Roma and Lazio unbeaten after 11 Serie A games, a first in league history

Roma closed their last Serie A fixture before the international break with a win over Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico, and defender Leonardo Balerdi was quick to celebrate on social media. The Argentina international shared his satisfaction with the team's performance and turned his attention to his next commitments with his national side. The result came as a welcome lift for Gian Piero Gasperini's side, who had been left disappointed by their European campaign against Manchester United. Roma have regained their enthusiasm in front of their home crowd, and the victory is also a boost to the morale of the squad as they prepare to say goodbye to the players called up by their national teams. Balerdi wrote: "One last night at the Olimpico before the international break. A great victory and so many reasons to be proud. Now our focus is on Argentina."

Roma comfortably beat Sassuolo 3-0 last night, with goals from Hermoso, an own goal by Walukiewicz and a late strike from Mora completing the win. Italian newspapers handed out their player ratings, with Hermoso and Mora the standouts. Gazzetta dello Sport gave Hermoso 7.5 and Mora 7, while Corriere dello Sport rated Hermoso an 8 and Soulé 7.5, with Mora also at 7.5. Il Messaggero gave Hermoso 7.5 and Mora 7, and Corriere della Sera rated Hermoso 7.5 and Mora 7. La Repubblica gave Hermoso 7.5 and Mora 7, and Il Tempo rated Mora 7 and Balerdi and Ndicka 7. Coach Gasperini was rated 7 by Gazzetta, Il Tempo, La Repubblica and Corriere della Sera, and 7.5 by Corriere dello Sport. Across the newspapers, Vásquez, Molina, Wesley and Malen received mostly solid marks, with Koné and Cristante generally rated 6.5 to 7. Pisilli and De Roon were typically given 6, and Castro and Koulierakis were rated 6 by Gazzetta and Corriere dello Sport, with several reports not assigning them a mark.

Mora says his form has turned around after a difficult start, with three goals in a row lifting his confidence and his standing in the Roma side. "Things weren't going well a month ago, but things change," he said, describing his magical run. The Portuguese forward struggled early on and admitted it himself, with some understandable difficulties complicating his progress before something clicked. Gian Piero Gasperini can no longer do without him, having always regarded him as a "superior" player who simply needed time, and less of it than expected was needed. His latest strike came against Sassuolo, his second goal at the Olimpico, and it was another gem, the latest of the season. He now has four Serie A goals, one more than Nico Paz, who has three. His output has him second in Roma's scoring charts behind Donyell Malen, who has eight. Those who doubted he was ready for the biggest stages have been forced to think again, and he was applauded at Old Trafford in the first half. Asked for the secret, Mora pointed to hard work: "I'm improving in everything, every day." He has understood Gasperini's methods and thrown himself into them, day after day. That commitment has also earned him a call-up to the Portugal squad. "It's a good moment for me and my family," he said. Portuguese supporters will now get to enjoy his talent just as the farewell to their idol, Cristiano Ronaldo, approaches. Mora may one day rewrite his country's history as Ronaldo did, but he is not thinking about that and is taking things one small step at a time.