Roma eye the top of Serie A as they hit a record start to the season

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 into the November international break unbeaten in Serie A, and coach Gian Piero Gasperini is looking to strengthen the squad before the winter market opens. The Giallorossi sit two points behind leaders Lazio and one behind Inter, in third place. Gasperini is convinced the step up from third will come with new signings, and a meeting involving the various figures at the club in Trigoria is scheduled in the coming days to plan the moves. Roma have the league's best attack, with 31 goals scored, and the second-best defence, having conceded 10. The break gives the team a chance to recover the various absentees who have filled the infirmary. The January transfer window has been brought forward and opens on 28 December. Before then, Roma must keep their momentum going and also try to put right their Champions League campaign, after two dramatic comebacks conceded against Real Madrid and Manchester United. Including last season, Roma have gone eighteen consecutive league matches unbeaten, and the Olimpico remains an impregnable fortress. The article notes that on-pitch adjustments could help, such as improving precision in front of goal and greater concentration at key moments of matches. Gasperini's side has been given a 521-day mark since the announcement of his three-year project as coach. Reporter Filippo Biafora writes in Il Tempo that these numbers give Roma great confidence for the short-term future, with the market expected to provide the decisive push for the project.

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 third in Serie A, still unbeaten in the league and just two points behind capolista Lazio, and the Gasperini side have five good reasons to believe they can overtake them before Christmas. Their 31 goals in the first eleven matchdays represent a record in Roma's history. The Gazzetta dello Sport highlights that record as the most striking statistic. Roma have scored 31 goals in eleven matches, an average of 2.82 per game. No Roma side had ever scored as many after eleven league rounds. The goals are not down to Donyell Malen alone, who already has 11 league goals this season. Gasperini has seen 14 different players score, including defenders and midfielders, and the team finds the net in many ways and through many players. Gasperini has come through a gruelling spell of nine matches in less than a month with a squad decimated by injuries. Koné has already returned against Sassuolo, while Svilar and Dybala are expected back when the league resumes, both described as fundamental to the team's balance. Mancini is aiming to return against Parma, while Rensch still has some doubts. Pellegrini's recovery will take longer, and he will not return until January. Getting back players of this calibre could significantly increase the coach's options. Beyond the pitch, there is a great deal of enthusiasm among the team, the coach, the club and the fans. The Olimpico continues to push the giallorossi, while at Trigoria there appears to be a harmony that was not always taken for granted in recent years, a unity of purpose that could prove decisive in the most delicate moments of the season. The squad also has plenty of room to improve thanks to its many talents. Soulé, Mora, Wesley, Ghilardi, Lulli, Pisilli and Castro are gaining experience and personality. The most obvious case is Rodrigo Mora, still just nineteen, already decisive in the league and also featuring in the Champions League. When the league resumes, Roma face Parma away and Monza at the Olimpico, two fixtures that look manageable on paper. In the same period Lazio play Lecce and Torino, while Inter face Atalanta and Genoa. The calendar could allow the giallorossi to close the gap on their rivals and perhaps reach December at the top of the table. Gasperini does not want to settle for second place, and the January transfer window could add further options to a squad already considered competitive.