Ratings: De Rossi's press conference responses, Lulli's emerging maturity

Serie A's seventh round takes place from Friday 16 to Monday 19 October, with Frosinone leading Sassuolo 4–2 after goals from Calò (9'), Raimondo (26', 30', 57') and Thorstvedt (37') for the visitors, with Berardi scoring twice for Sassuolo (15', 37'). Roma's attention turns to their home fixture against Genoa on Saturday 17 October at 20:45 at Stadio Olimpico, where former manager Daniele De Rossi will return as an opponent. The weekend also features Bologna–Inter, Milan–Atalanta, and Juventus–Lazio among the round's highlight matches.

Roma face Genoa on Saturday at 20:45 at the Olimpico, three days after a defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini said in his pre-match press conference: "We must broaden the squad. Now the young players must make us win." Gasperini will draw on Primavera reinforcements, with Panico highlighted as a midfield option. The first team faces forced selections in midfield and attack, with Soulé and Mora operating as playmakers behind Castro on the trequarti. Both were recruited for significant fees during the summer and are now expected to justify that investment immediately. Defenders Balerdi and Lulli will return to the starting line-up. Stephan El Shaarawy will feature in a significant personal moment on his return to Roma. The club has not won after the international break since 2024, a streak Gasperini's side will look to end.

Roma will face Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico on 17 October in Serie A matchday 8, with Daniele De Rossi in charge of the visiting side. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has named his squad, with Rodrigo Mora returning to the starting lineup after providing an assist in the Champions League against Real Madrid. Matías Soulé will play alongside the Portuguese midfielder, while Emanuele Lulli is expected to replace Nahuel Molina at left-back, with Wesley confirmed on the opposite flank. Pierluigi Gollini will start in goal behind a three-man defence of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso, with Leonardo Balerdi pressing for a place. Niccolò Pisilli and Marten de Roon complete the midfield four. Santiago Castro leads the attack. Roma's expected formation: 3-4-2-1.

Gian Piero Gasperini has flagged Roma's squad depth as a major concern ahead of the match against Genoa, with four key players unavailable. Donyell Malen is suspended, while Manu Koné, Paulo Dybala and Bryan Cristante are all sidelined through injury. Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Gasperini said: "Tomorrow I am worried about the fact that we have few substitutes and we will have to face the match in some positions with someone from the Primavera." The coach emphasised that European football demands a larger squad: "Whoever plays in the cups cannot have the squad of five years ago, numerically." Koné is sidelined by a first-degree muscle injury sustained against Real Madrid, with recovery targeted for the Sassuolo fixture. Dybala, dealing with fatigue in his calf, is closer to fitness; Gasperini said: "We hope to get him back next week." Cristante, troubled by inflammation of the knee, is aiming for the Napoli match but the coach is cautious: "I don't want to put his recovery at risk." Goalkeeper Mile Svilar faces a longer layoff due to a stress fracture of the finger and is expected back after the international break. Roberto Pruzzo, speaking exclusively to Romanews, framed the fixture from Genoa's perspective, noting their confidence after a win over Fiorentina: "The victory has unblocked the team's mind, so, despite the limits it has, Genoa will give battle." For Roma, Pruzzo stressed the importance of a response: "Beating Genoa would mean immediately starting to march again." He praised Gasperini's tactical choices, highlighting Lorenzo Pellegrini's deployment in midfield and Santiago Castro's opportunity to replace Malen: "He is a centre-forward—if not now, when?" The article also reflected on José Mourinho's return to the Olimpico as an opponent during the Real Madrid match, describing the warmth shown by Roma's supporters. Mourinho thanked the crowd on Instagram: "When the finest moments of a long career are not goals or victories, but rather emotions for which I can only humbly express my gratitude. Thank you Roma, thank you Roma fans. Emotions and eternal gratitude to you."

Antonio Cassano has criticized Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen while praising Gian Piero Gasperini in an appearance on Viva El Futbol. The former Roma striker was unsparing in his assessment of the squad: "Dybala has been dragging along for 2–3 years. Malen? I don't like him. If Malen scores more than 20 goals, Roma are in the top four — otherwise? But Dybala scored 3 goals last season." Cassano reserved high praise for the head coach, however. "For me Gasperini is a phenomenon — he and Sacchi changed football," he said. Yet he acknowledged the demands Gasperini places on his players: "But I would never want to be coached by him, not even in my prime, because he makes you run so much."

Donyell Malen says his understanding with Paulo Dybala emerged almost immediately after arriving at Roma, crediting their quick connection to a mix of intelligent movement and quality playmaking from both players. In an interview with podcast Tutto in Piazza, Malen reflected on the partnership despite the language barrier—Malen does not speak Spanish and Dybala does not speak Dutch. "From the first or second training session together," he said when asked when the understanding was born. "I think it's a combination of the two things. Sometimes I move well, other times he plays excellent football. It's something we try to exploit to be dangerous during matches." Malen has impressed since joining Roma, and he attributes his goal-scoring form to maturity, squad cohesion, and the environment. "I naturally have played a lot of football in my career and I believe I'm in the right place, with the right people. I feel a lot of confidence from the coach and my teammates," he said. "I think all these factors together create the ideal conditions to perform at my best." Malen explained that he chose to leave Aston Villa because he wanted to play every weekend in a role where he felt important. On Italian football's tactical differences from England, he noted that Italian sides organize defensively with compactness, whereas English football favours more open play: "Here, some teams organise differently. For example, they know how to defend with five players and build a very compact defensive block, which becomes difficult to overcome. It's a big difference from England, where there is a greater tendency to play man-to-man and attack, with more open matches. Here it's not always like that." Malen praised Roma's squad depth, mentioning Niccolò Pisilli as very young but talented, alongside Matías Soulé and others. He highlighted Gasperini's demanding training methods as physically tough but beneficial: "They're really very hard. That's why I learned that word [for tired]. The training sessions are hard and Gasperini doesn't mess around, but it's a positive thing for the squad. Everyone is in shape and I feel very good physically." He confirmed his preferred position is central, where he feels most comfortable and dangerous. Reflecting on his youth career, Malen played for Ajax in the Netherlands from ages 9 to 16, then Arsenal until 18, before returning to PSV in the Dutch second and first divisions. "Having the chance to grow in different youth sectors was really important for me," he said. Malen also noted that summer heat in Italy affects the pace of play compared to England's cold and rain, and he dismissed claims he is a simulator or argues with referees, saying he prefers to stay focused. His standout moment this season came in the opening match, where he scored a hat-trick, though he emphasised the squad's strength and unity: "I think the first match went very well. Of course scoring a hat-trick was important, but I believe that, as a team, we are very strong and united on the pitch."

Roma must rebuild mentally after their defeat to Real Madrid, with centrefield damage threatening to complicate their immediate recovery. Manu Koné is feared to have suffered a muscle injury that could sideline him until after the next international break, similar to Mile Svilar's absence timeline. Bryan Cristante will attempt to return for the Napoli away match, leaving Roma's central midfield options severely constrained for the Genoa fixture. Paulo Dybala's situation is more encouraging: the Argentine could even make the bench tomorrow despite the problem he sustained against Real Madrid. The mental challenge will define Roma's response; the technical gap over Genoa is clear on paper, but overcoming the psychological weight of the European night will be the real test. Gasperini's decision to speak at the pre-match press conference signals an attempt to rebuild group cohesion and restore energy after the European disappointment. In attack, a three-man unit of Soulé, Rodrigo Mora and Santiago Castro is gaining prominence, aided by Donyell Malen's suspension. Emanuele Lulli could feature on the flank in place of Nahuel Molina, with further defensive changes possible. Daniele Ghilardi may start, though it remains uncertain how much Gasperini will overhaul a back line already subjected to frequent rotation in recent weeks. A probable Roma XI shapes as: Gollini; Ghilardi, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Lulli, Marten de Roon, Niccolò Pisilli, Wesley; Soulé, Mora; Castro.

Roma squandered a dominant 82-minute display against Real Madrid at the Olimpico to suffer a heavy defeat in the Champions League. After controlling the match with high-quality football and commanding Real Madrid for the opening phase, Roma's discipline collapsed in the final eight minutes as three goals — all conceded from corner kicks — left the Stadio Olimpico in despair. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini received a rating of 6.5 across the Italian press for his tactical setup, but his side's defensive frailties in set pieces proved fatal. The match saw several substitutions: Manu Koné was withdrawn after just 16 minutes for Niccolò Pisilli, while Gianluca Mancini departed at the 63-minute mark for Leonardo Balerdi. Daniele Ghilardi and Nahuel Molina both entered late in the contest. Among the five major Italian outlets' player ratings, Donyell Malen emerged as Roma's standout performer, earning marks of 7.5 to 8 across the press box. Pierluigi Gollini and Balerdi drew the harshest assessments, with ratings ranging from 4.5 to 6 for the goalkeeper and 5 to 6 for the defender. Wesley drew consistent praise for a solid defensive showing, rated 6.5 to 7.5, while Matías Soulé and Evan N'Dicka also featured prominently in the squad across the 90 minutes.

Roma return to Champions League football at the Olimpico for the first time in seven years, facing Real Madrid, the competition's most successful winner. Gasperini opts for a three-at-the-back formation with Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso in defence. Wesley and Molina patrol the flanks, with Koné and De Roon in midfield. Soulé plays behind Dybala and Malen in attack. Roma (3-4-1-2): Gollini; Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Wesley, Koné, De Roon, Molina; Soulé; Dybala, Malen. Substitutes: De Marzi, Vásquez, Balerdi, Ghilardi, Koulierakis, Rensch, Lulli, Pisilli, Mora, Castro, Pellegrini. Manager: Gasperini. Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, Rüdiger, Cucurella; Valverde, Tchouaméni; Güler, Bellingham, Vinicius; Mbappé. Substitutes: Lunin, Mestre, Dumfries, Huijsen, Carreras, Camavinga, Bernardo Silva, Brahim Díaz, Diomandé, Endrick, Espí, Pitarch. Manager: Mourinho.

Roma will face Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico on 17 October in Serie A matchday 8, with Daniele De Rossi in charge of the visiting side. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has named his squad, with Rodrigo Mora returning to the starting lineup after providing an assist in the Champions League against Real Madrid. Matías Soulé will play alongside the Portuguese midfielder, while Emanuele Lulli is expected to replace Nahuel Molina at left-back, with Wesley confirmed on the opposite flank. Pierluigi Gollini will start in goal behind a three-man defence of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso, with Leonardo Balerdi pressing for a place. Niccolò Pisilli and Marten de Roon complete the midfield four. Santiago Castro leads the attack. Roma's expected formation: 3-4-2-1.

Gian Piero Gasperini held his pre-match press conference on 16 October ahead of Roma's Serie A fixture against Genoa on 17 October at 20:45 at the Stadio Olimpico. The manager provided injury updates following Roma's Champions League defeat to Real Madrid: Manu Koné has sustained a grade-one muscle lesion and Roma hope to have him available for the Sassuolo match, while Paulo Dybala is suffering fatigue to his calf and may return within a week. Gasperini confirmed that young players including Santiago Castro will feature prominently due to injuries and suspensions affecting the squad. Gasperini reflected on the defeat to Real Madrid, acknowledging Roma's quality whilst highlighting the importance of reacting immediately. He said the squad has demonstrated value over recent months and can compete with elite teams, but must avoid moral collapses. He noted that Roma were reduced to ten men against Como in their previous match, and highlighted the specific damage inflicted by Real Madrid's set-piece goals: "Three goals from corners…I had seen three missed penalties and thought that was a record, the other evening we surpassed ourselves." Gasperini stressed the need to strengthen the squad depth, saying that sides competing in the Champions League cannot operate with a squad of only 15 players and that substitutions are essential. On team selection for Genoa, Gasperini confirmed Lorenzo Pellegrini can operate in midfield and that Bryan Cristante is being assessed with a view to facing Napoli. Castro will lead the attack, offering "a good opportunity" for the youngster. De Roon, Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora were discussed as young players in development. Gasperini defended the use of five substitutes and set-piece defending, noting: "In such tight spaces, you defend anyway on the man, on the opponent. You don't follow him everywhere. It has always been effective; last year we won matches with Mancini, Hermoso, N'Dicka, Cristante…the other evening this happened." He added that some recent substitutes had performed well: "Mora came on well, Pellegrini too, Pisilli came on immediately, Koulierakis came on at the end." Gasperini emphasized that Roma must produce a strong response against Genoa. He stated: "Tomorrow we have a need for strength, conviction, energy…In the league we are protagonists, and tomorrow is a match that in one way or another we must pull out. If you win this type of match you recover players and give value to the players." The manager indicated that young academy players from the Primavera may be used if necessary.

Roma must rebuild mentally after their defeat to Real Madrid, with centrefield damage threatening to complicate their immediate recovery. Manu Koné is feared to have suffered a muscle injury that could sideline him until after the next international break, similar to Mile Svilar's absence timeline. Bryan Cristante will attempt to return for the Napoli away match, leaving Roma's central midfield options severely constrained for the Genoa fixture. Paulo Dybala's situation is more encouraging: the Argentine could even make the bench tomorrow despite the problem he sustained against Real Madrid. The mental challenge will define Roma's response; the technical gap over Genoa is clear on paper, but overcoming the psychological weight of the European night will be the real test. Gasperini's decision to speak at the pre-match press conference signals an attempt to rebuild group cohesion and restore energy after the European disappointment. In attack, a three-man unit of Soulé, Rodrigo Mora and Santiago Castro is gaining prominence, aided by Donyell Malen's suspension. Emanuele Lulli could feature on the flank in place of Nahuel Molina, with further defensive changes possible. Daniele Ghilardi may start, though it remains uncertain how much Gasperini will overhaul a back line already subjected to frequent rotation in recent weeks. A probable Roma XI shapes as: Gollini; Ghilardi, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Lulli, Marten de Roon, Niccolò Pisilli, Wesley; Soulé, Mora; Castro.