Pruzzo says Roma must sign a striker in January to replace Mora

Fabio Capello has said Inter remain the favourites for the Serie A title, while admitting he enjoys seeing both Rome and Milan at the top of the table. The former Roma manager spoke in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport. "I have always argued that Inter were the favourites, the best-equipped squad for the Scudetto, and at the moment I have no reasons to convince me otherwise. Seeing all of Milan and all of Rome up there, however, pleases me and takes me back to my past," Capello said. Capello also compared Roma with AC Milan, and he gave Gian Piero Gasperini's side the edge. "I see Roma in better shape, because they have an established way of playing, while the Rossoneri are still searching for their definitive identity. It is not a criticism: Gasperini has been working with his players for a year, while Amorim has only just arrived, and the difference on the pitch is noticeable." His comments point to the advantage of continuity at the Giallorossi, with Gasperini's methods now bedded in across the squad. For Roma, the praise from a former coach who knows the club well is a boost as the side keeps pace with the leaders. Capello's view is that the team are playing well, even though Inter are still the team he expects to win the title.

Radio pundits were largely united in their verdict on Roma's recent draw with Napoli, with several praising head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and debating the referees' decisions. Speaking to Tele Radio Stereo, Corsi said: "A team that goes behind and, after giving everything, starts again, goes behind once more and equalises... there you need conviction, mental and physical strength. Gasperini has given this motivation that the Roma players haven't had for years. Right now Italy doesn't have the money to buy the great players, and the important thing is identity. And Roma now have an identity, and Gasperini is Roma right now." Pes, also on Tele Radio Stereo, was less convinced by Wesley's performance. He said: "At Napoli, Wesley did not convince me fully... very much in the shadows, perhaps one of the worst performances in giallorosso. Now we'll see if he plays tomorrow, because Gasp could change the line-up there." Piero Torri, speaking to Manà Manà Sport, said: "Perhaps it was the best Napoli of the season, but Roma did not steal anything. I am convinced that if Roma had gone ahead it would have ended up very close. Napoli at one point you crushed them with a defence set up, imagine if they had to open up to recover the result." Daniele Lo Monaco of Radio Romanista focused on the refereeing and on Wesley. He said Wesley was probably told to mark Politano on his right side, but "marking him on the right does not mean 'step aside', because on the cross he really did step aside. A real defender does not do that, and Wesley now and then has a lapse." He argued there was a difference in treatment between Malen's red card and the non-sending-off of Rafa Marin for the foul on Wesley, adding that the error was made on Malen because neither his nor Rafa Marin's challenge was a red card. He added: "If I don't want to be the protagonist as a referee, I give the yellow, then if it's a red the VAR tells me." Mattioli, on Radio Radio, said the match was very beautiful and contested despite the errors that are part of football. He said: "I didn't like Beukema's attitude, third-category, at a very delicate moment of the match. I would not underestimate Napoli; I have seen important players return to the level of their fame, and they can resume the path worthy of their strength." Pruzzo, also on Radio Radio, was harsher on Beukema: "He threw himself to the ground, he made a terrible impression, if he had stayed on his feet perhaps he would not have let his side concede a goal." He said he agreed with almost nothing about the game: "It was a festival of errors. Napoli threw away two points with a conduct of the match I struggle to understand. Roma struggled a lot but managed to get through it, and in the end it is an acceptable draw." Nando Orsi, on Radio Radio, defended the entertainment value of a 3-3 scoreline, saying: "Why do games that finish 3-3 have to be ugly? I don't understand... Thank goodness there are no more 0-0s. Were there errors? But what error is there in Anguissa's goal?"

Roman radio pundits have given their verdicts on Roma's draw at Napoli, with several focusing on the performances of Wesley and Gollini and on Roma's attacking problems. Lorenzo Pes of Tele Radio Stereo (92.7) said: "At Napoli, Wesley didn't convince me fully. He was very much in the shadows, and it was perhaps one of the worst performances in giallorosso. Now we'll see if he plays tomorrow, because Gasp could change the team there. I've heard a lot about Gollini. In my opinion, he's putting in a performance worth a pass mark." Piero Torri of Manà Manà Sport (90.9) argued that the match narrative had been too kind to Napoli. He said: "I read an enthusiastic narrative about Napoli and a bit less about Roma. I didn't see Napoli dominate the first hour. The run of play was in Roma's hands, as they wanted to win it, and Napoli were countering. Perhaps it was Napoli's best performance of the season, but Roma didn't steal anything. I'm convinced that if Roma had gone ahead, it would have ended up being a tight game." Roberto Pruzzo of Radio Radio (104.5) was critical of the match as a whole. He said: "Beukema threw himself to the ground, he made a terrible impression, and if he had stayed on his feet perhaps he wouldn't have let his side concede. I agreed with almost nothing in the game; it was a festival of errors. Napoli threw away two points with a way of playing I struggle to understand. Roma struggled a lot but managed to get the better of it, and in the end it's an acceptable draw. There are clear attacking difficulties when Malen is shut out, and in January they are thinking about addressing it." Nando Orsi, also of Radio Radio (104.5), focused on the positions of Matías Soulé and Paulo Dybala. He said: "Soulé is left-footed, he likes coming inside onto the pitch and he plays better there. In my view, Dybala has nothing to do with it and isn't some kind of submission; for me it's purely a question of roles. He plays better there. Having two players like that and using them both could be a problem, because I think Dybala on the left doesn't perform at his best either."

Roma and Juventus have reportedly identified Genoa midfielder Samuel Wiafe, a 2008-born player, as a prospect to strengthen their midfield. Scouts from several of Serie A's biggest clubs were in the stands on Sunday to watch him closely, and both clubs are said to be evaluating him with a long-term view. Genoa bought the player in the summer from Modena for 2.5 million plus bonuses. In Roma's own news, Rodrigo Mora could get a first-team start against Cagliari. With Lorenzo Pellegrini out and Paulo Dybala at best likely to be on the bench, the Portuguese hopes to find room in his natural role. According to Il Messaggero, Gasperini sees Mora not as an alternative to Matías Soulé but mainly as the deputy for Dybala: a pure number ten, to be involved more between the lines and in the final pass. Roma's match against Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico is expected to draw around 60,000 spectators. It is the last home game before a double away trip: the Giallorossi travel to Udine on Saturday, then remain in Friuli to train on Sunday before leaving from Trieste for England, where they face Manchester United in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Roma host Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico tonight, with kick-off at 20:45, as Gian Piero Gasperini looks to return to winning ways after a draw at the Maradona. Cagliari, coached by Pisacane, started the season well but have lost two matches since the international break. Gasperini is expected to deploy Soulé and Mora behind Donyell Malen. Paulo Dybala is back from injury and is set to start on the bench. Lulli is expected on the right, while Molina and Wesley are in a contest for the left-hand berth. Hermoso and Marten de Roon are expected to be rested. The predicted line-ups printed by the Italian newspapers differ mainly on the left side of the defence and midfield. Most show a 3-4-2-1 formation with Gollini in goal, Ghilardi or Mancini alongside Ndicka and Balerdi, Lulli on the right, Cristante and Pisilli in the centre, and Soulé and Mora supporting Malen up front.

Rodrigo Mora is set for another start for Roma against Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico tonight, as he looks to answer doubts over his form and consistency. With Lorenzo Pellegrini and Paulo Dybala absent, Dybala is initially set to begin on the bench, and Mora has been given the opportunity to make an impact. Mora arrived in the capital as a major investment, with an estimated value of around fifty million, and the 2007-born Portuguese midfielder has so far struggled to live up to expectations. According to Il Messaggero, Gian Piero Gasperini sees Mora as, in effect, Dybala's deputy. However, sharing the pitch with the Argentine, or being asked to play in different roles such as on the left flank, has limited his natural explosiveness and his freedom on the edge of the attacking midfield. Gasperini has defended him publicly, praising his talent and his growing personality, while stressing that he needs to contribute more in front of goal. The Cagliari match is presented as the ideal chance to restart from simple things, rediscovering the calm and enjoyment in the game that marked his debut this season. The fixture comes amid a congested schedule, with Roma needing consistent performances from their squad options. Mora's chance to show his quality is now firmly in his own hands.