Roma thrash Udinese 5-2 as Runjaic's future hangs by a thread

Rodrigo Mora has been rewarded with a place in the starting line-up at Udine, four days after he came off the bench to put Roma back ahead against Cagliari, and he repaid the faith by scoring again. Gian Piero Gasperini has handed the Portuguese a first-team shirt, and Mora is responding with goals. Up to this point Mora had produced almost all of his impact from the substitutes' bench. He scored against Lecce, set up Malen against Real Madrid, and scored and assisted against Cagliari. Against Cagliari, Roma had been pegged back to 2-2 in the 81st minute. Mora then headed the new lead and created the move that led to Malen's goal for 4-2, as Marco Juric notes in La Repubblica. The 22-year-old was bought from Porto for 25 million euros, a figure the Italian report describes as currently standing. The switch to the starting XI marks a new phase. Mora is no longer simply a surprise weapon off the bench; he now has to confirm his form. In a squad built to win immediately, with Dybala and Soulé ahead of him in the pecking order, his step up is arguably the most demanding one. Gasperini continues to rely on his strongest players, but he is also widening the group of players he trusts. In short, Mora's start at Udine is both a reward and a test, and the Roma coach is showing that his trust extends beyond his established first-choice players.

Roma will not return to the capital after their away win in the league, and have instead gone straight on to Manchester for Tuesday evening's Champions League clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford. To keep travel to a minimum, the club decided to stay in the Friuli region after the victory at the Bluenergy Stadium. Gian Piero Gasperini's side spent the night in Friuli and will hold a light recovery session at the Friulian club's training centre. The squad will then travel by coach to Trieste in the afternoon before flying to England. The trip is effectively a mini training camp designed to tighten the group and avoid wasting physical energy, according to Il Tempo. Paulo Dybala is set to miss the trip's main assignment: unless he recovers in extremis, the Argentine forward will be ruled out of Tuesday's match. Sporting director Tony D'Amico backed a cautious approach before the game, saying: "Dybala needs a few more days, we will see mmidweek." Gasperini echoed that line, admitting that a return before the international break for Dybala, Koné and Svilar is a difficult goal, to be assessed day by day. The eve-of-match schedule includes Gasperini's press conference at 18:20, accompanied by a player, followed by a rehearsal on the Old Trafford pitch.

Roma defender Daniele Ghilardi has scored his first goal, a strike that ended a match at Udinese, and has already drawn interest from AC Milan and Juventus. Roma have now scored 28 goals in ten matches this season and 36 in total including the three in the Champions League, with 14 different scorers so far. Ghilardi's goal came at the end of the match, when he was cramping in his calves. He said: "Sono molto contento. Ho calciato con tutta la forza che avevo. Era fine partita, avevo i crampi ai polpacci. Ero morto, stavo facendo stretching e non mi hanno visto". The goal follows earlier strikes from Emanuele Lulli, who scored against Genoa and Cagliari, and the article notes that Ghilardi is another young player to find the net. Milan and Juventus have already targeted him, but the focus at the club is not on his future. Ghilardi also teased his team-mate about his celebration. He said: "Ho esultato meglio di Emanuele ma perché lui non era abituato, io ne ho fatti due in B e uno in C. Ci sono volute più di due stagioni per farlo in A". Evan N'Dicka closed out a strong display in Udine, leaving no space for Davis and finishing with a 100% record in duels won, four recoveries and four clearances. Bryan Cristante was named man of the match after scoring his third goal against Udinese. Roma now turn their attention to Manchester United. The squad trained at Udinese's sports centre this morning and travel to England this afternoon. There are no fitness setbacks, but Mile Svilar, Paulo Dybala and Manu Koné will not be available.

Rodrigo Mora has been rewarded with a place in the starting line-up at Udine, four days after he came off the bench to put Roma back ahead against Cagliari, and he repaid the faith by scoring again. Gian Piero Gasperini has handed the Portuguese a first-team shirt, and Mora is responding with goals. Up to this point Mora had produced almost all of his impact from the substitutes' bench. He scored against Lecce, set up Malen against Real Madrid, and scored and assisted against Cagliari. Against Cagliari, Roma had been pegged back to 2-2 in the 81st minute. Mora then headed the new lead and created the move that led to Malen's goal for 4-2, as Marco Juric notes in La Repubblica. The 22-year-old was bought from Porto for 25 million euros, a figure the Italian report describes as currently standing. The switch to the starting XI marks a new phase. Mora is no longer simply a surprise weapon off the bench; he now has to confirm his form. In a squad built to win immediately, with Dybala and Soulé ahead of him in the pecking order, his step up is arguably the most demanding one. Gasperini continues to rely on his strongest players, but he is also widening the group of players he trusts. In short, Mora's start at Udine is both a reward and a test, and the Roma coach is showing that his trust extends beyond his established first-choice players.

Roma have scored 28 goals in their first ten matches of the 2026-27 season, a club record, after a 5-3 win at Udinese. The tally surpasses the previous record of 26 goals, set in 1960/61 and 2016/17, and the goals have come from a wide spread of players rather than relying on Donyell Malen, although he is leading the side. Under Gian Piero Gasperini, Roma have become a side that is always dangerous and always able to finish, with many matches won by at least four goals across Serie A and the Champions League. Roma have scored with 14 different players so far: Malen, Niccolò Pisilli, Manu Koné, Matías Soulé, Mario Hermoso, Emanuele Lulli, Rodrigo Mora, Bryan Cristante, Marten de Roon, Santiago Castro, Nahuel Molina and Leonardo Balerdi. Evan N'Dicka and Daniele Ghilardi also scored against Udinese and join that list. The results are reflected in the table: 24 points from ten matches, the club's best start since 2013. Last season Roma had 21 points at this stage, and two seasons ago they had just 13. To find similar numbers, you have to go back to 2022, when Mourinho reached 22 points. The Udinese victory was not simply a big win but proof of a team that scores with a consistency never seen before at the club. The 28 goals in the opening ten rounds represent a milestone the club had never reached, and the tally was built across Serie A and the Champions League alike.

Roma eased to a 5-2 win over Udinese, moving to within one point of Inter and Lazio in the table, pending those sides' matches. Five different players scored. Bryan Cristante opened the scoring with a header and then set up Rodrigo Mora's goal to make it 2-0. Donyell Malen completed the hat-trick for 3-0 before Evan N'Dicka made it 4-0 in the 37th minute. Udinese, coached by Runjaic, came back into the game after the break. Zaniolo, the former Roma player, pulled one back, and Palma added a second to make it 4-2. Ghilardi sealed the result late on with the fifth Roma goal. Roma's player ratings: Rodrigo Mora and Malen (7) scored again, Cristante (8) was on the scoresheet with a goal and an assist, and Okoye was given a 4.5.

Roma defender Daniele Ghilardi has scored his first goal, a strike that ended a match at Udinese, and has already drawn interest from AC Milan and Juventus. Roma have now scored 28 goals in ten matches this season and 36 in total including the three in the Champions League, with 14 different scorers so far. Ghilardi's goal came at the end of the match, when he was cramping in his calves. He said: "Sono molto contento. Ho calciato con tutta la forza che avevo. Era fine partita, avevo i crampi ai polpacci. Ero morto, stavo facendo stretching e non mi hanno visto". The goal follows earlier strikes from Emanuele Lulli, who scored against Genoa and Cagliari, and the article notes that Ghilardi is another young player to find the net. Milan and Juventus have already targeted him, but the focus at the club is not on his future. Ghilardi also teased his team-mate about his celebration. He said: "Ho esultato meglio di Emanuele ma perché lui non era abituato, io ne ho fatti due in B e uno in C. Ci sono volute più di due stagioni per farlo in A". Evan N'Dicka closed out a strong display in Udine, leaving no space for Davis and finishing with a 100% record in duels won, four recoveries and four clearances. Bryan Cristante was named man of the match after scoring his third goal against Udinese. Roma now turn their attention to Manchester United. The squad trained at Udinese's sports centre this morning and travel to England this afternoon. There are no fitness setbacks, but Mile Svilar, Paulo Dybala and Manu Koné will not be available.

Roma have won seven consecutive Serie A matches, and Gian Piero Gasperini says he sees his football ideas in this side. The win in Udine at the Bluenergy Stadium took Roma to 28 goals after ten matchdays, a Serie A record that surpasses the 26 goals scored in 1960/61 and 2016/17. Roma are the first side to reach that total in Serie A. La Gazzetta Sportiva's Alessio D'Urso describes an orchestra that keeps pace with Lazio and Inter and promises more memorable performances. The results show a group that has grown together more than ever, and they have put young players such as Daniele Ghilardi in the spotlight, with the defender going at full speed. Roma's message to the sides at the top of the table is clear: the giallorossi do not give anything away. Gasperini's thoughts now turn to the Champions League and to Manchester United. Gasperini said: "In this Roma I find all my concepts of play. Whoever scores, like Cristante, also makes the assist for Mora who scores. Everyone feels involved, and everyone has the conviction and the confidence to be decisive with the final pass or the shot. We are scoring more goals with more players, and that is a great sign." On his squad, he added: "I am fortunate to have all the players, including the less young ones, who give great availability. The young ones usually always give it, they want to emerge and improve. I have a group that is a fantastic mix. We may have other flaws, but the availability is total."

Roma have scored 28 goals in their first ten matches of the 2026-27 season, a club record, after a 5-3 win at Udinese. The tally surpasses the previous record of 26 goals, set in 1960/61 and 2016/17, and the goals have come from a wide spread of players rather than relying on Donyell Malen, although he is leading the side. Under Gian Piero Gasperini, Roma have become a side that is always dangerous and always able to finish, with many matches won by at least four goals across Serie A and the Champions League. Roma have scored with 14 different players so far: Malen, Niccolò Pisilli, Manu Koné, Matías Soulé, Mario Hermoso, Emanuele Lulli, Rodrigo Mora, Bryan Cristante, Marten de Roon, Santiago Castro, Nahuel Molina and Leonardo Balerdi. Evan N'Dicka and Daniele Ghilardi also scored against Udinese and join that list. The results are reflected in the table: 24 points from ten matches, the club's best start since 2013. Last season Roma had 21 points at this stage, and two seasons ago they had just 13. To find similar numbers, you have to go back to 2022, when Mourinho reached 22 points. The Udinese victory was not simply a big win but proof of a team that scores with a consistency never seen before at the club. The 28 goals in the opening ten rounds represent a milestone the club had never reached, and the tally was built across Serie A and the Champions League alike.