseille defender while also giving some of his first-choice players a chance to recover energy. Pierluigi Gollini will be confirmed in goal. The most anticipated news concerns Paulo Dybala. The Joya trained with his teammates yesterday for part of the session after passing fitness tests on the pitch to check his recovery from a slight calf injury. Today's final training session will settle the last doubts, and the Argentine is close to a place in the squad for Roma-Cagliari. He is expected to start on the bench, with the aim of gradually regaining match rhythm and being ready to start on Saturday against Udinese. His recovery is also important ahead of the Champions League trip to Manchester United on 3 November. Encouraging signs also come from Mile Svilar. The goalkeeper is completing his rehabilitation in Belgium after a stress fracture to the fifth toe of his right foot. New checks are planned in the coming days to assess his healing and establish when he can return to working on the pitch. The latest reports leave open the possibility of an earlier return than initially forecast, which had him available only after the November break. The first target remains the match against Sassuolo on 7 November, but an availability for the trip to Manchester on 3 November is not ruled out entirely, a scenario still to be verified medically. UEFA regulations offer a route here: a goalkeeper temporarily replaced on the list for a long-term injury can be reinstated once recovered, subject to a minimum period of 30 days and the necessary formalities. For Svilar, a Champions League return is therefore not excluded in principle, but it will depend on his actual recovery and the regularity of his position on the list. Further back in their rehabilitation are Manu Koné and Lorenzo Pellegrini. The Frenchman will try to be available again before the November break, with the games against Manchester United and Sassuolo in his sights. Pellegrini's timeline is considerably longer, as he is dealing with a serious injury to his right thigh: the midfielder faces a layoff of at least two months, with a possible surgical procedure still to be evaluated. Gasperini will present Roma-Cagliari at a press conference today at 13:30 and is awaiting further updates from the medical staff. The immediate priority is managing energy levels and finding new solutions to beat the Sardinians, but the gradual return of injured players could give Roma fundamental alternatives for the games ahead. After weeks of crisis, some good news is finally emerging for the Giallorossi boss.

Roma return to action tonight at the Stadio Olimpico against Cagliari, aiming to get back to winning ways after a draw with Napoli. Paulo Dybala is back in the squad but will start on the bench. Matías Soulé, Mora and Donyell Malen are expected up front, with Lulli on the right side of the defence. On the left, Nahuel Molina and Wesley are in a head-to-head battle for a starting place. Mario Hermoso and Marten de Roon are rested. The predicted line-ups in the Roman press largely agree on a 3-4-2-1 shape. Gollini starts in goal, with Ghilardi, Evan N'Dicka and Leonardo Balerdi in the back three, and Cristante and Pisilli in central midfield. Il Messaggero, Corriere della Sera and Il Tempo all pick Gianluca Mancini in place of Ghilardi and Wesley in place of Molina. Corriere della Sera and Il Tempo both switch to a 3-4-1-2, with Mora and Soulé behind Malen. Leggo is the outlier, placing Hermoso in the back three alongside Ghilardi and Balerdi. The lineups show how much rotation Roma are considering for the Cagliari match, with several first-choice players either on the bench or resting. Balerdi appears in every projected starting eleven, and Malen leads the attack in all six predictions. Dybala's role as a substitute will be the main talking point for fans if he is not called into the starting line-up.

Roma host Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday 27 October at 20:45 in the ninth round of Serie A, with Gian Piero Gasperini weighing up some changes after the 3-3 draw at Napoli's Maradona. Roma remain unbeaten in Serie A and sit third with 18 points from eight matches, having drawn their head-to-head clashes against Inter, Como and Napoli. Cagliari, coached by Fabio Pisacane, are ninth on 13 points and come into the game on the back of two consecutive defeats, against Monza and Bologna. Roma are looking to return immediately to winning ways to stay within touching distance of the top of the table. The trip to Naples was described as a costly one, and Gasperini is considering some rotation. Dybala is returning towards the matchday squad but is expected to start on the bench. Svilar, Koné and Pellegrini are ruled out. Gollini keeps his place in goal, while Ghilardi could get a chance in defence alongside N'Dicka and Balerdi. Cristante starts in midfield from the first minute alongside Pisilli. Lulli and Molina are favoured on the flanks, with Soulé and Rodrigo Mora expected to support Malen up front. For Cagliari, Pisacane must do without Winks, who is sidelined by lumbar pain, as well as Felici and Idrissi. Trepy returns to the matchday squad. Yerry Mina is set to return to the starting line-up in defence, while Sugawara and Zé Pedro compete for a place on the right. Gagliardini will take Winks' place in midfield, with Maldini and Adopo expected to play behind Mendy, although Kevin Carlos remains a possible option. The match will be broadcast exclusively on DAZN, available through the DAZN app on smart TVs, smartphones, tablets, consoles and computers. There will be no live broadcast on the traditional Sky Sport channels. Kick-off at the Stadio Olimpico is set for 20:45 on Tuesday 27 October. Bookmakers make Roma clear favourites. A Roma win is priced on average between 1.33 and 1.35, a draw around 4.90-5.00, and a Cagliari win between 8.25 and 9.60. The market also expects a game with at least three goals, with Over 2.5 favoured over Under, and No Goal offered at a slightly lower price than Goal. The 2-0 correct score to Roma carries the shortest odds at around 6.50, ahead of 1-0 and 2-1. ROMA (3-4-2-1): Gollini; Ghilardi, Ndicka, Balerdi; Lulli, Cristante, Pisilli, Molina; Soulé, Mora; Malen. Manager: Gasperini. CAGLIARI (4-3-2-1): Caprile; Sugawara, Mina, Rodriguez, Obert; Romano, Gagliardini, Deiola; Adopo, Maldini; Mendy. Manager: Pisacane. Referee: Ermanno Feliciani (Teramo). Assistants: Zingarelli and Fontani. Fourth official: Mariani. VAR: Ghersini. AVAR: Camplone.

AS Roma have officially extended the contract of 19-year-old Emanuele Lulli until 30 June 2031. The club announced a five-year deal for the 2007-born player, one of the standout young talents of the season under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. The renewal follows a start to the league campaign in which Lulli has earned an increasing share of minutes in Gasperini's rotation. He has also scored his first Serie A goal, against Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico. Over the summer, the player appeared destined for a loan move to find regular football. Gasperini instead chose to keep him, recognising his potential and quickly turning him into a first-team option. The signing marks another step in the club's strategy of developing players from its youth academy. Roma's official statement read: "AS Roma is pleased to announce the extension of Emanuele Lulli's contract. The giallorosso wide player, who this season made his professional debut and also scored his first goal in the match against Genoa, has signed a five-year agreement until 30 June 2031. Lulli and Roma will continue to write their future together, in the spirit of continuity and belonging to the giallorosso colours. Congratulations, Emanuele!" The previous agreement was due to expire in June 2027. Reports suggest the new contract includes a progressively rising salary and bonuses linked to individual performances and team results. CEO Galantic recently named Lulli and Niccolò Pisilli as examples of the club's youth development path, and the renewal is seen as a signal of the club's commitment to its academy players for both the present and the future.