Roma's centre-backs have scored a quarter of the club's goals under Gasperini

Roma's win over Cagliari has underlined how central the club's young players have become to Gian Piero Gasperini's project. The Giallorossi rely confidently on their Under-23 players, who have made decisive contributions at key moments of matches, as shown by the performances and goals of those who came through the youth sector and have been developed by the coach. Among the positives is the steady progress of Emanuele Lulli, who recently renewed his contract until 2031. The 2005-born defender scored his second consecutive league goal in front of the Curva Sud, and has established himself as a valuable asset and an important presence in the rotation. Alongside him, Niccolò Pisilli has become a consolidated certainty in midfield, combining consistent performances with a nose for goals. According to Il Tempo, the Olimpico clash was also the night of breakthrough for Rodrigo Mora. The 19-year-old Portuguese, who was initially greeted with scepticism over his market valuation, unlocked the match by scoring his first goal in front of the Roma crowd. Gasperini himself praised the young Portuguese's technical qualities after the game, stressing that his imagination is a fundamental factor for the season. The young group is completed by the gradual integration of players such as Koulierakis and Castro, who are asked to provide valid alternatives in a squad that blends the freshness of the youth ranks with the maturity of the senior players. For Gasperini's Roma, young players are no longer just a future prospect but a solid reality capable of making the difference.

Mile Svilar faces a decisive fitness test today as he works towards returning from a foot fracture, with Roma's goalkeeper having flown back from Belgium, where he has spent recent weeks on his recovery. The main target is the Roma-Sassuolo fixture on 7 November, though a return for the Manchester trip is not ruled out, according to Il Tempo's Lorenzo Pes. Roma's infirmary at Trigoria remains busy after a run of injuries in recent weeks. Hermoso and Balerdi, who both stayed on the bench for 90 minutes against Cagliari with physical complaints, are not a cause for concern and are expected to be available for the match against Udinese. The picture is less clear for Paulo Dybala. After the Cagliari game, Gian Piero Gasperini raised concern by casting doubt on the Argentine's availability for the next league fixture. Koné is also hoping to be back before the international break.

Paulo Dybala's comeback has been put on hold after a new discomfort in his right calf, leaving him unavailable for Roma's match against Cagliari. The Argentina forward injured the same calf during the Real Madrid game on 14 October. Initial diagnosis had been encouraging, and Dybala had been aiming for a place on the bench as early as the Slovan Bratislava match. Further tests, however, revealed that an oedema had concealed a small tear. Dybala returned to group training on Sunday, following the draw at Napoli, and pushed hard in an attempt to make the squad for Cagliari. The small tear diagnosed by the medical staff needs a few more days to heal. Doctors have now circled 7 November on the calendar as his new target date. Dybala is pressing to speed up his recovery and wants to be available for the trip to Manchester to face United on the 3rd, but the medical staff are expected not to give the green light, as caution is at its highest. Yesterday, on the rest day, Dybala was at Trigoria, where he completed a personalised training session. Donyell Malen was also present, and the pair took part in a photo shoot for Adidas together.

Roma have scored more late goals than almost anyone in Serie A this season, with only Inter having a better record in the closing stages of matches. Their latest late surge came against Cagliari, where Rodrigo Mora and Malen struck in the final five minutes. Roma have now scored seven goals after the 75th minute in nine league matches, two fewer than Inter, who beat the Giallorossi yesterday. The pattern marks a clear change from last season. Writing in Il Tempo, Lorenzo Pes noted that Gasperini's first Roma side struggled badly to overturn results and often lost games once they fell behind. This season's team attacks with order even when little time remains, and it has shown a hunger for major targets. The comeback at Napoli was followed by another late strike against Cagliari, and the squad has rallied in the closing stages of several games. Gasperini can now draw on important options from the bench, and the numbers show that substitutes have often decided matches. Two of the late goals came against Cagliari from Mora and Malen. Balerdi made the difference at Napoli, Soulé did so against Atalanta, and Pisilli did so in the first matchday against Fiorentina.

Mile Svilar faces a decisive fitness test today as he works towards returning from a foot fracture, with Roma's goalkeeper having flown back from Belgium, where he has spent recent weeks on his recovery. The main target is the Roma-Sassuolo fixture on 7 November, though a return for the Manchester trip is not ruled out, according to Il Tempo's Lorenzo Pes. Roma's infirmary at Trigoria remains busy after a run of injuries in recent weeks. Hermoso and Balerdi, who both stayed on the bench for 90 minutes against Cagliari with physical complaints, are not a cause for concern and are expected to be available for the match against Udinese. The picture is less clear for Paulo Dybala. After the Cagliari game, Gian Piero Gasperini raised concern by casting doubt on the Argentine's availability for the next league fixture. Koné is also hoping to be back before the international break.

Paulo Dybala's return to action has suffered another setback, with Roma's medical staff deciding against any risk and delaying the Argentine's comeback. Further clinical tests revealed an oedema that had masked a small lesion to the gastrocnemius muscle in his right calf. The injury was sustained during the match against Real Madrid on 14 October, and it will force the "Joya" to miss Roma's Champions League trip to Manchester United at Old Trafford. The club and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini are taking a cautious approach. The concrete target for Dybala's return is the Serie A fixture against Sassuolo on 7 November, which comes before the international break. Dybala's enforced absence opens up new tactical options for the attack. Ahead of the next league trip to Udinese, Rodrigo Mora is putting himself forward for a fresh chance to start, aiming to build consistency and confirm the progress he showed after scoring the decisive goal against Cagliari. The news on the other injured players is mixed. Hermoso and Balerdi have recovered from their exertions and offered strong assurances. Goalkeeper Mile Svilar has returned from Belgium for key tests on his recovery from a fractured toe, with hopes he can earn a late call-up for Manchester or the match in Udine. Koné remains sidelined and will need a further period of rest before he is available to Gasperini again.

Roma have lost their place as the best defence in Europe's top five leagues and in Serie A, after conceding three goals at Napoli and two against Cagliari. Yet the back line remains the team's most reliable unit and its main source of solutions, with all six centre-backs largely available throughout the season. Gian Piero Gasperini's starters are Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso, who have played 793, 807 and 727 minutes respectively across Serie A and the Champions League. Daniele Aloisi, writing in Il Messaggero, highlights the backups too. Balerdi has become a fixed point in a matter of weeks, with 468 minutes played and a decisive brace at the Maradona. He missed the last match after a knock suffered on Saturday, but he will be available for the trip to Udine. Balerdi said: "It feels like I've been here for two or three years," adding that he hopes to stay for as long as possible. His buyout clause is close to being triggered. If he plays 55% of matches (at least 45 minutes each), it will activate at 14 million, while playing between 40% and 55% would lower the figure by three million. Ghilardi has improved the most compared with last season. Last year it took him three months to make his first start, but he is now a valid alternative. Mancini has not made a positive start, and he is responsible for the goal by Maldini. What is most surprising is the attacking contribution of the defenders, with eight goals coming from Gasperini's formidable centre-backs.

Roma came from behind to beat Cagliari, with a young side producing the decisive moments. Lulli equalised for Roma, then provided the assist for Pisilli's 2-1 winner. Pisilli, born in 2004, is from Palestrina and Lulli, born in 2007, is a Roman and Roma supporter, the two of them both having grown up as Romans and Giallorossi fans, as the report notes. Four players in the win were born after 2001, a year that means something special in Rome. The second goal was a home-grown move, the kind not seen at Roma since the days of Totti and De Rossi. Ghilardi, born in 2003, sent the perfect cross for Rodrigo Mora, born in 2007, to head home the winner. Gasperini's side have leaned heavily on youth. This season Roma, the top-of-the-table side that has fielded the most young players, have scored 12 goals and provided 13 assists from their under-23s. Soulé, Koulierakis and Castro have also contributed. Mora had been criticised, perhaps too harshly, for a couple of below-par displays, and this goal is a welcome response. Balzani, writing in Leggo, notes that Mora already has the numbers of a great player and must replace Dybala at Udine. Dybala is not yet at his best but hopes to return next Tuesday against Manchester United. Svilar will undergo fresh tests tomorrow to see whether he can be available before the international break.

Former Roma player Zibi Boniek believes Lazio's strong start to the season is helping to keep Roma sharp, given the rivalry between the two Rome clubs. Roma and Lazio are both sitting high in the table after the opening stretch of the league season, something that has not happened for several years. Speaking to 'Rete Sport', Boniek said: "The stronger Lazio go, the more Roma will maintain their level of concentration to do just as well, given the city rivalry." The Polish former player, a Serie A champion with Roma, praised Lazio's head coach Gattuso: "I adore him, because he is a real person who doesn't hide and says what he thinks: he is a good coach. If he gets too many points he becomes unpleasant (laughs)." On Lazio's play, Boniek added: "Lazio play well. I saw them yesterday against Sassuolo. They are a very fast team that always goes vertical with lots of overlaps, and they don't play any tiki-taka." Turning to Roma, Boniek described a match that looked closed before a late goal from Mora, whom he said had shown little before. "The Portuguese is a player with good individual technique, but his physical structure had not helped him. I hope this goal can raise his level of self-esteem." He said Roma started well but slowed in the second half, believing they could hold on, and conceded to Maldini. The immediate response from the giallorossi, he said, shows that players on the bench can make a difference. He praised Ghilardi for a cross and an overlap, despite playing little. Boniek noted that the first-choice defensive trio is Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso, but said that former Verona player Balerdi is a player of real calibre. He asked whether Mancini might move to the bench for Balerdi, adding that he has almost become the first striker. He also said there is much of Mancini in Pisilli's second goal, with Mancini's pass setting up Lulli, whose cross found Niccolò. On the team selection, Boniek said: "Yesterday he was tricked by Fadera, but I am not sending anyone to the bench. Clearly if there are 20 players of equal level, you have to assess who is tired, but Gasperini does this very well. He then brought on Ghilardi, who passed a decisive ball to Mora." Finally, Boniek spoke about Soulé, a 2003-born player: "He is changing. When you train with a good coach, you improve. He is also more resilient now. Players grow at 26-27, let alone at his age. Yesterday I liked him very much."

Roma have lost their place as the best defence in Europe's top five leagues and in Serie A, after conceding three goals at Napoli and two against Cagliari. Yet the back line remains the team's most reliable unit and its main source of solutions, with all six centre-backs largely available throughout the season. Gian Piero Gasperini's starters are Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso, who have played 793, 807 and 727 minutes respectively across Serie A and the Champions League. Daniele Aloisi, writing in Il Messaggero, highlights the backups too. Balerdi has become a fixed point in a matter of weeks, with 468 minutes played and a decisive brace at the Maradona. He missed the last match after a knock suffered on Saturday, but he will be available for the trip to Udine. Balerdi said: "It feels like I've been here for two or three years," adding that he hopes to stay for as long as possible. His buyout clause is close to being triggered. If he plays 55% of matches (at least 45 minutes each), it will activate at 14 million, while playing between 40% and 55% would lower the figure by three million. Ghilardi has improved the most compared with last season. Last year it took him three months to make his first start, but he is now a valid alternative. Mancini has not made a positive start, and he is responsible for the goal by Maldini. What is most surprising is the attacking contribution of the defenders, with eight goals coming from Gasperini's formidable centre-backs.

Former Roma player Zibi Boniek believes Lazio's strong start to the season is helping to keep Roma sharp, given the rivalry between the two Rome clubs. Roma and Lazio are both sitting high in the table after the opening stretch of the league season, something that has not happened for several years. Speaking to 'Rete Sport', Boniek said: "The stronger Lazio go, the more Roma will maintain their level of concentration to do just as well, given the city rivalry." The Polish former player, a Serie A champion with Roma, praised Lazio's head coach Gattuso: "I adore him, because he is a real person who doesn't hide and says what he thinks: he is a good coach. If he gets too many points he becomes unpleasant (laughs)." On Lazio's play, Boniek added: "Lazio play well. I saw them yesterday against Sassuolo. They are a very fast team that always goes vertical with lots of overlaps, and they don't play any tiki-taka." Turning to Roma, Boniek described a match that looked closed before a late goal from Mora, whom he said had shown little before. "The Portuguese is a player with good individual technique, but his physical structure had not helped him. I hope this goal can raise his level of self-esteem." He said Roma started well but slowed in the second half, believing they could hold on, and conceded to Maldini. The immediate response from the giallorossi, he said, shows that players on the bench can make a difference. He praised Ghilardi for a cross and an overlap, despite playing little. Boniek noted that the first-choice defensive trio is Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso, but said that former Verona player Balerdi is a player of real calibre. He asked whether Mancini might move to the bench for Balerdi, adding that he has almost become the first striker. He also said there is much of Mancini in Pisilli's second goal, with Mancini's pass setting up Lulli, whose cross found Niccolò. On the team selection, Boniek said: "Yesterday he was tricked by Fadera, but I am not sending anyone to the bench. Clearly if there are 20 players of equal level, you have to assess who is tired, but Gasperini does this very well. He then brought on Ghilardi, who passed a decisive ball to Mora." Finally, Boniek spoke about Soulé, a 2003-born player: "He is changing. When you train with a good coach, you improve. He is also more resilient now. Players grow at 26-27, let alone at his age. Yesterday I liked him very much."

Roma will not return to Rome after their Serie A trip to Udine, instead travelling straight on to Manchester for their Champions League fixture against Manchester United on 3 November. Roma face Udinese on Saturday 31 October at 18:00. Angelo Mangiante, speaking on Mana Mana Sport, reported that the squad will train in Udine on Sunday morning, before leaving from Trieste airport for Manchester in the afternoon, in order to ease the travel burden of an intense week of league and Champions League matches. The transfer market is also on the agenda. Roma are looking to broaden the options available to head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, and Carlos Forbs, a Portuguese attacking winger born in 2002 who plays for Brugge, is reportedly among the profiles being monitored. Roma have reportedly sent scouts to San Siro to watch Forbs in the match against Inter and assess the player closely. Competition is strong, however, with Tottenham and Manchester United, along with other Premier League clubs, also reportedly interested. Brugge set a valuation of around 30 million euros in the summer, a figure that could still form the basis of any negotiation. Gasperini was also remembered in a tribute to the late journalist Mario Sconcerti, at the second edition of the award dedicated to him, held at the Salone d'Onore of the CONI in Rome and aimed at younger generations. Gasperini sent a video message to the students present, highlighting the value of Sconcerti's professional legacy: "A warning about what his profession was, his capacity. It is a lesson that will stay with you in your future profession." Following Roma's recent match against Cagliari, Marcacci spoke on Radio Radio: "Mora was good: full credit to him, for taking advantage of the defender's mistake from Cagliari. We will remember Mora's goal at the end of the season, because it came at a moment when Cagliari had more energy in the tank. Gasp's rebukes started from the first minutes: he sensed the match would be difficult, and Roma suffered against Cagliari. Mancini struggled and leaves too much space behind him. A note of credit for the crowd, who were involved; the team needed that push." Pedrelli, on Radio Bruno Roma, added: "With Lulli and Pisilli the future is already here. I wish Mora and Ghilardi more space. Well done also to Gollini. What a Roma this is, who keep trying until the end. No one excluded."