Roma eye a top-of-the-table push before Christmas with five reasons for optimism

Former Roma striker Roberto Pruzzo has said Mora has around half an hour of energy in him and struggles when the level rises, speaking on Radio Radio Mattino (104.5). Pruzzo said: "Roma go for walks against the smaller teams, like Sassuolo. They could find something more from the market and from the recovery of Dybala, who hasn't played for months. Mora still has about half an hour of energy, and against teams like Sassuolo he goes to town. Then, when the level rises, he struggles more. In these games, however, he manages to excel and is sought out by his team-mates. He can carve out an important role." Pruzzo also revised his view of MATías Hermoso, admitting he had misjudged him. He said: "On Hermoso I have changed my mind: he has rebounded spectacularly, I had got my assessment of him wrong." Pruzzo's remarks came as Roma's form and squad options were being debated across the capital's radio stations, which he described as a phenomenon unmatched elsewhere in Italy. Fellow Radio Radio Mattino pundit Nando Orsi was equally bullish about Roma's title prospects. He said: "At the start of the season I had no doubts about Roma's chances in the Scudetto fight. They are simply confirming the predictions I made a few months ago."

Roma are dreaming of the Serie A summit after a dominant start to the 2026-27 campaign, with the club scoring freely and sitting third in the table. Gian Piero Gasperini's side have scored 31 goals in 11 matchdays, the best start in the club's history, averaging 2.82 goals per game. La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Roma sit just behind Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Leipzig among the leading European leagues' goalscoring rankings, ahead of PSG, Real Madrid and Brighton. Dusan Malen has been the standout, already on eleven goals, but the scoring is spread across the squad: fourteen players have found the net, which the paper describes as a truly collective idea of football. Roma are third, just two points behind capolista Lazio, and both Rome clubs are unbeaten after eleven matchdays, a historic first. After the international break, Roma face what look like easier fixtures against Parma and Monza, while Lazio and Inter have tougher assignments. That scenario opens the door to Roma reaching the top of the table by December. The mood inside the club is also improving. Past tensions appear to have been put aside, and Trigoria, the team, the fans and the board are pulling in the same direction. La Gazzetta dello Sport notes that this energy is becoming the invisible engine behind a dream that is taking clearer shape with each passing day.

Roma are sending out a strong signal in the title race, with Gasperini's side third in Serie A, just two points behind Lazio, who sit top. Manu Koné has already returned against Sassuolo, giving the coach an extra option in midfield, and Mile Svilar and Paulo Dybala are set to be available again after the international break. Those two comebacks are seen as crucial, as both change the way Roma play. Roma have played nine matches in 27 days while short of players because of injuries, and the emergency is now ending, which is good news for Gasperini. The team's league form owes much to a cohesive, united dressing room that is pushing towards the big dream. Andrea Pugliese, writing in La Gazzetta dello Sport, highlighted the rapid progress of the young group, with Soulé, Mora, Ghilardi, Lulli, Wesley, Castro and Pisilli leading the way, while Rensch and Koulierakis also contribute. Roma are unbeaten in the league and have already shown their attacking threat, scoring 31 goals in 11 matches, the club's best return after 11 league rounds. It is also Gasperini's personal record, surpassing the more than 30 goals he scored with Atalanta in 2019/20. Roma are averaging 2.82 goals per game, almost a European best. After the break, Roma face two comparatively kind fixtures, away to Parma and at home to Monza. Lazio will host Lecce at the Olimpico and travel to Torino, while Inter face Atalanta away in Bergamo and Genoa at San Siro. It has never before happened that two teams from the same city were both unbeaten after 11 rounds, underlining how strong the Rome race has become.

Rodrigo Mora has finally come into his own, cancelling out early doubts within weeks and establishing himself as one of the brightest talents in Gasperini's Roma. Corriere della Sera reports that his rise has exploded recently, overturning the difficulties of his first months and the debate over his transfer cost. His goal against Sassuolo was his third consecutive Serie A goal, following those against Cagliari and Udinese: four goals in total in just 399 minutes, an average of one goal every hundred minutes. He has also been a creative force in the Champions League, providing key assists at Old Trafford against Manchester United and against Real Madrid, while making the most of Dybala's absence to take control of the final third. Behind the breakthrough is Gasperini's total trust. The coach has always believed in the talent of the former Porto player, protecting him when he played less and developing him in the final metres. Mora is now the club's second-highest scorer alongside Pisilli and Soulé, behind only Malen. He has also earned his first call-up to the Portugal senior squad, in what the report describes as the new era after Cristiano Ronaldo. The milestone adds weight to an exciting progression within an ambitious technical and economic project, and the Friedkin Group have a talent of enormous value on their hands, ready to make Giallorossi fans dream. The report's central message is that Mora has gone from a player under scrutiny to one of the most decisive presences in the squad, with a personality and technical freshness that have won over everyone at Trigoria. Corriere della Sera frames his progress as the reward for both the coach's faith and the club's investment, with the young midfielder now taking centre stage with the composure of a natural.

Rodrigo Mora's time has arrived, with the Portuguese teenager scoring in a third consecutive Serie A match against Sassuolo, following earlier goals against Cagliari and Udinese. In the past few hours he has also earned his first call-up to the Portugal senior national team, in the post-Cristiano Ronaldo era. The Corriere della Sera's Simone Valdarchi writes that there is no crown to inherit and no blasphemous comparison to make; this is simply the story of a teenager who has handled the normal difficulties of arriving in Italian football with brilliance, in an important city like Rome and in a season when Gasperini wants to aim for the top of the league. For weeks, things were not going so well for Mora, but he has kept working and waiting for his moment. In recent weeks, with Dybala out and set to return after the international break in Parma, Mora has found space in the trequartista role, adding flair to matches with his touches in the final 30 metres. Alongside his three consecutive Serie A goals, he produced the assist for Soulé's opening goal for Roma against Manchester United at Old Trafford last Tuesday. It was his second assist of the season, after the one against Real Madrid for Malen. Those were not ordinary fixtures. With the goal against Sassuolo, the Portuguese now has four goals, making him the club's second-highest scorer alongside Pisilli and Soulé, behind Malen, who is on 12. Valdarchi's point is that Mora is a teenager, born in 2007, who is adjusting to a new league and a demanding city. Mora's first senior call-up with Portugal marks a further step in a rapid rise, and the youngster now combines international recognition with a growing role in Gasperini's attacking options.

Roma are dreaming of the Serie A summit after a dominant start to the 2026-27 campaign, with the club scoring freely and sitting third in the table. Gian Piero Gasperini's side have scored 31 goals in 11 matchdays, the best start in the club's history, averaging 2.82 goals per game. La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Roma sit just behind Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Leipzig among the leading European leagues' goalscoring rankings, ahead of PSG, Real Madrid and Brighton. Dusan Malen has been the standout, already on eleven goals, but the scoring is spread across the squad: fourteen players have found the net, which the paper describes as a truly collective idea of football. Roma are third, just two points behind capolista Lazio, and both Rome clubs are unbeaten after eleven matchdays, a historic first. After the international break, Roma face what look like easier fixtures against Parma and Monza, while Lazio and Inter have tougher assignments. That scenario opens the door to Roma reaching the top of the table by December. The mood inside the club is also improving. Past tensions appear to have been put aside, and Trigoria, the team, the fans and the board are pulling in the same direction. La Gazzetta dello Sport notes that this energy is becoming the invisible engine behind a dream that is taking clearer shape with each passing day.

Mile Svilar is edging closer to a return, with Roma's goalkeeper still at Trigoria on Sunday continuing his recovery from a fracture to his right foot that has kept him sidelined for the past month. Roma resume training on Wednesday. The Belgian had hoped to speed up his return, but after checks ten days ago, caution prevailed. Svilar is set to be ready to reclaim his place between the posts for the match at Parma, having been replaced by Gollini, who defended the goal well up to Manchester. A back problem also forced the Roman club's number ninety-five to miss the last two matches. The two-week international break, writes Gabriele Turchetti in Il Tempo, presents the perfect opportunity for Paulo Dybala to recover his best form. The Argentine's layoff caused by a calf tear sustained against Real Madrid has been longer than expected, but his condition is now improving and, barring setbacks, he will be available again for the Parma game. Together, the returns of Svilar and Dybala would give Roma a significant double boost ahead of the trip to Parma, with the break allowing both players the time needed to get back to full fitness.

Roma are set to welcome back key players after the international break, with Mile Svilar and Paulo Dybala both close to returning from injury, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. The break arrives at a convenient moment for the club, which has come through a difficult run of closely spaced matches and numerous injuries. In 27 days Roma played nine games with a limited number of players available, but the injury list is finally emptying and Gian Piero Gasperini will regain fundamental pieces for the second half of the season. The Roman side has managed to cope thanks to the depth of the squad and the early return of Manu Koné against Sassuolo. Svilar's influence is shown clearly by the numbers: with him in goal, Roma had conceded just four goals in six matches, a very low average that inevitably changed during his absence. Dybala's return, meanwhile, will bring back the special quality seen in the first part of the season, even as Roma appreciate the growth of Matías Soulé. Gasperini can also count on Gianluca Mancini and Devyne Rensch, both ready to return to availability, ahead of the trip to Parma on 21 November. Lorenzo Pellegrini will not return until January. Despite that, the overall picture is very positive, with Roma recovering all their players and preparing to become even more competitive.

Mile Svilar and Paulo Dybala are edging closer to returning to action during the international break, while Lorenzo Pellegrini has chosen not to undergo surgery on his tendon but will still be out for a long time. Svilar, sidelined for about a month with a fracture to his right foot, was at Trigoria yesterday to continue his recovery programme, even though the squad's return to training is scheduled for Wednesday. After recent checks, Roma preferred not to rush his timetable, and the aim is to have him back between the posts regularly for the away trip to Parma on 21 November. Dybala should also be available again at the Tardini. The Argentine is recovering from a calf injury picked up against Real Madrid and will use the next two weeks to regain his best condition. The most significant news concerns Pellegrini. The Roma number seven has been out since the Champions League match against Slovan Bratislava with a high-grade injury to the muscle-tendon area of his right thigh. He has decided to avoid surgery and follow a conservative recovery path instead. It is an important decision, but it does not shorten the time he will spend on the sidelines: he will not be back before January at the earliest. Gasperini will therefore be without the midfielder for the entire final part of 2026. Gianluca Mancini, who had to withdraw from the Italy squad because of a muscular strain to his right hamstring that prevented him from playing against Sassuolo, is also progressing well. The defender will stay at Trigoria for treatment and is aiming to be available as early as the Parma game. The situation of Devyne Rensch is less certain. He was forced off by a tear to his right adductor during the trip to Manchester. The Dutchman will try to recover for Parma, but his return could slip back to the next Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain. The break should also allow Gollini to fully overcome his back problem. Roma therefore hope to resume with Svilar, Dybala, Mancini and Koné all available again, after Koné already returned to the pitch against Sassuolo. The treatment room should finally start to empty, although Pellegrini will require further patience.

Rodrigo Mora has finally come into his own, cancelling out early doubts within weeks and establishing himself as one of the brightest talents in Gasperini's Roma. Corriere della Sera reports that his rise has exploded recently, overturning the difficulties of his first months and the debate over his transfer cost. His goal against Sassuolo was his third consecutive Serie A goal, following those against Cagliari and Udinese: four goals in total in just 399 minutes, an average of one goal every hundred minutes. He has also been a creative force in the Champions League, providing key assists at Old Trafford against Manchester United and against Real Madrid, while making the most of Dybala's absence to take control of the final third. Behind the breakthrough is Gasperini's total trust. The coach has always believed in the talent of the former Porto player, protecting him when he played less and developing him in the final metres. Mora is now the club's second-highest scorer alongside Pisilli and Soulé, behind only Malen. He has also earned his first call-up to the Portugal senior squad, in what the report describes as the new era after Cristiano Ronaldo. The milestone adds weight to an exciting progression within an ambitious technical and economic project, and the Friedkin Group have a talent of enormous value on their hands, ready to make Giallorossi fans dream. The report's central message is that Mora has gone from a player under scrutiny to one of the most decisive presences in the squad, with a personality and technical freshness that have won over everyone at Trigoria. Corriere della Sera frames his progress as the reward for both the coach's faith and the club's investment, with the young midfielder now taking centre stage with the composure of a natural.

Former Roma striker Roberto Pruzzo has said Mora has around half an hour of energy in him and struggles when the level rises, speaking on Radio Radio Mattino (104.5). Pruzzo said: "Roma go for walks against the smaller teams, like Sassuolo. They could find something more from the market and from the recovery of Dybala, who hasn't played for months. Mora still has about half an hour of energy, and against teams like Sassuolo he goes to town. Then, when the level rises, he struggles more. In these games, however, he manages to excel and is sought out by his team-mates. He can carve out an important role." Pruzzo also revised his view of MATías Hermoso, admitting he had misjudged him. He said: "On Hermoso I have changed my mind: he has rebounded spectacularly, I had got my assessment of him wrong." Pruzzo's remarks came as Roma's form and squad options were being debated across the capital's radio stations, which he described as a phenomenon unmatched elsewhere in Italy. Fellow Radio Radio Mattino pundit Nando Orsi was equally bullish about Roma's title prospects. He said: "At the start of the season I had no doubts about Roma's chances in the Scudetto fight. They are simply confirming the predictions I made a few months ago."

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is pushing for reinforcements in the January transfer window, with a meeting between the club and the coach expected in the coming days to set the strategy. The November international break arrives at the right moment for Roma, who are enjoying an exciting start to the season, sitting third in Serie A and unbeaten in the league. Gasperini has now been in charge for 521 days, and the club and its management know that making the final leap in quality will require making the most of the January market. According to Il Tempo, Roma have not lost in Serie A for 18 matches, boast the league's best attack with 31 goals, and have the second-best defence. Gasperini sees the fruits of his work and the growth of a group that functions perfectly. He is aware, however, that there are still details to improve, such as finishing and handling decisive moments, if Roma are to close the gap on Lazio and Inter. That is why the winter window, which opens early on 28 December, is a key step. The top priority is clear: Roma need a fast winger capable of providing depth and unpredictability. Gasperini considers that profile fundamental, partly because players such as Dybala and Pellegrini do not offer constant physical guarantees. In other areas, Roma feel covered. The attack is working thanks to Soulé and Mora, and on the flanks the emergence of Lulli has reduced the urgency to act. Defence and midfield also offer good certainties.