Roma hold firm in Istanbul as Champions League campaign begins

Roma host Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday 27 October at 20:45 in the ninth round of Serie A, with Gian Piero Gasperini weighing up some changes after the 3-3 draw at Napoli's Maradona. Roma remain unbeaten in Serie A and sit third with 18 points from eight matches, having drawn their head-to-head clashes against Inter, Como and Napoli. Cagliari, coached by Fabio Pisacane, are ninth on 13 points and come into the game on the back of two consecutive defeats, against Monza and Bologna. Roma are looking to return immediately to winning ways to stay within touching distance of the top of the table. The trip to Naples was described as a costly one, and Gasperini is considering some rotation. Dybala is returning towards the matchday squad but is expected to start on the bench. Svilar, Koné and Pellegrini are ruled out. Gollini keeps his place in goal, while Ghilardi could get a chance in defence alongside N'Dicka and Balerdi. Cristante starts in midfield from the first minute alongside Pisilli. Lulli and Molina are favoured on the flanks, with Soulé and Rodrigo Mora expected to support Malen up front. For Cagliari, Pisacane must do without Winks, who is sidelined by lumbar pain, as well as Felici and Idrissi. Trepy returns to the matchday squad. Yerry Mina is set to return to the starting line-up in defence, while Sugawara and Zé Pedro compete for a place on the right. Gagliardini will take Winks' place in midfield, with Maldini and Adopo expected to play behind Mendy, although Kevin Carlos remains a possible option. The match will be broadcast exclusively on DAZN, available through the DAZN app on smart TVs, smartphones, tablets, consoles and computers. There will be no live broadcast on the traditional Sky Sport channels. Kick-off at the Stadio Olimpico is set for 20:45 on Tuesday 27 October. Bookmakers make Roma clear favourites. A Roma win is priced on average between 1.33 and 1.35, a draw around 4.90-5.00, and a Cagliari win between 8.25 and 9.60. The market also expects a game with at least three goals, with Over 2.5 favoured over Under, and No Goal offered at a slightly lower price than Goal. The 2-0 correct score to Roma carries the shortest odds at around 6.50, ahead of 1-0 and 2-1. ROMA (3-4-2-1): Gollini; Ghilardi, Ndicka, Balerdi; Lulli, Cristante, Pisilli, Molina; Soulé, Mora; Malen. Manager: Gasperini. CAGLIARI (4-3-2-1): Caprile; Sugawara, Mina, Rodriguez, Obert; Romano, Gagliardini, Deiola; Adopo, Maldini; Mendy. Manager: Pisacane. Referee: Ermanno Feliciani (Teramo). Assistants: Zingarelli and Fontani. Fourth official: Mariani. VAR: Ghersini. AVAR: Camplone.

Donyell Malen has gone three consecutive Serie A matches without a goal, a first for him since he joined Roma last January, and Roma host Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday in a midweek fixture for the ninth matchday. Malen failed to score against Inter, against Como, where his controversial red card meant he missed the Genoa game, and against Napoli. The dry spell is considered a natural part of a demanding season, and it is not expected to dent his overall output, given the penalty he scored against Slovan Bratislava last Tuesday. Malen will, as he has for the past ten months, lead the attack for Gian Piero Gasperini's side. The fixture against Cagliari brings back fond memories. Malen's last meeting with the Sardinians came on Monday, 9 February, when he was the star of a 2-0 Roma win. He scored a brilliant double, first chipping Caprile in the 25th minute and then finishing a decisive run in the 65th minute to seal the result. Roma's striker has shown that he can deliver against Cagliari at home, and a similar performance would help end his recent barren run. Francesco Totti was in the stands that evening, and Malen has recently shared a warm embrace with the Roma legend.

Roma goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini produced a key save against former team-mate Matteo Politano during Napoli-Roma, and the two shared a light-hearted moment afterwards. In the 57th minute at the Maradona, with Napoli leading 2-0, Politano took advantage of an error by Wesley to go one-on-one with Gollini and try to seal the match. Napoli's number 21, however, had not reckoned with the effective rush off his line by the Roma keeper, who closed down the angle. The two were team-mates at Napoli in the 2023-24 season, and the exchange showed that their friendship runs deeper than the 90 minutes. Roma were beaten 2-0 at the time of the incident, with Wesley's mistake proving costly in the build-up. According to DAZN, which published the clip on Instagram, Gollini approached his friend after the save and embraced him, almost as a consolation, before giving him a friendly nudge towards the centre of the pitch.

Gian Piero Gasperini is preparing further changes for Roma's home match against Cagliari, with Paulo Dybala close to a return and Mile Svilar possibly back sooner than expected. The fixture comes after Roma's costly 3-3 draw at the Maradona, and the kickoff at the Stadio Olimpico is at 20:45 tomorrow evening. The schedule leaves no time to rest, and Gasperini is set to rotate across the pitch. Emanuele Lulli is the favourite to start at right-back in place of Devyne Rensch, and the young full-back's contract renewal to 2031 is also drawing closer. In midfield, Gasperini is considering resting either Marten de Roon or Niccolò Pisilli, with Bryan Cristante moving back into the middle. Rodrigo Mora is a candidate to start alongside Matías Soulé behind Donyell Malen, adding quality and creativity in the final third. In defence, Leonardo Balerdi is heading for a starting place after his outstanding brace against Napoli. The Argentine could replace one of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka or Mario Hermoso, with Hermoso coming off a difficult display at the Maradona. Gasperini wants to exploit the form of the former Marseille defender while also giving some of his first-choice players a chance to recover energy. Pierluigi Gollini will be confirmed in goal. The most anticipated news concerns Paulo Dybala. The Joya trained with his teammates yesterday for part of the session after passing fitness tests on the pitch to check his recovery from a slight calf injury. Today's final training session will settle the last doubts, and the Argentine is close to a place in the squad for Roma-Cagliari. He is expected to start on the bench, with the aim of gradually regaining match rhythm and being ready to start on Saturday against Udinese. His recovery is also important ahead of the Champions League trip to Manchester United on 3 November. Encouraging signs also come from Mile Svilar. The goalkeeper is completing his rehabilitation in Belgium after a stress fracture to the fifth toe of his right foot. New checks are planned in the coming days to assess his healing and establish when he can return to working on the pitch. The latest reports leave open the possibility of an earlier return than initially forecast, which had him available only after the November break. The first target remains the match against Sassuolo on 7 November, but an availability for the trip to Manchester on 3 November is not ruled out entirely, a scenario still to be verified medically. UEFA regulations offer a route here: a goalkeeper temporarily replaced on the list for a long-term injury can be reinstated once recovered, subject to a minimum period of 30 days and the necessary formalities. For Svilar, a Champions League return is therefore not excluded in principle, but it will depend on his actual recovery and the regularity of his position on the list. Further back in their rehabilitation are Manu Koné and Lorenzo Pellegrini. The Frenchman will try to be available again before the November break, with the games against Manchester United and Sassuolo in his sights. Pellegrini's timeline is considerably longer, as he is dealing with a serious injury to his right thigh: the midfielder faces a layoff of at least two months, with a possible surgical procedure still to be evaluated. Gasperini will present Roma-Cagliari at a press conference today at 13:30 and is awaiting further updates from the medical staff. The immediate priority is managing energy levels and finding new solutions to beat the Sardinians, but the gradual return of injured players could give Roma fundamental alternatives for the games ahead. After weeks of crisis, some good news is finally emerging for the Giallorossi boss.

Roma's Argentine contingent is becoming increasingly decisive, with five South American players now providing the emotional force and decisive edge in the Giallorossi's play. While the Italian core of Cristante, Mancini, Pisilli and Pellegrini supplies structure, personality and tactical backbone, the Argentines are described as the team's emotional component and the factor that tips matches. Their performances are increasingly central to Gian Piero Gasperini's tactical plans. Leonardo Balerdi scored a brace in the 3-3 draw with Napoli at the Maradona, while Matías Soulé became more central to Roma's attacking play, scoring the goal that reopened the Napoli contest with a piece of high-class skill. Santiago Castro was decisive in unlocking the match against Genoa and provided the assist for Nahuel Molina's goal against Napoli, and Molina also scored in the European fixture against Slovan Bratislava. Paulo Dybala remains the technical reference point of the attack, capable of lighting up the team and guiding its ambitions. The five players differ in technical characteristics but share a common thread of temperament and determination. When Roma must dig in to find a reaction on the pitch, the contribution of the Argentine players turns suffering into opportunity, bringing quality, pride and tactical substance.

Napoli 1-1 Roma ended in a point for Roma in the Capital, but the match also brought controversy and standout performances. Max Allegri has come under fire after his comments in the press room at the Maradona, and the Giudice Sportivo is expected to rule on Monday, with a possible file opened by the Procura Federale. Fans are looking to Trigoria for a response, with the Friedkins expected to defend Roma. On the pitch, two Argentines shone. Matías Soulé, wearing the number 18, carried the team on his shoulders in the Maradona, scoring his third goal of the season and posting top-level numbers, and earning praise from Giaccherini. Leonardo Balerdi became the 12th different scorer in Gasperini's total football, and the centre-back has entered the history books at the Maradona. Balerdi's fiancée dedicated a sweet message to the defender. Mancini's impression of Allegri was also widely shared and very funny. Dybala is returning from injury ahead of the Roma-Cagliari fixture.

Roma goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini produced a key save against former team-mate Matteo Politano during Napoli-Roma, and the two shared a light-hearted moment afterwards. In the 57th minute at the Maradona, with Napoli leading 2-0, Politano took advantage of an error by Wesley to go one-on-one with Gollini and try to seal the match. Napoli's number 21, however, had not reckoned with the effective rush off his line by the Roma keeper, who closed down the angle. The two were team-mates at Napoli in the 2023-24 season, and the exchange showed that their friendship runs deeper than the 90 minutes. Roma were beaten 2-0 at the time of the incident, with Wesley's mistake proving costly in the build-up. According to DAZN, which published the clip on Instagram, Gollini approached his friend after the save and embraced him, almost as a consolation, before giving him a friendly nudge towards the centre of the pitch.

Amanda Martins, wife of Roma full-back Wesley, has announced their separation in a video posted to her Instagram profile, making serious accusations against him and confirming the end of their relationship. Wesley is one of Roma's standout performers this season, and the matter has drawn wide attention on social media in recent hours. Amanda said she decided to speak out "given all the rumours that are circulating", describing repeated infidelity and a lack of respect. She said: "He doesn't owe me anything any more, because today we are separated. And that doesn't make much difference, because even when he had duties towards me, he still disrespected me. He didn't cheat on me once, not twice, not three times, but a great many times. And not with one woman, nor two, but with many, including prostitutes. And I know these things because I saw them." She went on to describe her suffering: "I have already cried all the tears I had. I gave him a great many opportunities to confess, but he kept lying. He never asked for forgiveness: he thinks everything he has done is normal." Her accusations also extend to her pregnancy: "Even during the pregnancy I was betrayed and abandoned. I never made any of these things public. I forgave, I tried to build a family, but it didn't work. When a person is like that, they don't change." Finally, Amanda described incidents in bars and restaurants and their psychological toll: "I am telling you only a very small part. I had reached the point where I no longer felt comfortable even leaving the house. In restaurants he would ask the waitress for her number, or other girls waiting for the bathroom. When he drinks he has no self-control. I began suffering from anxiety attacks, something that had never happened to me before. At times I blamed myself. But when a man is no good, it doesn't matter."

Amanda Martins, wife of Roma winger Wesley, has announced the end of their marriage in a lengthy and harsh statement posted on her Instagram profile, accusing the Brazilian of repeated infidelity. The allegations have quickly spread across Italian and Brazilian media and represent a painful private storm for the Giallorossi player. In her post, Martins says she discovered numerous betrayals, including during her pregnancy, and explains why she chose to make public a matter that had until now remained private. She said she decided to speak after numerous rumours circulated on social media. The statement describes a story filled with bitterness, and she claims the infidelities involved other people, with prostitutes reportedly among those involved. Martins also says she discovered the situation through the footballer's phone, where she claims to have found photographs and videos. These are accusations made by his wife, and their truthfulness has not been independently verified. Martins said: "I never thought I would end up here, on my Instagram, opening up about a very important part of my life, which was my marriage." She continued: "He no longer owes me anything, because today we are separated. And that doesn't make much difference, because even when he had duties towards me, he still disrespected me." On the pregnancy, she said: "I was betrayed and abandoned even during my pregnancy." She explained that she initially chose to forgive and try to rebuild the relationship: "I accepted everything in silence, I forgave, I really tried to build a family, to have a solid marriage. But it didn't work." She also described the emotional toll, saying she went through moments of deep suffering and began suffering from anxiety attacks. She said she gave her husband many chances to clarify the situation without receiving the answers she sought. "I have already cried all the tears I had to cry," she said, describing the shock she felt after her discoveries. Wesley has not publicly responded to the new accusations. The separation announced on social media marks a new chapter in the personal life of the Roma full-back.

Roma host Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday 27 October at 20:45 in the ninth round of Serie A, with Gian Piero Gasperini weighing up some changes after the 3-3 draw at Napoli's Maradona. Roma remain unbeaten in Serie A and sit third with 18 points from eight matches, having drawn their head-to-head clashes against Inter, Como and Napoli. Cagliari, coached by Fabio Pisacane, are ninth on 13 points and come into the game on the back of two consecutive defeats, against Monza and Bologna. Roma are looking to return immediately to winning ways to stay within touching distance of the top of the table. The trip to Naples was described as a costly one, and Gasperini is considering some rotation. Dybala is returning towards the matchday squad but is expected to start on the bench. Svilar, Koné and Pellegrini are ruled out. Gollini keeps his place in goal, while Ghilardi could get a chance in defence alongside N'Dicka and Balerdi. Cristante starts in midfield from the first minute alongside Pisilli. Lulli and Molina are favoured on the flanks, with Soulé and Rodrigo Mora expected to support Malen up front. For Cagliari, Pisacane must do without Winks, who is sidelined by lumbar pain, as well as Felici and Idrissi. Trepy returns to the matchday squad. Yerry Mina is set to return to the starting line-up in defence, while Sugawara and Zé Pedro compete for a place on the right. Gagliardini will take Winks' place in midfield, with Maldini and Adopo expected to play behind Mendy, although Kevin Carlos remains a possible option. The match will be broadcast exclusively on DAZN, available through the DAZN app on smart TVs, smartphones, tablets, consoles and computers. There will be no live broadcast on the traditional Sky Sport channels. Kick-off at the Stadio Olimpico is set for 20:45 on Tuesday 27 October. Bookmakers make Roma clear favourites. A Roma win is priced on average between 1.33 and 1.35, a draw around 4.90-5.00, and a Cagliari win between 8.25 and 9.60. The market also expects a game with at least three goals, with Over 2.5 favoured over Under, and No Goal offered at a slightly lower price than Goal. The 2-0 correct score to Roma carries the shortest odds at around 6.50, ahead of 1-0 and 2-1. ROMA (3-4-2-1): Gollini; Ghilardi, Ndicka, Balerdi; Lulli, Cristante, Pisilli, Molina; Soulé, Mora; Malen. Manager: Gasperini. CAGLIARI (4-3-2-1): Caprile; Sugawara, Mina, Rodriguez, Obert; Romano, Gagliardini, Deiola; Adopo, Maldini; Mendy. Manager: Pisacane. Referee: Ermanno Feliciani (Teramo). Assistants: Zingarelli and Fontani. Fourth official: Mariani. VAR: Ghersini. AVAR: Camplone.

AS Roma have officially extended the contract of 19-year-old Emanuele Lulli until 30 June 2031. The club announced a five-year deal for the 2007-born player, one of the standout young talents of the season under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. The renewal follows a start to the league campaign in which Lulli has earned an increasing share of minutes in Gasperini's rotation. He has also scored his first Serie A goal, against Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico. Over the summer, the player appeared destined for a loan move to find regular football. Gasperini instead chose to keep him, recognising his potential and quickly turning him into a first-team option. The signing marks another step in the club's strategy of developing players from its youth academy. Roma's official statement read: "AS Roma is pleased to announce the extension of Emanuele Lulli's contract. The giallorosso wide player, who this season made his professional debut and also scored his first goal in the match against Genoa, has signed a five-year agreement until 30 June 2031. Lulli and Roma will continue to write their future together, in the spirit of continuity and belonging to the giallorosso colours. Congratulations, Emanuele!" The previous agreement was due to expire in June 2027. Reports suggest the new contract includes a progressively rising salary and bonuses linked to individual performances and team results. CEO Galantic recently named Lulli and Niccolò Pisilli as examples of the club's youth development path, and the renewal is seen as a signal of the club's commitment to its academy players for both the present and the future.

Former Cagliari figure Cappioli has praised Gian Piero Gasperini's Roma, saying the side is showing important margins and that Gasperini "is and remains an added value". Speaking in an exclusive interview with RS, Cappioli said he would have enjoyed playing in a team built so firmly around attack. He suggested the club's strong attacking identity could sometimes be adjusted, warning: "There are moments in some games that can be managed, otherwise in certain matches you risk having to score 4 goals to win." He added: "I see a Roma in great growth." On Niccolò Pisilli, Cappioli said: "Roman players, Romanisti and midfielders must not be touched (laughs). He has grown a lot, he is strengthening physically, I think he is working well, and in the centre alongside the two midfielders he is improving game by game. It will be important for the national team too." Turning to Cagliari, Roma's next opponents, he said the Sardinian side "has started very well, but comes off two heavy consecutive defeats. It has lost something defensively, and Roma cannot be afraid of the Sardinian side." Cappioli also spoke about the troubled exit of Claudio Ranieri, the former manager. "I was sorry, he was the coach who gave me my Serie C debut with Cagliari, when I came back from military service on Saturdays he always played me. I am sorry about how things went. Claudio is Roman, a Romanista, and he cares about this shirt." Asked whether Roma can fight for the Scudetto, he replied: "I think they will be in the race until the end, because it is a team in constant growth, although Inter are objectively superior to everyone."