Roma vs Cagliari: Wesley and Molina compete for the left flank as Dybala starts on the bench

Rodrigo Mora is set for another start for Roma against Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico tonight, as he looks to answer doubts over his form and consistency. With Lorenzo Pellegrini and Paulo Dybala absent, Dybala is initially set to begin on the bench, and Mora has been given the opportunity to make an impact. Mora arrived in the capital as a major investment, with an estimated value of around fifty million, and the 2007-born Portuguese midfielder has so far struggled to live up to expectations. According to Il Messaggero, Gian Piero Gasperini sees Mora as, in effect, Dybala's deputy. However, sharing the pitch with the Argentine, or being asked to play in different roles such as on the left flank, has limited his natural explosiveness and his freedom on the edge of the attacking midfield. Gasperini has defended him publicly, praising his talent and his growing personality, while stressing that he needs to contribute more in front of goal. The Cagliari match is presented as the ideal chance to restart from simple things, rediscovering the calm and enjoyment in the game that marked his debut this season. The fixture comes amid a congested schedule, with Roma needing consistent performances from their squad options. Mora's chance to show his quality is now firmly in his own hands.

Roma host Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico tonight, and Gian Piero Gasperini is relying on Matías Soulé, who has been among the team's best performers in recent outings and is ready to lead the attack. Paulo Dybala is named among the substitutes and is expected to come on during the match as he returns gradually from a muscle problem. The coach is weighing options to complete the front three, where Donyell Malen and Santiago Castro are pushing for starting places, with Rodrigo Mora supporting from the wide attacking areas. Roma have finished a run of demanding fixtures and face a calendar that looks easier on paper. After recent draws, the side need to return to winning consistently and leave the recent controversies behind in order to strengthen their ambitions at the top of the table. Gasperini values the rotation options the squad now has to manage energy levels during this autumn schedule. According to Il Corriere della Sera, Soulé's transformation is one of the central themes of the season so far. After a summer spent at the centre of transfer speculation, and with the after-effects of a sports hernia (pubalgia) that had restricted his performances last season, the Argentine has turned the pecking order around through daily work. Gasperini has praised his consistency, saying that his technical and character growth offers decisive solutions in the development of the attacking play. Alongside the quality of the former Juventus player, Roma regain solidity and important rotation options.

Matías Soulé has turned his season around in two months, delivering what Il Corriere della Sera's Davide Stoppini describes as the best performance of his Roma career in the win at Napoli, where Roma came from behind. Roma were trailing in that match before recovering, and Soulé was the driving force throughout. Just two months ago the forward had spent a summer with a "for sale" tag hanging around his neck. Back from his holidays, he was stopped by reporters at Fiumicino asking whether he would stay at the club, and he could not even answer. Gasperini also made no secret in his press conference that the forward had returned overweight. The turnaround is significant because Soulé was criticised last season for often failing to perform in the big matches, when the level of games rose and he could not take control. Against Napoli, by contrast, he was consistent over the whole match rather than only in isolated moments. Stoppini writes that Soulé "did everything well" in the performance. Rodrigo Mora is set to play in the attacking trio as a pure number ten, and will move in the footsteps of Soulé, a curious and not trivial pairing for how the match will unfold. For the third forward spot, Donyell Malen and Santiago Castro are in a battle. Malen is still ahead, but Castro has good chances of overtaking him and regaining a starting place after scoring a goal a week ago against Genoa.

Rodrigo Mora is set for another start for Roma against Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico tonight, as he looks to answer doubts over his form and consistency. With Lorenzo Pellegrini and Paulo Dybala absent, Dybala is initially set to begin on the bench, and Mora has been given the opportunity to make an impact. Mora arrived in the capital as a major investment, with an estimated value of around fifty million, and the 2007-born Portuguese midfielder has so far struggled to live up to expectations. According to Il Messaggero, Gian Piero Gasperini sees Mora as, in effect, Dybala's deputy. However, sharing the pitch with the Argentine, or being asked to play in different roles such as on the left flank, has limited his natural explosiveness and his freedom on the edge of the attacking midfield. Gasperini has defended him publicly, praising his talent and his growing personality, while stressing that he needs to contribute more in front of goal. The Cagliari match is presented as the ideal chance to restart from simple things, rediscovering the calm and enjoyment in the game that marked his debut this season. The fixture comes amid a congested schedule, with Roma needing consistent performances from their squad options. Mora's chance to show his quality is now firmly in his own hands.

Roma are securing their future with a series of contract renewals, with Pierluigi Gollini and Mario Hermoso reportedly close to signing new deals. Emanuele Lulli's extension to 2031 has already been made official, and the club has also reached an agreement with goalkeeper Giorgio De Marzi. According to Il Tempo, the young goalkeeper, born in 2007, has already signed a new contract running to June 2031, although the club has yet to announce it officially. With the younger players sorted, attention has turned to four players whose contracts expire on 30 June 2027: Gollini, Hermoso, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Paulo Dybala. Roma are assessing each case individually. Gollini's situation is viewed optimistically. An extension of one more season, to 2028, appeared close during the summer, and the club's stance has reportedly not changed. Hermoso has returned to excellent form under Gasperini. Roma exercised their option in the spring to extend his contract to 2027, and initial contacts have reportedly begun to discuss a new agreement. Gasperini regards the Spaniard as an important part of his defensive unit and has never hidden his esteem for him. The situations of Dybala and Pellegrini are considered far more delicate. Both signed one-year renewals during the summer, a decision taken by the club to gain more time to assess their performances, consistency and physical condition before committing further. No final decision has yet been made. According to Il Tempo, the futures of the two players will probably not be settled until 2027, when Roma will have a fuller picture of their contribution this season. The coming months are therefore important for the club's management. While the path to keeping Gollini and Hermoso appears fairly clear, the futures of Dybala and Pellegrini remain open. Both are players of significant technical and economic weight, and the club wants to take the time it needs before deciding whether they will continue together beyond the current season.

Roma host Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico tonight, and Gian Piero Gasperini is relying on Matías Soulé, who has been among the team's best performers in recent outings and is ready to lead the attack. Paulo Dybala is named among the substitutes and is expected to come on during the match as he returns gradually from a muscle problem. The coach is weighing options to complete the front three, where Donyell Malen and Santiago Castro are pushing for starting places, with Rodrigo Mora supporting from the wide attacking areas. Roma have finished a run of demanding fixtures and face a calendar that looks easier on paper. After recent draws, the side need to return to winning consistently and leave the recent controversies behind in order to strengthen their ambitions at the top of the table. Gasperini values the rotation options the squad now has to manage energy levels during this autumn schedule. According to Il Corriere della Sera, Soulé's transformation is one of the central themes of the season so far. After a summer spent at the centre of transfer speculation, and with the after-effects of a sports hernia (pubalgia) that had restricted his performances last season, the Argentine has turned the pecking order around through daily work. Gasperini has praised his consistency, saying that his technical and character growth offers decisive solutions in the development of the attacking play. Alongside the quality of the former Juventus player, Roma regain solidity and important rotation options.

Rodrigo Mora is set for another start for Roma against Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico tonight, as he looks to answer doubts over his form and consistency. With Lorenzo Pellegrini and Paulo Dybala absent, Dybala is initially set to begin on the bench, and Mora has been given the opportunity to make an impact. Mora arrived in the capital as a major investment, with an estimated value of around fifty million, and the 2007-born Portuguese midfielder has so far struggled to live up to expectations. According to Il Messaggero, Gian Piero Gasperini sees Mora as, in effect, Dybala's deputy. However, sharing the pitch with the Argentine, or being asked to play in different roles such as on the left flank, has limited his natural explosiveness and his freedom on the edge of the attacking midfield. Gasperini has defended him publicly, praising his talent and his growing personality, while stressing that he needs to contribute more in front of goal. The Cagliari match is presented as the ideal chance to restart from simple things, rediscovering the calm and enjoyment in the game that marked his debut this season. The fixture comes amid a congested schedule, with Roma needing consistent performances from their squad options. Mora's chance to show his quality is now firmly in his own hands.

Roma host Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico tonight, and Gian Piero Gasperini is relying on Matías Soulé, who has been among the team's best performers in recent outings and is ready to lead the attack. Paulo Dybala is named among the substitutes and is expected to come on during the match as he returns gradually from a muscle problem. The coach is weighing options to complete the front three, where Donyell Malen and Santiago Castro are pushing for starting places, with Rodrigo Mora supporting from the wide attacking areas. Roma have finished a run of demanding fixtures and face a calendar that looks easier on paper. After recent draws, the side need to return to winning consistently and leave the recent controversies behind in order to strengthen their ambitions at the top of the table. Gasperini values the rotation options the squad now has to manage energy levels during this autumn schedule. According to Il Corriere della Sera, Soulé's transformation is one of the central themes of the season so far. After a summer spent at the centre of transfer speculation, and with the after-effects of a sports hernia (pubalgia) that had restricted his performances last season, the Argentine has turned the pecking order around through daily work. Gasperini has praised his consistency, saying that his technical and character growth offers decisive solutions in the development of the attacking play. Alongside the quality of the former Juventus player, Roma regain solidity and important rotation options.

Matías Soulé has turned his season around in two months, delivering what Il Corriere della Sera's Davide Stoppini describes as the best performance of his Roma career in the win at Napoli, where Roma came from behind. Roma were trailing in that match before recovering, and Soulé was the driving force throughout. Just two months ago the forward had spent a summer with a "for sale" tag hanging around his neck. Back from his holidays, he was stopped by reporters at Fiumicino asking whether he would stay at the club, and he could not even answer. Gasperini also made no secret in his press conference that the forward had returned overweight. The turnaround is significant because Soulé was criticised last season for often failing to perform in the big matches, when the level of games rose and he could not take control. Against Napoli, by contrast, he was consistent over the whole match rather than only in isolated moments. Stoppini writes that Soulé "did everything well" in the performance. Rodrigo Mora is set to play in the attacking trio as a pure number ten, and will move in the footsteps of Soulé, a curious and not trivial pairing for how the match will unfold. For the third forward spot, Donyell Malen and Santiago Castro are in a battle. Malen is still ahead, but Castro has good chances of overtaking him and regaining a starting place after scoring a goal a week ago against Genoa.

Roma host Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico tonight, and Gian Piero Gasperini is relying on Matías Soulé, who has been among the team's best performers in recent outings and is ready to lead the attack. Paulo Dybala is named among the substitutes and is expected to come on during the match as he returns gradually from a muscle problem. The coach is weighing options to complete the front three, where Donyell Malen and Santiago Castro are pushing for starting places, with Rodrigo Mora supporting from the wide attacking areas. Roma have finished a run of demanding fixtures and face a calendar that looks easier on paper. After recent draws, the side need to return to winning consistently and leave the recent controversies behind in order to strengthen their ambitions at the top of the table. Gasperini values the rotation options the squad now has to manage energy levels during this autumn schedule. According to Il Corriere della Sera, Soulé's transformation is one of the central themes of the season so far. After a summer spent at the centre of transfer speculation, and with the after-effects of a sports hernia (pubalgia) that had restricted his performances last season, the Argentine has turned the pecking order around through daily work. Gasperini has praised his consistency, saying that his technical and character growth offers decisive solutions in the development of the attacking play. Alongside the quality of the former Juventus player, Roma regain solidity and important rotation options.

Matías Soulé has turned his season around in two months, delivering what Il Corriere della Sera's Davide Stoppini describes as the best performance of his Roma career in the win at Napoli, where Roma came from behind. Roma were trailing in that match before recovering, and Soulé was the driving force throughout. Just two months ago the forward had spent a summer with a "for sale" tag hanging around his neck. Back from his holidays, he was stopped by reporters at Fiumicino asking whether he would stay at the club, and he could not even answer. Gasperini also made no secret in his press conference that the forward had returned overweight. The turnaround is significant because Soulé was criticised last season for often failing to perform in the big matches, when the level of games rose and he could not take control. Against Napoli, by contrast, he was consistent over the whole match rather than only in isolated moments. Stoppini writes that Soulé "did everything well" in the performance. Rodrigo Mora is set to play in the attacking trio as a pure number ten, and will move in the footsteps of Soulé, a curious and not trivial pairing for how the match will unfold. For the third forward spot, Donyell Malen and Santiago Castro are in a battle. Malen is still ahead, but Castro has good chances of overtaking him and regaining a starting place after scoring a goal a week ago against Genoa.

Roma head into tonight's home match against Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico, kicking off at 20:45, with coach Gian Piero Gasperini looking to return to winning ways after a draw at Napoli and to avoid losing ground in the race for the top positions. The Giallorossi have a run of fixtures that, on paper, offers a chance to build momentum: Cagliari tonight, then Udinese away and Sassuolo before the November international break. The challenge is balancing the need for points with the need to manage energy levels. The recent schedule of demanding clashes has left physical and mental fatigue, and Gasperini knows he cannot keep asking the same players for extra effort. The Champions League meeting with Manchester United, which falls between the trip to Udine and the Sassuolo match, adds to the pressure. Despite absences that continue to limit his options, Gasperini is considering a significant turnover. He admitted at yesterday's press conference that some changes are likely, stressing the need to use a squad now able to provide rotation. One of the most likely changes involves Emanuele Lulli, who is set to return to the starting line-up on the right flank just after officially renewing his contract until 2031. He could replace Wesley, one of the most used players so far this season, with Molina a candidate to occupy the left side. In defence, Leonardo Balerdi, who scored a brace at the Maradona, is pushing for a starting place. Daniele Ghilardi could also start in place of Gianluca Mancini. Rodrigo Mora is among the main candidates to start, with Bryan Cristante possibly dropping into midfield to add quality in the final third. The most notable surprise could come up front. According to reports in the press, including Il Messaggero, Gasperini is considering giving Donyell Malen a rest, with Santiago Castro leading the attack. The move is far from certain, as the Dutchman remains the team's main offensive reference and the favourite to start. However, the idea of preserving him for the upcoming fixtures is one of the options on the table, a sign that the coach wants to genuinely widen his rotation. The watchword remains to win. Cagliari, coached by Pisacane, are going through a difficult period, but matches like this one hide dangers for a side coming off many close fixtures. Gasperini must find fresh energy without lowering the level of competitiveness, and needs important responses from those who have had less playing time so far. Roma cannot afford slip-ups at a point in the season when the calendar offers a valuable opportunity: winning consecutive matches before the break and arriving at the next big clashes with an even stronger league position. The turnover is necessary, but the three points are even more so.