Roma set for Cagliari clash as Gasperini weighs rotation, with Mora in line for another chance

Leonardo Balerdi scored two goals in Roma's win over Napoli, and Matías Soulé has become a tactical weapon on the right, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. With Paulo Dybala absent from the spotlight, the Argentine trio of Balerdi, Soulé and Castro has taken centre stage for the Giallorossi. Balerdi, a defender, had already impressed in Roma's opening matches with his defensive displays. In Naples, though, he went forward with courage and conviction to claim the glory in the opposition box, and his two goals reflect a strong, precise team mentality. Gazzetta writer Alessio D'Urso described him as a boxer who refused to go down, and the Argentine core rallied around him. Soulé is also playing superbly and has become a tactical weapon, especially on the right flank. Molina and Castro, who came on as substitutes like Balerdi, brought hunger and fire to the side, pushing Roma beyond their most critical moments. The article describes Balerdi's display on Saturday evening as the source of joy for Roma supporters.

Mati Soulé's goal and display at Napoli have put the Argentine at the heart of Roma's recovery, with Leonardo Balerdi scoring twice in a 2-2 draw at the Maradona. Soulé's strike, which started Roma's comeback, is considered one of the best he has scored since joining the club. The Argentine has been one of the standout performers in recent weeks, having already been among the best players against Real Madrid and Genoa. The winger's rise is clear. He had looked close to leaving during a difficult summer, but he stayed at the club and Gian Piero Gasperini is now enjoying having him. Balerdi's double was his 12th goal of the season. Soulé's influence went beyond scoring: he delivered 4 key passes, completed 88% of his passes, won eight duels, completed four dribbles and recovered the ball four times. Journalist Francesco Balzani wrote in Leggo that he was valuable both going forward and in defence, so much so that Roma did not miss Paulo Dybala. Gasperini said after the match: "It was extraordinary, really." It has been a golden month for Soulé, following his call-up and senior debut with the Argentina national team. He shares that success with Balerdi, as well as Molina and Castro, who were important in salvaging Napoli's crazy draw. Max Allegri's Napoli had been the opponent. Allegri, speaking to several journalists and Roma staff, shouted: "Last year they put the Champions League in Roma's pocket, they are always them." He was referring to the comeback Milan suffered at the end of last season, a reference that the Napoli coach should himself take responsibility for. The remark angered the Giallorossi, who now expect a Federal Prosecutor's investigation, while Gasperini is due to respond at his press conference today. For Cagliari tomorrow, Soulé will again partner Malen, while Dybala will start on the bench after training with the group yesterday. There is good news too about Svilar, who should recover before the international break and be available at least against Sassuolo, when Koné will also return.

Roma have not lost a Serie A match in 15 games, a run that continued after a crazy 3-3 draw at Napoli's Maradona stadium. Gian Piero Gasperini analysed the result on the night, saying: "We are in a great moment, we have great conviction, we play good football, we try to carry it forward, the morale is high. We have more the feeling of having lost two points, but it went well even like this." In the hours after the match, fans were divided on social media and in bars between regret at not taking all three points and the belief that Roma are a strong side able to overcome any difficulty and give everything even in the toughest games. The statistic underlines the progress of Gasperini's project. Roma's last league defeat, counting back into the previous season, came on 5 April, when Inter beat Gasperini's side 5-2 at San Siro. Since then, the chase for Champions League qualification has produced only wins against Pisa, Bologna, Fiorentina, Parma, Lazio and Verona, plus a home draw with Atalanta. This season's record is similar: five wins and three draws against the other three Champions League sides, Inter, Como and, most recently, Napoli. The run also helped Gasperini reach 300 Serie A wins, achieved against Genoa last week. The Napoli match ended 3-3, a result that left the supporters torn between frustration and pride in a team that refuses to fold under pressure.

Roma host Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday 27 October at 20:45 in the ninth round of Serie A, with the game broadcast live on DAZN. Gian Piero Gasperini's side come into the fixture straight after a 3-3 draw at Napoli's Maradona, while Fabio Pisacane's Cagliari are looking to end a losing run after a 2-0 home defeat to Bologna. With only a short turnaround between matches, Gasperini may rotate several players. Svilar is still sidelined, so Gollini keeps goal. The main decisions are in defence: Mancini and Hermoso returned to the starting line-up against Napoli after both began the match on the bench against Slovan Bratislava, while N'Dicka has been one of the most used players in recent weeks. The Ivorian could be rested, opening a place for Balerdi, who is coming off a particularly positive run. Ghilardi and Koulierakis remain in contention. Wesley may start on the bench with Molina ready to return, while Lulli is gaining ground on the other flank. In midfield Gasperini must pick two from Cristante, de Roon and Pisilli, with the young midfielder able to find space during the game. Up front, the picture is clearer: Malen remains the central reference point, Soulé should keep his place after an excellent display at Napoli, and Mora may play alongside the Argentine, with Castro initially on the bench. Roma's injury list is significant. Svilar is still out with a fractured toe, Koné is sidelined with a first-degree tear of the hamstring, Dybala is out with a small calf injury, and Pellegrini continues his recovery from a high-grade lesion at the distal musculotendinous junction of the semitendinosus in his right thigh. Roma's probable line-up is Gollini; Mancini, Balerdi, Hermoso; Lulli, Cristante, de Roon, Molina; Soulé, Mora; Malen. Available substitutes: Vásquez, De Marzi, Koulierakis, N'Dicka, Wesley, Rensch, Ghilardi, Pisilli, Castro. Gasperini has no suspended or cautioned players. The competing selections are Mancini-Ghilardi, Hermoso-Koulierakis, Balerdi-N'Dicka and de Roon-Pisilli. Cagliari are expected to line up in a 4-3-2-1 with Caprile in goal, Mina partnering J. Rodriguez in the centre of defence, and Zé Pedro and Obert completing the back line. The main doubt is in midfield, where Winks injured his back against Bologna and his fitness will be assessed up to the last hours. If he is ruled out, Gagliardini starts, with Romano and Adopo completing the unit. Maldini should start from the first minute, Fazzini is ahead of Massolin, and Kevin Carlos is ahead of Mendy as the centre-forward, with Nzola deeper. Idrissi and Felici are out with cruciate ligament ruptures. Cagliari's probable line-up is Caprile; Zé Pedro, Mina, J. Rodriguez, Obert; Romano, Gagliardini, Adopo; Fazzini, Maldini; Kevin Carlos. Cagliari have lost their last two league games, 4-0 to Monza and 2-0 to Bologna. Roma have the clear head-to-head advantage in Rome. There have been 49 official meetings at the Olimpico, with 26 Roma wins, 17 draws and six Cagliari victories. The most recent meeting in the capital came on 9 February 2026, when Roma won 2-0. Cagliari's last win in Rome was a 4-2 victory on 1 February 2013. The official line-ups will be announced about an hour before kick-off and will be updated live on the match page.

Leonardo Balerdi scored a brace last night, becoming Roma's 12th different goalscorer of the season in just 11 matches across Serie A and the Champions League. In Europe, with the same number of games played, only Brighton, Brentford and Real Sociedad have scored more. Roma's attacking threat, which was missing throughout 2025, now looks almost limitless and allows them to turn around even awkward evenings like last night's. The article draws a comparison between Gian Piero Gasperini's football and the "Total Football" of Rinus Michels, the Dutch coach who built Ajax and the Netherlands side of Cruyff in the 1970s and 1980s. Against Sassuolo-style defensive walls, Gasperini's side includes defenders in the build-up and in attack. At the moment of Wesley's cross for Roma's 3-3 equaliser, only Castro was in the box alongside the two centre-backs, Ghilardi and Balerdi. Goals from Hermoso, Mancini and N'Dicka are regularly part of this approach. Balerdi said after the match: "It is the first time I have scored a brace. The coach is teaching me to get forward like Mancini and Hermoso do, he gives me this freedom to push on and get closer to the opposition goal." The article admits Roma played a first half below their standard, conceding space, quick counterattacks and showing widespread tiredness in midfield, where they usually win many duels. Yet the team showed courage, changes that lifted the level, and a coach in Gasperini who had been criticised only a little over a week earlier for substitutions compared to those of Mourinho, when Bernardo Silva, Endrick and Arda Guler were left out of the starting line-up. A comeback draw away at Napoli is now seen as a missed opportunity, the article argues, a sign of how Gasperini has changed the club's mentality and built total symbiosis with the environment and the fans.

Roma came from behind to draw 3-3 at Napoli's Maradona stadium, their third consecutive draw in a big Serie A match after a goalless game at Como. Leonardo Balerdi, who came off the bench, scored a brace, while Matías Soulé was the standout performer in attack. The evening began badly for Roma, but the team refused to give up and fought back to level the match. Italian newspapers gave Soulé between 7 and 8 out of 10, and Balerdi between 7.5 and 8. Evan Ndicka was the only member of the starting defence to come out with credit, rated 6 to 7. Gollini earned 6 to 7, Cristante 6 to 7, and de Roon 5.5 to 6.5. Malen was below par and was rated between 5 and 6. Hermoso's marks ranged from 4.5 to 6.5. Wesley was rated between 5 and 6.5, and Mancini between 5.5 and 6. Gasperini was given between 6.5 and 7 for his handling of the game. Roma made several changes during the match. At the 58th minute, Balerdi replaced Hermoso, Molina came on for Rensch, and Castro replaced Pisilli. Ghilardi entered for Mancini in the 83rd minute, and Mora came on for Malen at the same point. Molina was rated 6 to 6.5, Castro between 5 and 6.5, and Balerdi, as a substitute, was rated 7.5 to 8.

Leonardo Balerdi scored two goals in Roma's win over Napoli, and Matías Soulé has become a tactical weapon on the right, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. With Paulo Dybala absent from the spotlight, the Argentine trio of Balerdi, Soulé and Castro has taken centre stage for the Giallorossi. Balerdi, a defender, had already impressed in Roma's opening matches with his defensive displays. In Naples, though, he went forward with courage and conviction to claim the glory in the opposition box, and his two goals reflect a strong, precise team mentality. Gazzetta writer Alessio D'Urso described him as a boxer who refused to go down, and the Argentine core rallied around him. Soulé is also playing superbly and has become a tactical weapon, especially on the right flank. Molina and Castro, who came on as substitutes like Balerdi, brought hunger and fire to the side, pushing Roma beyond their most critical moments. The article describes Balerdi's display on Saturday evening as the source of joy for Roma supporters.

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 taking on an ever-greater role under Gian Piero Gasperini, and the latest proof came in the dramatic comeback at the Maradona, where all three goals were scored by Argentines. Leonardo Balerdi and Matías Soulé have become key figures in the giallorossi side, and Paulo Dybala is set to return to the squad. Balerdi's rise has been the most surprising story. He arrived from Marseille in the final days of August, greeted with little enthusiasm given the doubts that had surrounded his spell in France. Gasperini and sporting director D'Amico nonetheless saw a modern, technical centre-back, quick in recovery, physically strong and with the personality of a leader. Roma took him on loan for around one million euros, with a redemption fee that, according to various press reconstructions, is between 14 and 16 million euros. It is a far less glamorous move than other summer investments, but it risks becoming one of the most successful deals of the window. His performances had already impressed, but his breakthrough came in Naples. Coming off the bench after the break, Balerdi scored first with a left-foot strike and then with a commanding header, earning two draws and stopping Roma from giving up. He does not merely protect his area: he pressures opponents, can play out from the back and is not afraid to join the attack, exactly the kind of defender Gasperini wants for an aggressive defence that plays far from its own goal. His redemption is therefore considered increasingly likely. Soulé, meanwhile, confirms the talent of a player who now appears to have found consistency and maturity. Only a few months ago his future looked far from certain, with a possible sale discussed concretely in the summer and Roma prepared to listen to important offers. The transfer market did not bring a departure, and that stay now seems to carry a completely different meaning. At 23, Soulé is showing clear growth in the consistency of his performances, his ability to make an impact and the personality with which he handles the toughest games. Against Real Madrid, Genoa and Napoli, the Argentine was among Roma's most dangerous players. In the Champions League he served two assists against the Blancos, while at the Maradona he reopened a game that seemed lost with a superb left-foot strike after a exchange with Malen. It is his third league goal, after those scored against Lecce and Atalanta. Beyond the numbers, his growth in possession and in taking responsibility stands out. Soulé no longer lives only on individual flashes: he looks for the decisive pass, takes part in build-up play and carries the weight of the attack on his shoulders. Starting from the right, where he can cut inside onto his left foot, he is becoming one of Gasperini's most valuable weapons. Nahuel Molina and Santiago Castro, who came on in the second half against Napoli alongside Balerdi, also helped change the face of the match with energy, aggression and fresh attacking options. Counting Dybala, that makes five Argentines, and they are giving Roma something beyond technical quality. Molina said after the draw at the Maradona: "Having five in the squad is beautiful, we give our blood, we always want to win even when we start from the bench." Dybala's return is now on the horizon. The Argentine responded positively to the latest tests on the pitch and yesterday resumed training with his teammates after the calf problem suffered against Real Madrid. According to Angelo Mangiante, the Joya will be called up for tomorrow evening's Roma-Cagliari, initially from the bench. His recovery is a valuable boost ahead of the trip to Udine on Saturday and, above all, the Champions League clash at Manchester United on 3 November. Dybala has yet to score this season, but before his injury he was one of the team's main attacking reference points, thanks to his ability to create chances and raise quality in the final thirds. His return also opens tactical possibilities. Gasperini can alternate Dybala and Soulé, manage their energy, or look for solutions that let the two left-footers coexist, adding unpredictability and quality in the final third. Behind them, Balerdi is claiming more space, while Molina and Castro offer important alternatives. This Argentine Roma is no longer just Dybala's: it has become a collective resource built on talent, personality and the grit that stopped the giallorossi from surrendering at the Maradona.

Roma host Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday 27 October at 20:45 in the ninth round of Serie A, with the game broadcast live on DAZN. Gian Piero Gasperini's side come into the fixture straight after a 3-3 draw at Napoli's Maradona, while Fabio Pisacane's Cagliari are looking to end a losing run after a 2-0 home defeat to Bologna. With only a short turnaround between matches, Gasperini may rotate several players. Svilar is still sidelined, so Gollini keeps goal. The main decisions are in defence: Mancini and Hermoso returned to the starting line-up against Napoli after both began the match on the bench against Slovan Bratislava, while N'Dicka has been one of the most used players in recent weeks. The Ivorian could be rested, opening a place for Balerdi, who is coming off a particularly positive run. Ghilardi and Koulierakis remain in contention. Wesley may start on the bench with Molina ready to return, while Lulli is gaining ground on the other flank. In midfield Gasperini must pick two from Cristante, de Roon and Pisilli, with the young midfielder able to find space during the game. Up front, the picture is clearer: Malen remains the central reference point, Soulé should keep his place after an excellent display at Napoli, and Mora may play alongside the Argentine, with Castro initially on the bench. Roma's injury list is significant. Svilar is still out with a fractured toe, Koné is sidelined with a first-degree tear of the hamstring, Dybala is out with a small calf injury, and Pellegrini continues his recovery from a high-grade lesion at the distal musculotendinous junction of the semitendinosus in his right thigh. Roma's probable line-up is Gollini; Mancini, Balerdi, Hermoso; Lulli, Cristante, de Roon, Molina; Soulé, Mora; Malen. Available substitutes: Vásquez, De Marzi, Koulierakis, N'Dicka, Wesley, Rensch, Ghilardi, Pisilli, Castro. Gasperini has no suspended or cautioned players. The competing selections are Mancini-Ghilardi, Hermoso-Koulierakis, Balerdi-N'Dicka and de Roon-Pisilli. Cagliari are expected to line up in a 4-3-2-1 with Caprile in goal, Mina partnering J. Rodriguez in the centre of defence, and Zé Pedro and Obert completing the back line. The main doubt is in midfield, where Winks injured his back against Bologna and his fitness will be assessed up to the last hours. If he is ruled out, Gagliardini starts, with Romano and Adopo completing the unit. Maldini should start from the first minute, Fazzini is ahead of Massolin, and Kevin Carlos is ahead of Mendy as the centre-forward, with Nzola deeper. Idrissi and Felici are out with cruciate ligament ruptures. Cagliari's probable line-up is Caprile; Zé Pedro, Mina, J. Rodriguez, Obert; Romano, Gagliardini, Adopo; Fazzini, Maldini; Kevin Carlos. Cagliari have lost their last two league games, 4-0 to Monza and 2-0 to Bologna. Roma have the clear head-to-head advantage in Rome. There have been 49 official meetings at the Olimpico, with 26 Roma wins, 17 draws and six Cagliari victories. The most recent meeting in the capital came on 9 February 2026, when Roma won 2-0. Cagliari's last win in Rome was a 4-2 victory on 1 February 2013. The official line-ups will be announced about an hour before kick-off and will be updated live on the match page.

Leonardo Balerdi scored a brace last night, becoming Roma's 12th different goalscorer of the season in just 11 matches across Serie A and the Champions League. In Europe, with the same number of games played, only Brighton, Brentford and Real Sociedad have scored more. Roma's attacking threat, which was missing throughout 2025, now looks almost limitless and allows them to turn around even awkward evenings like last night's. The article draws a comparison between Gian Piero Gasperini's football and the "Total Football" of Rinus Michels, the Dutch coach who built Ajax and the Netherlands side of Cruyff in the 1970s and 1980s. Against Sassuolo-style defensive walls, Gasperini's side includes defenders in the build-up and in attack. At the moment of Wesley's cross for Roma's 3-3 equaliser, only Castro was in the box alongside the two centre-backs, Ghilardi and Balerdi. Goals from Hermoso, Mancini and N'Dicka are regularly part of this approach. Balerdi said after the match: "It is the first time I have scored a brace. The coach is teaching me to get forward like Mancini and Hermoso do, he gives me this freedom to push on and get closer to the opposition goal." The article admits Roma played a first half below their standard, conceding space, quick counterattacks and showing widespread tiredness in midfield, where they usually win many duels. Yet the team showed courage, changes that lifted the level, and a coach in Gasperini who had been criticised only a little over a week earlier for substitutions compared to those of Mourinho, when Bernardo Silva, Endrick and Arda Guler were left out of the starting line-up. A comeback draw away at Napoli is now seen as a missed opportunity, the article argues, a sign of how Gasperini has changed the club's mentality and built total symbiosis with the environment and the fans.

Balerdi's stoppage-time equaliser at 89 minutes, which earned Roma a 3-3 draw at Napoli, was ruled valid by the leading Italian newspapers' match reviews, despite Napoli's protests over contact with Beukema. The referee was Andrea Colombo, who handled several contentious moments without a decisive error according to the press. The Napoli protest centred on contact between Balerdi and Beukema at the start of the move. The reviews judged the touch too light to justify disallowing the goal. Balerdi also got back up after falling and rejoined the move before going down again. Roma's earlier equaliser, which made it 2-2, was also deemed legitimate: Castro struck the ball with his face rather than his arm, so there was no offence in either of the two Roma goals Napoli had contested. Other incidents were reviewed too. Rafa Marin's challenge on Wesley in the early minutes earned a yellow card that was considered correct, with no grounds for a red. Colombo also rightly played on at the 34th minute, when Gollini came out of his area to challenge De Bruyne and touched the ball with an arm; the reviews found the arm was close to the body, so no penalty or sanction against the Roma goalkeeper was warranted. Late on, Massimiliano Allegri was sent off for protesting after Balerdi's goal, while De Roon was booked for disputing a free kick awarded to Napoli. The referee's marks were broadly satisfactory, with some differences between papers. La Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere dello Sport both gave Colombo 6.5, praising his handling of the key incidents and the consistency of his approach. Il Messaggero was more cautious with a 6, saying some whistles were unconvincing but that he made no decisive errors on the big calls, helped by technology. Il Romanista gave the harshest verdict, a 5.5, arguing that some decisions had helped inflame the match, while acknowledging that the refereeing did not directly affect the final result.