Roma travel to Manchester United: fan information for Champions League fixture at Old Trafford

Manchester United and Roma meet at Old Trafford in matchday four of the Champions League league phase, with the two sides looking to Amad Diallo and Rodrigo Mora to provide the spark behind their strikers. Roma have four points so far, while United have three, and are coming off a nightmare start to the Premier League season with Carrick's position as head coach increasingly under pressure. Diallo is one of the most unpredictable players in the United squad. The Ivorian was given his break by Gasperini at Atalanta, and he likes to start on the right before cutting inside onto his left foot, though he can also play more centrally and look for quick combinations with team-mates in the final third. In the Premier League this season he has made four appearances, all starts, for just over 300 minutes, without a goal or an assist. In the Champions League he has already provided one assist in two appearances. His attacking output is not yet at the level of his best seasons, but he remains capable of creating overloads with his dribbling and attacking the space behind the defensive line. Diallo is still doubtful because of a muscle problem, but if he recovers he could be one of United's main sources of unpredictability against Roma. Rodrigo Mora, who is younger, has already earned an important role in Gasperini's Roma and is enjoying a much more productive start in front of goal. The Portuguese, born in 2007, can play as an attacking midfielder, start from a wider position or drop deeper to help build play, using his close control, quick thinking and quality in the final pass. In Serie A he has made eight appearances, four of them starts, for 333 minutes, scoring three goals. He has also taken 11 shots in total, six on target, and made eight key passes, with a passing accuracy of 85%. In the Champions League he has played three matches for 150 minutes and has recorded one assist. The duel between the two left-footed, technical and creative players is therefore a contrast in styles: Diallo prefers the burst and the one-on-one, while Mora has so far shown greater end-product in the final third and a natural ability to find the net.

Roma have published a full guide for the travelling supporters following the team to Old Trafford to face Manchester United, covering ticket access, the meeting point in central Manchester and the march to the stadium. The club has told fans that tickets bought for the away trip were sent to the email addresses given at the time of purchase. Fans who have not received their ticket message, or who have problems displaying the ticket, can call 06/89386000, which is open from 9am to 6:30pm. The ticket is in mobile format and works exclusively through NFC technology. The away section at Old Trafford is in the South-East corner of the stadium and includes sectors S229, with entrance S22, and E230, E231, E232 and E233, with entrances E30-AE8. Roma stressed that supporters holding a ticket for sector S229 may only enter through entrance S22 and cannot request a move to other sectors. Seats were allocated randomly, based on the order of purchase. The gates open two hours before kick-off. Security checks will be in place at the entrance, and bags larger than an A4 sheet of paper will not be allowed in. Tickets for other areas of the stadium will not grant access to the away section. On the instructions of the local authorities, the meeting point for all Roma supporters will be Shambles Square in central Manchester (Cathedral Gates, M3 1SW). From there, it is about 45 minutes on foot to Old Trafford. From 5pm on matchday, Giallorossi fans may head to the stadium in a march along a route that will be constantly monitored by the local authorities. Supporters who prefer to make their own way or use public transport are advised to arrive by 6pm to speed up entry and avoid queues at the turnstiles.

Roma radio pundits split on whether Gian Piero Gasperini should keep Gianluca Mancini in the back three or give the starting role to Daniele Ghilardi, while also discussing Manchester United's slump ahead of the Champions League meeting. David Rossi of Rete Sport argued that Ghilardi should play, saying: "Ghilardi deve giocare, non Mancini, sia per un discorso difensivo che offensivo." He pointed to Ghilardi's recent form, with two goals in the last two matches, one of them disallowed, and a decisive assist against Cagliari, adding that he had been the best player on the pitch at Lecce. Rossi said Mancini's continued selection was a dressing-room decision, noting that Gasperini had asked for new contracts for Lorenzo Pellegrini and Paulo Dybala. The debate sits against a strong run for the club. Roma have six matches in a row behind them and have reached the seventh game of a run of nine, which Lorenzo Pes noted with a squad stretched thin. Pes also pointed out that against the same opponents as last season, Roma have seven more points this year. Fabio Petruzzi of Rete Sport said the team was showing strong attitude and that Roma were clearly superior to recent years, adding: "non bisogna aver timore di pensare alla vittoria del titolo." Mario Corsi of Tele Radio Stereo argued that either Roma or Inter would win the Scudetto, and that a stadium project and a Scudetto would make the Friedkins historic. On team selection, Gianluca Piacentini expected some rotation, with Marten de Roon expected to start because he is due at the press conference, and Niccolò Pisilli seen taking Rodrigo Mora's place. Piacentini said Wesley would not play if Gasperini had seen his social media activity. Pes saw Leonardo Balerdi starting in place of Mario Hermoso, with Devyne Rensch as a card the fans underestimate, and expected the three midfielders to return with Mora coming on during the game. Corsi also argued that Bryan Cristante had become more important than Manu Koné. On Manchester United, Roberto Pruzzo said: "Lo United ha staccato la spina", describing them as weakened and unable to motivate anyone under former player Carrick, and calling it an opportunity to exploit. Nando Orsi warned that Old Trafford is always difficult, saying: "Non so se è sicura la vittoria della Roma." Mario Mattioli added that the team must take the game seriously, that entering Old Trafford is intimidating, and that Roma should avoid thinking only of avenging the seven goals conceded. Piero Torri said a win at Manchester would put Roma three-quarters of the way towards a play-off place, while noting that Inter depend heavily on Lautaro Martínez. The programme also covered refereeing controversies, including a revoked penalty in Como-Venezia that Alessio Nardo called inexplicable, and a player struck in the face in Lazio-Cagliari. Roma's next match is the trip to Manchester United in the Champions League.