Roma's Champions League test: Gasperini's threadbare squad and the Dybala variable

Napoli and Roma meet on Saturday at 18:00 at the Maradona in Serie A matchday eight, both sides coming off Champions League wins earlier in the week. Roma arrive seven points clear of Napoli, who have stumbled through a start to the season that has included more slips than they would like. Attack and midfield quality are the headline strengths for both teams, but this fixture is also about experience and solidity at the back, where the two central defenders are Amir Rrahmani for Napoli and Evan N'Dicka for Roma. Rrahmani remains a fixed point in the Napoli back line under Allegri, prized for his physical presence, experience, positional sense and consistency. The Kosovan centre-back is especially effective in marking, in the air and in reading situations inside the box, while also being one of the first options when Napoli build from the back. In Serie A this season he has been virtually irreplaceable, starting all seven matches and playing 630 minutes, always on the pitch from first whistle to last. He has done the same in the Champions League. His passing accuracy is close to 90 per cent, with roughly 60 successful passes per 90 minutes, alongside 12 tackles and a notable 53 defensive clearances. That last figure underlines his ability to intervene when opponents press hardest. Against Roma he will be asked above all to control the movement of Malen and the late runs of Roma's attacking players. N'Dicka's strengths are physicality, pace and the ability to defend well away from his own area. Under Gian Piero Gasperini he has become a central figure in Roma's defence, able to operate in several positions within the three-man back line. He is particularly effective in duels and in covering the space behind his team-mates. In Serie A he has made five appearances for 367 minutes, and his numbers show a decisive impact: he is Roma's best performer for defensive clearances per 90 minutes, at 7.1, and averages 10.5 defensive actions per 90. His distribution is also significant, with a pass completion rate above 94 per cent and about 49 completed passes per 90 minutes. Against Napoli, his capacity to hold his own in individual duels and to step out aggressively onto the striker could be one of the keys to Roma's defensive phase.

Bryan Cristante is reportedly close to a return to a more advanced role behind the strikers for Roma, with Gian Piero Gasperini considering using him as an extra option in the trequarti as the club continues to struggle with injuries. The move would see Cristante operate in the position behind the front men in a 3-4-1-2, a role he could share with Niccolò Pisilli. The idea would mark a return to a formation Gasperini used in previous meetings with Milan, when Massimiliano Allegri's side lined up with a back three. In the reverse fixture on 25 January, Gasperini, having Donyell Malen available, deployed Matías Soulé behind the centre-forward and Paulo Dybala, a display that gave Roma plenty of the play but ended in a 1-1 draw. The opponent has changed, but the thinking has not. Milan have since switched from a back three to a 4-3-3 under Allegri, but against a flat back four Gasperini has often played a trequartista, and the same approach is not ruled out against Napoli. The key message for supporters is that the trequarti role is firmly on the table for the coming fixture, with Cristante the likeliest option to fill it. Gasperini has used the flexibility of the system to adjust his attacking shape, and the change would give Roma an additional creative presence between the midfield and the front line.

Rodrigo Mora's form has been a mix of highlights and lows, and the article argues that the Portuguese midfielder now needs to take off and show his full potential for Roma. Mora is a current squad member who joined the club as part of the existing squad, and the piece by Pierluigi Franza, published on 22 October 2026, weighs his performances so far this season. The assessment comes as Roma's coaching staff and supporters look for consistency from the midfield. Mora is one of several options in Gian Piero Gasperini's squad, and the article frames his next steps as a key test for the team's options in the centre of the park. The article's remaining material focuses on Mora's individual displays, the balance between his strong moments and his weaker ones, and what Roma need from him in the coming weeks as the campaign continues.

Lorenzo Pellegrini faces at least two months on the sidelines after tests revealed a high-grade lesion at the distal musculotendinous junction of the semitendinosus in his right thigh, sustained against Slovan Bratislava. Recovery times will be assessed as the clinical picture evolves, but the midfielder could return in the first days of 2027. The setback adds to Roma's injury problems, following those of Svilar, Koné and Dybala. Roma continue preparations for their Serie A clash with Napoli on Saturday at 6pm at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Training took place at Trigoria, and there is positive news from Bryan Cristante, who has returned to regular group work despite visible strapping around his knee. The captain will be available to Gasperini for the match against the Partenopei and could even start from the first minute. Fans of both Napoli and Roma will be able to watch Saturday's match, valid for the eighth round of Serie A, free of charge on DAZN, including non-subscribers. Under the TV rights tender, five matches this season are being broadcast in free mode, and the Maradona fixture is among them. Supporters of both clubs need only log in following the instructions provided by DAZN to access the live stream. With the winter transfer window approaching, Roma have already begun identifying possible reinforcements for Gasperini. According to the English outlet Sport Witness, on Tuesday evening, while Roma beat Slovan Bratislava 4-0 at the Olimpico, several Roma scouts were at the Porto against PSV match. The fixture, won 1-0 by the Dutch side, also drew the attention of several Premier League clubs. Under observation are left-winger Esmir Bajraktarević, born 2005, and midfielder Sven Mijnans, born 2000, who had already been followed in the summer. On Rome radio, the Roma-Napoli fixture has been widely discussed. Luigi Ferrajolo told Radio Radio: "The absences of Koné and Dybala are heavy: Koné is the engine of the midfield and Dybala the inspiration. If Cristante can play, he can push Pisilli a bit further forward. Or Mora plays, hoping he wakes up a bit and makes a greater contribution." Alessandro Vocalelli added: "Roma have already passed some tests: not every match can be an exam. It is a stage in a journey in which the team must perform well, because it can help distance a direct Champions League rival. Physically he seems to be better, but Napoli have resources that make the match anything but simple."

Lorenzo Pellegrini faces a spell on the sidelines after scans revealed a high-grade tear to the distal muscle-tendon junction of the semitendinosus in his right thigh, the injury he suffered in Roma's match against Slovan Bratislava. The diagnosis is considerably more serious than the initial feeling after the game, when Gian Piero Gasperini had suggested a layoff of around twenty days. It is still too early to name a precise return date, which will depend on the actual extent of the tear, whether the tendon is involved and, above all, how the player responds to rehabilitation. However, given the high-grade classification, a cautious estimate points to a absence of 6-10 weeks. In calendar terms, Pellegrini would not only miss the November international break; a possible return could come between early and mid-December. Roma will only be able to set more precise timings once the clinical picture develops. If the tendon is particularly badly affected, recovery could take even longer. The blow is particularly heavy for Gasperini given the state of the attack. Paulo Dybala is already sidelined, and after the win over Slovan the coach had sounded the alarm: "If we don't recover Dybala quickly, we will really be few in number." Pellegrini's injury makes Roma's numerical problem in the attacking midfield even more evident. Gasperini will rely mainly on Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora, possibly using Donyell Malen and Santiago Castro together, or alternative solutions such as moving Wesley forward. Roma lose one of the players the coach was using most in his offensive rotations at the most demanding point of the calendar.

Roma's injury crisis deepened as Lorenzo Pellegrini was lost against Slovan Bratislava, adding to a growing list of absentees ahead of the trip to Napoli. Gasperini is working through his options for the Maradona fixture, with Malen and Soulé almost certain to start, but the final place in the attacking midfield remains open. The Pellegrini injury is already the seventh muscular injury of the season, on top of a bone-related problem suffered by Svilar. Dybala and Koné are also on the treatment list. Rodrigo Mora has not convinced, particularly in terms of attitude, in the recent games against Genoa and Slovan Bratislava, which has opened the door for Bryan Cristante, who has just returned from a knee problem. Cristante has not played since 19 September against Inter, just over a month ago, and his availability will be decisive. If he is not fit to start, Mora would almost certainly be given the nod from the first minute, as the pairing of Castro and Malen is not part of Gasperini's plans for a game of this importance. Gasperini has emergency alternatives. He could push Mancini or Hermoso into midfield, or use Wesley as an attacking winger, a solution already seen during a match last season, with Lulli and Molina then occupying the flanks. Napoli, who appear to have found a new balance in recent outings with De Bruyne dropping into the holding role, are just two days away from the clash at the Maradona, and Gasperini still has plenty of selection questions to resolve.

Lorenzo Pellegrini faces a spell on the sidelines after scans revealed a high-grade tear to the distal muscle-tendon junction of the semitendinosus in his right thigh, the injury he suffered in Roma's match against Slovan Bratislava. The diagnosis is considerably more serious than the initial feeling after the game, when Gian Piero Gasperini had suggested a layoff of around twenty days. It is still too early to name a precise return date, which will depend on the actual extent of the tear, whether the tendon is involved and, above all, how the player responds to rehabilitation. However, given the high-grade classification, a cautious estimate points to a absence of 6-10 weeks. In calendar terms, Pellegrini would not only miss the November international break; a possible return could come between early and mid-December. Roma will only be able to set more precise timings once the clinical picture develops. If the tendon is particularly badly affected, recovery could take even longer. The blow is particularly heavy for Gasperini given the state of the attack. Paulo Dybala is already sidelined, and after the win over Slovan the coach had sounded the alarm: "If we don't recover Dybala quickly, we will really be few in number." Pellegrini's injury makes Roma's numerical problem in the attacking midfield even more evident. Gasperini will rely mainly on Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora, possibly using Donyell Malen and Santiago Castro together, or alternative solutions such as moving Wesley forward. Roma lose one of the players the coach was using most in his offensive rotations at the most demanding point of the calendar.

Roma's injury crisis deepened as Lorenzo Pellegrini was lost against Slovan Bratislava, adding to a growing list of absentees ahead of the trip to Napoli. Gasperini is working through his options for the Maradona fixture, with Malen and Soulé almost certain to start, but the final place in the attacking midfield remains open. The Pellegrini injury is already the seventh muscular injury of the season, on top of a bone-related problem suffered by Svilar. Dybala and Koné are also on the treatment list. Rodrigo Mora has not convinced, particularly in terms of attitude, in the recent games against Genoa and Slovan Bratislava, which has opened the door for Bryan Cristante, who has just returned from a knee problem. Cristante has not played since 19 September against Inter, just over a month ago, and his availability will be decisive. If he is not fit to start, Mora would almost certainly be given the nod from the first minute, as the pairing of Castro and Malen is not part of Gasperini's plans for a game of this importance. Gasperini has emergency alternatives. He could push Mancini or Hermoso into midfield, or use Wesley as an attacking winger, a solution already seen during a match last season, with Lulli and Molina then occupying the flanks. Napoli, who appear to have found a new balance in recent outings with De Bruyne dropping into the holding role, are just two days away from the clash at the Maradona, and Gasperini still has plenty of selection questions to resolve.

Roma's radio pundits are debating how Gian Piero Gasperini should line up against Napoli, with Mora, Soulé, Malen and Castro at the centre of the discussion. Rete Sport's David Rossi backed keeping Mora in the side alongside Soulé and Malen, arguing that Mora deserves more consecutive games to gain confidence and to win over the Roma crowd, and that playing away from home would ease the pressure on him. He also suggested a more natural role for Mora than the one Gasperini gave Pellegrini against Slovan, when Pellegrini was deployed on the right, a position that is not his. Rossi said: "Contro il Napoli o metti dentro tutti i centrocampisti, con uno tra Pisilli e Cristante alto sulla trequarti, oppure confermi Mora con Soulè e Malen, che è la cosa che farei io." Fabio Petruzzi, also on Rete Sport, proposed Rensch in front of Spinazzola with Wesley on the left, and expected Gasperini to keep faith with Mora but not to rule out Malen and Castro up front together. Tiziano Moroni was more critical, saying Mora had been insufficient in the last match and had created nothing, while noting he is only 19 and urging patience with Gasperini. Gianluca Piacentini raised the idea of Wesley pushed forward in the emergency, but said he would go for the classic line-up against Napoli, with Mora and Soulé behind Malen. He said: "Mora è arrivato da due mesi e per questo gli darei un po' di tempo. Facciamogli fare dieci partite consecutive." He added: "Però se ogni volta deve giocare con questo mattone addosso, che al primo errore viene fustigato, diventa dura…" On Tele Radio Stereo, Mario Corsi said Mora should be given time despite criticism, pointing out that Diomande is also 19. Francesca Ferrazza argued that Roma are not a side in difficulty, that the atmosphere in the stadium is the best it has been, and that Champions League matches drain energy but are tests of strength. Lorenzo Pes reported that Pellegrini, even with a mild injury, will not return before the break, and that what had filtered out suggested a month out with a more significant tear in the same spot where he had surgery. He said Gasperini must hope to recover Dybala soon, with recent reports pointing to an attempt for Udinese, and suggested Cristante move forward with Pisilli in midfield. Alessio Nardo joked: "Il giorno in cui la Roma acquisterà l'esterno sinistro titolare di piede destro faremo una festa in città, perchè finalmente sfateremo un tabù. Sono due anni che cerchiamo questo giocatore senza riuscire a trovarlo…" Piero Torri said Saturday's match against Napoli would be far from easy, and that Cristante was unlikely to start, though he could come on during the game in either the No.10 role or midfield. Roberto Pruzzo said he did not expect Mora to play against Napoli, suggested Castro could partner Malen, and believed Pisilli could operate in a dual role. Nando Orsi argued that Mora must play whenever he has the chance, otherwise he never gets the opportunity to settle in and understand the system. He said: "L'esborso economico deve essere confermato, e quando c'è la possibilità deve giocare." On Castro, he said: "Pensavo a Castro: poverino, non giocherà mai." He noted that Castro has been a starter for three or four matches this season, since Malen usually starts, and that coming on from the bench is very different from starting from the first minute.

Donyell Malen has been voted the best player in Serie A for September, the AIC (Italian Footballers' Association) announced. The Roma forward received the award today from AIC director general Gianni Grazioli. Malen has made a strong start to the season, scoring 6 goals in 6 league matches, plus 3 goals in 3 Champions League games. The Dutch striker continued the form he showed last season after arriving at Roma in January. AIC shared a photo of the presentation on social media, showing Malen receiving the award from Grazioli.

Roma forward Donyell Malen has been named Serie A's Player of the Month for September, with the award presented today by the general director of the AIC (Italian Footballers' Association), Gianni Grazioli. Malen, a Dutchman, has continued to score and perform for Roma in both Serie A and the Champions League, and has 9 goals for the club across all competitions so far. Malen's form has been a consistent feature since his arrival in mid-January. In 29 matches he has scored 24 goals, a remarkable return. His September award was earned in part by his goal against Torino, alongside what the article describes as his usual strong performances. Grazioli presented the award to Malen directly today, recognising the Dutchman as the league's best player for the month of September.

Napoli and Roma meet on Saturday at 18:00 at the Maradona in Serie A matchday eight, both sides coming off Champions League wins earlier in the week. Roma arrive seven points clear of Napoli, who have stumbled through a start to the season that has included more slips than they would like. Attack and midfield quality are the headline strengths for both teams, but this fixture is also about experience and solidity at the back, where the two central defenders are Amir Rrahmani for Napoli and Evan N'Dicka for Roma. Rrahmani remains a fixed point in the Napoli back line under Allegri, prized for his physical presence, experience, positional sense and consistency. The Kosovan centre-back is especially effective in marking, in the air and in reading situations inside the box, while also being one of the first options when Napoli build from the back. In Serie A this season he has been virtually irreplaceable, starting all seven matches and playing 630 minutes, always on the pitch from first whistle to last. He has done the same in the Champions League. His passing accuracy is close to 90 per cent, with roughly 60 successful passes per 90 minutes, alongside 12 tackles and a notable 53 defensive clearances. That last figure underlines his ability to intervene when opponents press hardest. Against Roma he will be asked above all to control the movement of Malen and the late runs of Roma's attacking players. N'Dicka's strengths are physicality, pace and the ability to defend well away from his own area. Under Gian Piero Gasperini he has become a central figure in Roma's defence, able to operate in several positions within the three-man back line. He is particularly effective in duels and in covering the space behind his team-mates. In Serie A he has made five appearances for 367 minutes, and his numbers show a decisive impact: he is Roma's best performer for defensive clearances per 90 minutes, at 7.1, and averages 10.5 defensive actions per 90. His distribution is also significant, with a pass completion rate above 94 per cent and about 49 completed passes per 90 minutes. Against Napoli, his capacity to hold his own in individual duels and to step out aggressively onto the striker could be one of the keys to Roma's defensive phase.