Rodrigo Mora handed chance to start for Roma at Napoli

Matías Soulé has been entrusted with Roma's attacking play for the trip to the Maradona, with Gian Piero Gasperini relying on him as the last available genuine creative option. Paulo Dybala is absent, and Lorenzo Pellegrini is injured, leaving the attack severely depleted for what is billed as a championship supermatch. According to Il Messaggero, Roma are rallying around their last available true playmaker. With the injury list full and the attack stripped bare, Gasperini is placing his faith entirely in Soulé, who must carry the team in a setting that holds particular meaning for him. It was at Napoli a year ago that his outstanding start to the previous season was abruptly halted by a fierce groin injury (pubalgia), which forced months of pain, time on the bench and rest after a start of seven goals and seven assists. Despite a summer dominated by transfer speculation and the possibility of a sale, Soulé has won back the trust of the club's environment and reclaimed his place in the side through his performances. Now, without his usual partners, he is ready to take centre stage: he must play in Donyell Malen and lead the team on a night that carries the feel of a major test.

Matías Soulé faces Massimiliano Allegri again ahead of Roma's big clash with Napoli at the Maradona, the coach who first believed in him and launched him into top-level football at Juventus. Today the Argentine forward is the offensive focal point of Gian Piero Gasperini's Roma, and he is ready to lead the side against his former mentor in a match with a special flavour. The bond between Soulé and Allegri began in September 2021, when the Juventus coach called up the young Argentine, then eighteen, for an away trip to Naples, and later gave him his first-team debut. After a loan spell at Frosinone, where he scored 11 goals and won the Coppa Italia at the Maradona, their paths separated with Soulé's move to Roma in the summer of 2024. In the capital, after a complicated start and several months on the fringes, Soulé won over space and trust, becoming a decisive figure last season and overcoming a problem with his groin (pubalgia). Today he is the beacon of the giallorossi attack, preparing to meet Allegri as an opponent with the aim of driving Roma to a night in which Argentine talent is set to lead the revival at the Maradona. The Friedkin-era squad now looks to Soulé for goals and leadership, and the Napoli fixture offers a chance to show that his development has been built on the lessons learned under Allegri at Juventus. For Roma, the match is a test of whether their attacking hopes can rest on his shoulders against a side that knows him well.

Napoli host Roma in a big Serie A Matchday 8 fixture, with the match available free on DAZN. Napoli, coached by Allegri, are reeling after a heavy defeat at Venezia, although they have shown signs of recovery following their Champions League win over Bodø/Glimt. They now sit ninth in the table and cannot afford further slips. Roma, under Gasperini, bounced back well from a bitter defeat to Real Madrid, comfortably beating Genoa in Serie A and Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League. The Giallorossi are keeping pace with Inter, who currently top the table on goal difference... on two points, and they are level at the summit with Lazio, whose start has surprised many, with the Rome rivals sharing top spot with Chivu's side. The article also covers the probable line-ups and the current Serie A standings ahead of kickoff.

Former Roma defender Antonio Carlos Zago has said Roma would have been certain winners against Napoli had the match been played at the Stadio Olimpico. Speaking to Il Tempo ahead of the trip to the Stadio Maradona, he said: "If the match had been at the Olimpico, I would have told you Roma would win 100%. At the Maradona it will be a bit more difficult, as Napoli will do everything to get out of this difficult situation. For them it could be the match that turns things around." Zago praised head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who he said has brought a winning mentality to the club. He said: "Gasperini works tremendously hard and bases his game on intensity and triangular passing. I consider him one of the three best coaches of recent years." Zago also judged Roma's summer transfer business to have been excellent. Asked whether Gasperini should keep trusting Mora even in Naples, Zago replied: "I believe Mora can be the ideal replacement for Dybala. He has started well, showing he is a strong player." On Endrick, Zago said: "He still has to fully prove his value and find his ideal role on the pitch. He would be useful to Roma, and I have no doubt he would grow a lot working with Gasperini."

Roma's squad depth and the fitness of key players dominated the club's radio debate, after Lorenzo Pellegrini picked up a new injury that will keep him out for a long spell. Carina, speaking on Radio Radio, said Pellegrini had been back at a high level and that the injury was a real blow. "Gasperini had talked about 20 days for Pellegrini: this injury is a real setback. He had come on very well, he played a very good half hour at Como and also against Slovan. Now the problem is that Roma have a squad that is qualitatively important, but numerically it is missing something. Roma arrive in Napoli with 16 outfield players: 11 plus 5 substitutions, and they play every three days. And you know you have a coach like Gasperini who brings these muscle injury problems with him. If you know he is that type of coach, the squad must be 22, not 20." Pruzzo, speaking on Radio Radio, focused on the attack. He said Matías Soulé was improving but needed to step up his level, and asked what role Santiago Castro could play, as he could now be the alternative. He felt Rodrigo Mora was too far behind, and said Roma had to hope Donyell Malen did not catch a cold, otherwise things would become difficult. Pes, on Teleradio Stereo, said a wider debate had opened about the length of Pellegrini's contract and how fragile players could change the shape of the squad. He named Paulo Dybala, Pellegrini and Manu Koné as players who often stop, adding that Roma were going to Napoli with 17 outfield players, which he called very few. Mattioli, also on Radio Radio, questioned whether every club should turn to the market whenever a player is injured, asking what would happen when the regular starters returned. "Every club should take refuge in the market every time it has an injury? What happens when you recover the starters? They should have foreseen that Gasperini's training sessions were not what Roma were used to. Roma now train with a capital "A", before it was not like that." Di Giovambattista, also on Radio Radio, offered a comparison with the past: "Roma with Mourinho and Ranieri trained less: Ranieri trained the mind." Pes also said Gasperini had probably intended to skip some press conferences given the number of matches, and that the coach had wanted to keep the group together, believing it could improve this season. "On Dybala and Pellegrini he has strongly wanted to keep them." The immediate test is the trip to Napoli, where Roma will be short of outfield options. Pruzzo said the priority was to reach January still in the race, and then to sign players in the market.

Gian Piero Gasperini is standing by Rodrigo Mora despite a recent dip in the young Portuguese's form, with the coach and the club viewing the slowdown as a normal part of his development rather than a cause for concern. The Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Mora is now handling the step up in level and the pressure of a demanding Roman crowd, with his form having dipped in recent weeks after a promising start to the season. Mora's performances against Genoa and Slovan Bratislava were described as hesitant, with some errors in front of goal slowing his progress and leaving him temporarily behind a more consistent and convincing Matías Soulé. Gasperini is carefully weighing how to use him ahead of the tricky trip to Napoli at the Maradona. The club's position, however, remains clear: Mora is an important investment and must be protected. He is young, has obvious quality and needs time to complete his physical and tactical development. There is no rush and no alarm, only a determination to develop him the right way. The report stresses that Mora arrived in Rome through a complex transfer operation handled by the Friedkin group. The club's approach is to be patient and manage his workload carefully rather than drop him over a few poor displays, with the focus on giving him the time he needs to mature into a key figure for the club.

Roma's squad depth and the fitness of key players dominated the club's radio debate, after Lorenzo Pellegrini picked up a new injury that will keep him out for a long spell. Carina, speaking on Radio Radio, said Pellegrini had been back at a high level and that the injury was a real blow. "Gasperini had talked about 20 days for Pellegrini: this injury is a real setback. He had come on very well, he played a very good half hour at Como and also against Slovan. Now the problem is that Roma have a squad that is qualitatively important, but numerically it is missing something. Roma arrive in Napoli with 16 outfield players: 11 plus 5 substitutions, and they play every three days. And you know you have a coach like Gasperini who brings these muscle injury problems with him. If you know he is that type of coach, the squad must be 22, not 20." Pruzzo, speaking on Radio Radio, focused on the attack. He said Matías Soulé was improving but needed to step up his level, and asked what role Santiago Castro could play, as he could now be the alternative. He felt Rodrigo Mora was too far behind, and said Roma had to hope Donyell Malen did not catch a cold, otherwise things would become difficult. Pes, on Teleradio Stereo, said a wider debate had opened about the length of Pellegrini's contract and how fragile players could change the shape of the squad. He named Paulo Dybala, Pellegrini and Manu Koné as players who often stop, adding that Roma were going to Napoli with 17 outfield players, which he called very few. Mattioli, also on Radio Radio, questioned whether every club should turn to the market whenever a player is injured, asking what would happen when the regular starters returned. "Every club should take refuge in the market every time it has an injury? What happens when you recover the starters? They should have foreseen that Gasperini's training sessions were not what Roma were used to. Roma now train with a capital "A", before it was not like that." Di Giovambattista, also on Radio Radio, offered a comparison with the past: "Roma with Mourinho and Ranieri trained less: Ranieri trained the mind." Pes also said Gasperini had probably intended to skip some press conferences given the number of matches, and that the coach had wanted to keep the group together, believing it could improve this season. "On Dybala and Pellegrini he has strongly wanted to keep them." The immediate test is the trip to Napoli, where Roma will be short of outfield options. Pruzzo said the priority was to reach January still in the race, and then to sign players in the market.

Paulo Dybala could be back on the bench as early as Tuesday against Cagliari, after medical tests following the Argentine's right calf problem showed a substantial improvement in his condition. The news comes with bad news for Roma elsewhere, as Lorenzo Pellegrini picked up an injury that has left the club disappointed. The slightly damaged right calf, located at the level of the gastrocnemius, is barely troubling Dybala any more, according to Corriere dello Sport. That gives Gasperini room to do what he wants: bring the forward back faster than originally planned, as the coach has been keen to do. Gasperini has made his feelings clear, saying: "Now that I have lost Pellegrini, I hope to recover Dybala as soon as possible, otherwise it becomes a problem." The timetable could be accelerated without significant sacrifice. Dybala could come off the bench in the final stages of the match against Cagliari, four days before the trip to Udinese, which was originally set as the target date in his recovery plan. The return would give Roma a valuable attacking option at a time when the squad is missing Pellegrini.

Paulo Dybala could return to action sooner than planned, with the latest medical checks showing a clear improvement in his right calf and giving Gian Piero Gasperini a timely boost. The Argentine forward's calf discomfort is now almost a thing of the past, according to Il Corriere dello Sport, and the medical and technical staff can now speed up his return without taking unnecessary risks. Gasperini had stressed the need to get Dybala back as quickly as possible after the long absence of Lorenzo Pellegrini, which risked leaving Roma with a near-total shortage of attacking options. Dybala could be available as early as next Tuesday for the match against Cagliari, possibly coming on in the closing minutes, before aiming for a starting place in the following away trip to Udine. That would be ahead of the original timetable. The accelerated recovery reflects Dybala's determination to put his previous physical problems behind him, to rejoin his teammates and to regain the high level of athletic condition that had impressed the coach before he was sidelined against Real Madrid. To follow all the latest Roma news for free on your phone, join the club's Telegram and WhatsApp channels.

Former Roma defender Antonio Carlos Zago has said Roma would have been certain winners against Napoli had the match been played at the Stadio Olimpico. Speaking to Il Tempo ahead of the trip to the Stadio Maradona, he said: "If the match had been at the Olimpico, I would have told you Roma would win 100%. At the Maradona it will be a bit more difficult, as Napoli will do everything to get out of this difficult situation. For them it could be the match that turns things around." Zago praised head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who he said has brought a winning mentality to the club. He said: "Gasperini works tremendously hard and bases his game on intensity and triangular passing. I consider him one of the three best coaches of recent years." Zago also judged Roma's summer transfer business to have been excellent. Asked whether Gasperini should keep trusting Mora even in Naples, Zago replied: "I believe Mora can be the ideal replacement for Dybala. He has started well, showing he is a strong player." On Endrick, Zago said: "He still has to fully prove his value and find his ideal role on the pitch. He would be useful to Roma, and I have no doubt he would grow a lot working with Gasperini."

Roma's squad depth and the fitness of key players dominated the club's radio debate, after Lorenzo Pellegrini picked up a new injury that will keep him out for a long spell. Carina, speaking on Radio Radio, said Pellegrini had been back at a high level and that the injury was a real blow. "Gasperini had talked about 20 days for Pellegrini: this injury is a real setback. He had come on very well, he played a very good half hour at Como and also against Slovan. Now the problem is that Roma have a squad that is qualitatively important, but numerically it is missing something. Roma arrive in Napoli with 16 outfield players: 11 plus 5 substitutions, and they play every three days. And you know you have a coach like Gasperini who brings these muscle injury problems with him. If you know he is that type of coach, the squad must be 22, not 20." Pruzzo, speaking on Radio Radio, focused on the attack. He said Matías Soulé was improving but needed to step up his level, and asked what role Santiago Castro could play, as he could now be the alternative. He felt Rodrigo Mora was too far behind, and said Roma had to hope Donyell Malen did not catch a cold, otherwise things would become difficult. Pes, on Teleradio Stereo, said a wider debate had opened about the length of Pellegrini's contract and how fragile players could change the shape of the squad. He named Paulo Dybala, Pellegrini and Manu Koné as players who often stop, adding that Roma were going to Napoli with 17 outfield players, which he called very few. Mattioli, also on Radio Radio, questioned whether every club should turn to the market whenever a player is injured, asking what would happen when the regular starters returned. "Every club should take refuge in the market every time it has an injury? What happens when you recover the starters? They should have foreseen that Gasperini's training sessions were not what Roma were used to. Roma now train with a capital "A", before it was not like that." Di Giovambattista, also on Radio Radio, offered a comparison with the past: "Roma with Mourinho and Ranieri trained less: Ranieri trained the mind." Pes also said Gasperini had probably intended to skip some press conferences given the number of matches, and that the coach had wanted to keep the group together, believing it could improve this season. "On Dybala and Pellegrini he has strongly wanted to keep them." The immediate test is the trip to Napoli, where Roma will be short of outfield options. Pruzzo said the priority was to reach January still in the race, and then to sign players in the market.

Paulo Dybala could be back on the bench as early as Tuesday against Cagliari, after medical tests following the Argentine's right calf problem showed a substantial improvement in his condition. The news comes with bad news for Roma elsewhere, as Lorenzo Pellegrini picked up an injury that has left the club disappointed. The slightly damaged right calf, located at the level of the gastrocnemius, is barely troubling Dybala any more, according to Corriere dello Sport. That gives Gasperini room to do what he wants: bring the forward back faster than originally planned, as the coach has been keen to do. Gasperini has made his feelings clear, saying: "Now that I have lost Pellegrini, I hope to recover Dybala as soon as possible, otherwise it becomes a problem." The timetable could be accelerated without significant sacrifice. Dybala could come off the bench in the final stages of the match against Cagliari, four days before the trip to Udinese, which was originally set as the target date in his recovery plan. The return would give Roma a valuable attacking option at a time when the squad is missing Pellegrini.