Roma must bounce back after Real Madrid loss, Gasperini emphasises pride and awareness

Endrick came off the bench to inflict Real Madrid's comeback victory against Roma at the Olimpico on Wednesday night, turning the tables on a club that had pursued him extensively during the summer transfer window before Madrid refused to let him leave. The Brazilian, a 2006-born prospect, had started the season with just four minutes of action and his frustration was evident. For the entire summer Roma and Endrick came close to agreement, only for José Mourinho to block the deal from Madrid's end. Now, after a devastating half-hour display down the wing—dribbling and attacking that exhausted Mario Hermoso and Nahuel Molina before exposing Konstantinos Koulierakis—the landscape has shifted dramatically. Roma has maintained contact with Endrick's entourage throughout, aware that a January window reopening could provide a second opportunity to land the forward. Real Madrid invested in Endrick when he was still a teenager. The scenario, however, has now been altered by his commanding performance at the Olimpico, which made Mourinho's return to Roma all the more memorable. Roma will hope their strong interest in January can reignite a deal that slipped through their fingers in the summer.

Roma face Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico after suffering a setback against Real Madrid in the Champions League. The Giallorossi aim to bounce back from European disappointment and secure valuable points to maintain their position near the top of the Serie A table. Genoa, managed by Daniele De Rossi, will look to build on their recent success against Fiorentina and continue their momentum.

José Mourinho returned to the Olimpico for the first time in nearly three years as Real Madrid defeated Roma 4–3 in a comeback victory on Wednesday. Malen and his teammates dominated for 80 minutes but were undone by a dramatic rally in the closing stages. The loss stung, but Roma's supporters across the city, in bars, on social media and on radio programmes applauded the team's display—frustration exists, but fans believe the club can dream big this season after a disappointing year previously. The stadium paid tribute to Mourinho before and during the match, but the gesture divided the fanbase. Many on social media criticised the former coach for his final celebrations and jibes at his successor, with some supporters declaring him ungrateful and no longer a romanista. The current manager on Roma's bench draws less charisma than Mourinho but carries significant pedigree. The club's three-year project to win the Serie A title for the first time in 25 years remains on track, and supporters believe the direction is correct. While some supporters welcomed Mourinho's homecoming, others felt the Olimpico's pre-match and in-game tribute was inappropriate given his departure from the club. The overriding sentiment, however, reflects optimism about Roma's path forward under new leadership.

José Mourinho returned to the Olimpico for the first time in nearly three years as Real Madrid defeated Roma 4–3 in a comeback victory on Wednesday. Malen and his teammates dominated for 80 minutes but were undone by a dramatic rally in the closing stages. The loss stung, but Roma's supporters across the city, in bars, on social media and on radio programmes applauded the team's display—frustration exists, but fans believe the club can dream big this season after a disappointing year previously. The stadium paid tribute to Mourinho before and during the match, but the gesture divided the fanbase. Many on social media criticised the former coach for his final celebrations and jibes at his successor, with some supporters declaring him ungrateful and no longer a romanista. The current manager on Roma's bench draws less charisma than Mourinho but carries significant pedigree. The club's three-year project to win the Serie A title for the first time in 25 years remains on track, and supporters believe the direction is correct. While some supporters welcomed Mourinho's homecoming, others felt the Olimpico's pre-match and in-game tribute was inappropriate given his departure from the club. The overriding sentiment, however, reflects optimism about Roma's path forward under new leadership.

Roma face Genoa without Malen, Dybala, Svilar, Koné and Cristante, forcing Gasperini to rely on an unfamiliar attack centred on two summer arrivals. Rodrigo Mora (Portugal) and Santiago Castro (Argentina) will make their first competitive pairing, with Soulé alongside them. De Roon and Pisilli will lead midfield against Daniele De Rossi's Genoa, while Lulli replaces Molina at right-back. Both young forwards carry significant investment and expectation: Mora arrived on a €25 million deal with a further €25 million option to secure him permanently, while Castro cost €30 million plus performance bonuses and reportedly took the train to Rome to complete the move. Their combined valuation approaches €100 million. The squad's depleted state means Gasperini has little margin for error. Roma nearly overcame Real Madrid in their last outing and must translate that character into the league. Mora made an impression against Madrid, coming off the bench to provide an assist for Malen, a display that would have earned him a rating of seven or better had the comeback succeeded. Castro has not played since the final stages of the Torino match, though he has since made his Argentina debut. Both players now carry the weight of the club's summer faith on their shoulders. Mora, 19, and Castro, 22, have yet to score their first goals at the Olimpico despite joining this summer with significant pedigree and investment. For Roma, victory against Genoa is almost obligatory as the season enters its autumn phase.

Roma's collapse against Real Madrid on Wednesday exposed a critical weakness: the absence of potent attacking alternatives on the bench. José Mourinho was able to deploy Arda Güler, Carlos Espí and Endrick to reshape Madrid's attack and mount their comeback, while Gasperini had to manage a squad already stretched by the injuries of Koné and Dybala, limiting his ability to shift the match through substitutions. The disparity underscores gaps in Roma's summer recruitment and points to unmet requests from the coaching staff. The club's priority remains a left-sided attacking winger, preferably right-footed, capable of beating defenders, creating numerical superiority and offering a concrete alternative to the regular starters. Roma also needs a left-footed full-back to broaden the manager's tactical options. Endrick would have represented one of the most appealing opportunities, as he demonstrated against Madrid, but Mourinho has publicly restated his determination to keep the Brazilian, declaring that anyone wanting to take him away in January will have to "fight" with him—language that makes any deal particularly difficult. Inspection has turned to other targets. Jamie Gittens at Chelsea has accumulated only 56 minutes in official competitions this season and may be open to a move in the next transfer window due to limited opportunities. Jamie Leweling at Stuttgart decided to stay over the summer but has not secured a regular starting place; in the first five Bundesliga matches he started only once, though he played over seventy minutes in the last fixture against Paderborn. His situation remains unresolved. New names on the radar include Kvernadze and Van Bommel. Tony D'Amico's task in the coming weeks will be to assess which opportunities can materialise—either from targets already monitored in summer or from new situations involving discontented players, those with limited game time, or those who become suddenly available. In January, Roma will seek above all another signing in the mould of Malen: a ready-made reinforcement to slot into rotation and immediately strengthen attacking depth. Wednesday's match against Real highlighted once more how heavily alternatives can weigh, especially when a contest is decided in the final twenty minutes.

Roma's loss to Real Madrid on Wednesday stung deeply—the team dominated for nearly the entire match before conceding three goals from corner kicks in the final eight minutes. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has chosen to speak publicly less than 48 hours after the defeat, a signal of his determination to rebuild momentum ahead of tomorrow's fixture against Genoa, then Roma-Slovan Bratislava on Tuesday. The setback must not erase what the squad has accomplished; Roma deserved to win until the 82nd minute, and individual errors in the closing stretch—from goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini, defender Leonardo Balerdi, and Nahuel Molina—should not overshadow the collective effort. Gasperini's readiness to address the media reflects lessons learned from Roma's collapse against Juventus last season, when the team surrendered a 3–1 lead and conceded two late goals. The loss to Real Madrid represents a growth process for both squad and club—and may vindicate the coach's request for a left-sided attacker with a right foot and a left-sided winger, demands that were not whimsy but tactical necessity. Despite the pain, there is much to celebrate: Donyell Malen has proven himself no ordinary Italian second-string forward; Wesley delivered an outstanding display; and Matías Soulé provided immediate impact with an assist for Malen, as did midfielder Rodrigo Mora, while Marten de Roon also earned praise for his contribution. For tomorrow's Genoa match, Gasperini will have only 17 outfield players available. The absences strike at the spine of the side: goalkeeper Mile Svilar, midfielder Bryan Cristante, fellow midfielder Manu Koné, forward Paulo Dybala, and Malen are all unavailable. The fixture comes as Genoa, managed by Claudio Ranieri, provide the immediate test of Roma's response.

Roma suffered a painful defeat to Real Madrid on Wednesday, conceding twice in the final eight minutes after leading into the 82nd minute, but head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is pressing his players to maintain belief ahead of Sunday's match against Genoa—a fixture that carries added weight with the return of former manager Daniele De Rossi to the opposition bench. Gasperini's decision to address the media less than 48 hours after the loss, and to do so again before facing Slovan Bratislava on Tuesday, signals his determination not to let the setback deflate the squad's confidence. The loss itself, though bitter, should be framed as a learning moment. Individual errors in those closing minutes—from goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini, defender Leonardo Balerdi, and defender Nahuel Molina—merit analysis, but the broader narrative is one of growth. The display offered reasons for optimism: Donyell Malen continues to prove himself an elite centre-forward, Wesley impressed enough to draw admiring comment from José Mourinho, Matías Soulé delivered, and Marten de Roon produced a strong performance. Rodrigo Mora was immediately decisive with an assist to Malen. For Sunday's Genoa match, Gasperini will have only 17 outfield players available. The absences cut deep into the squad's spine: Mile Svilar, Bryan Cristante, Manu Koné, Paulo Dybala, and Malen are unavailable. The midweek defeat, painful as it is, may have vindicated Gasperini's earlier requests for reinforcements—a left-sided attacker with a right foot and a left winger—needs that were perhaps dismissed as whims by observers but clearly reflect the squad's actual requirements.

Roma are awaiting instrumental examinations on Manu Koné and Paulo Dybala, both withdrawn early from Wednesday's Champions League match against Real Madrid. Dybala is suspected to have suffered muscular overload, but greater concern surrounds Koné, the French midfielder who appeared in tears after sustaining a flexor injury to his thigh. Tests scheduled for 16 October will clarify the severity of both injuries and recovery timescales. The assessments come as Gian Piero Gasperini faces the prospect of losing two more first-team regulars on top of existing absences, with Roma due to face Genoa on Saturday evening. The Stadio Olimpico is preparing a new Hospitality area in the Tevere Stand to complement the existing facility in the Monte Mario Stand. Work on the space is nearing completion and the new area could be inaugurated on Saturday during the Genoa fixture, offering dedicated services including catering to Hospitality bracelet holders. When interviewed by TNT Sports Brasil, Wesley expressed satisfaction with his performance against Real Madrid despite the result. "I'm happy, it's nice to receive a compliment from a manager like Mourinho," he said. The Brazilian revealed he had prepared carefully for his duel with Vinícius: "I was telling myself that I had to stop him. I was ready and I'm happy with my match, even though I still have a lot to improve." Gasperini had personally entrusted Wesley with the task of containing Real's attacker. "He told me he would put me to mark Vinícius and that he believed in me. I answered: 'Okay, let's go'," Wesley explained. Commentators offered contrasting perspectives on the performance. Carina on Radio Radio attributed Roma's collapse to individual errors: "It's hard to explain Roma's collapse. Roma played a spectacular match, dominated it, but matches last until the 90th minute and beyond. There were certainly individual errors: on Endrick's goal there's a marking error from Balerdi, on Rüdiger's from Molina. But it would be unfair to blame them entirely: it was a general collapse." Pedrelli on Radio Bruno 101.5 preferred to judge the display on performance rather than result: "I don't look at the result, but at the performance. A great match from Roma despite so many absences, against one of the strongest teams in the world. We're not far from making a real leap forward. Gasperini is the manager I wanted, especially in the answers he gives after the match."

Endrick came off the bench to inflict Real Madrid's comeback victory against Roma at the Olimpico on Wednesday night, turning the tables on a club that had pursued him extensively during the summer transfer window before Madrid refused to let him leave. The Brazilian, a 2006-born prospect, had started the season with just four minutes of action and his frustration was evident. For the entire summer Roma and Endrick came close to agreement, only for José Mourinho to block the deal from Madrid's end. Now, after a devastating half-hour display down the wing—dribbling and attacking that exhausted Mario Hermoso and Nahuel Molina before exposing Konstantinos Koulierakis—the landscape has shifted dramatically. Roma has maintained contact with Endrick's entourage throughout, aware that a January window reopening could provide a second opportunity to land the forward. Real Madrid invested in Endrick when he was still a teenager. The scenario, however, has now been altered by his commanding performance at the Olimpico, which made Mourinho's return to Roma all the more memorable. Roma will hope their strong interest in January can reignite a deal that slipped through their fingers in the summer.

Roma face Genoa without Malen, Dybala, Svilar, Koné and Cristante, forcing Gasperini to rely on an unfamiliar attack centred on two summer arrivals. Rodrigo Mora (Portugal) and Santiago Castro (Argentina) will make their first competitive pairing, with Soulé alongside them. De Roon and Pisilli will lead midfield against Daniele De Rossi's Genoa, while Lulli replaces Molina at right-back. Both young forwards carry significant investment and expectation: Mora arrived on a €25 million deal with a further €25 million option to secure him permanently, while Castro cost €30 million plus performance bonuses and reportedly took the train to Rome to complete the move. Their combined valuation approaches €100 million. The squad's depleted state means Gasperini has little margin for error. Roma nearly overcame Real Madrid in their last outing and must translate that character into the league. Mora made an impression against Madrid, coming off the bench to provide an assist for Malen, a display that would have earned him a rating of seven or better had the comeback succeeded. Castro has not played since the final stages of the Torino match, though he has since made his Argentina debut. Both players now carry the weight of the club's summer faith on their shoulders. Mora, 19, and Castro, 22, have yet to score their first goals at the Olimpico despite joining this summer with significant pedigree and investment. For Roma, victory against Genoa is almost obligatory as the season enters its autumn phase.

Roma's loss to Real Madrid on Wednesday stung deeply—the team dominated for nearly the entire match before conceding three goals from corner kicks in the final eight minutes. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has chosen to speak publicly less than 48 hours after the defeat, a signal of his determination to rebuild momentum ahead of tomorrow's fixture against Genoa, then Roma-Slovan Bratislava on Tuesday. The setback must not erase what the squad has accomplished; Roma deserved to win until the 82nd minute, and individual errors in the closing stretch—from goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini, defender Leonardo Balerdi, and Nahuel Molina—should not overshadow the collective effort. Gasperini's readiness to address the media reflects lessons learned from Roma's collapse against Juventus last season, when the team surrendered a 3–1 lead and conceded two late goals. The loss to Real Madrid represents a growth process for both squad and club—and may vindicate the coach's request for a left-sided attacker with a right foot and a left-sided winger, demands that were not whimsy but tactical necessity. Despite the pain, there is much to celebrate: Donyell Malen has proven himself no ordinary Italian second-string forward; Wesley delivered an outstanding display; and Matías Soulé provided immediate impact with an assist for Malen, as did midfielder Rodrigo Mora, while Marten de Roon also earned praise for his contribution. For tomorrow's Genoa match, Gasperini will have only 17 outfield players available. The absences strike at the spine of the side: goalkeeper Mile Svilar, midfielder Bryan Cristante, fellow midfielder Manu Koné, forward Paulo Dybala, and Malen are all unavailable. The fixture comes as Genoa, managed by Claudio Ranieri, provide the immediate test of Roma's response.