Roma's defence drives their strong start: second-best in Serie A, and centre-backs also finding the net

Roma head to the Bluenergy Stadium looking to beat Udinese and extend their winning run to two matches, and their unbeaten run to ten. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini is reportedly preparing a set of considered changes for the fixture. Daniele Ghilardi is set to start in defence, Rodrigo Mora is called upon to start from the first minute, and Marten de Roon is expected to be rested. Wesley returns to start on the flank, regaining his place on the wing. The match is not expected to be straightforward, but the article describes this Roma side as having the strength to keep fighting for their goals. Roma are chasing a second consecutive win and a tenth successive result without defeat, with Gasperini's ideas clearly set out for the trip north. The Italian sports dailies largely agree on the lineup. La Gazzetta dello Sport, Il Messaggero and La Repubblica all name a 3-4-1-2 with Gollini in goal, Ghilardi, Balerdi and Hermoso in defence, Lulli, Cristante, Pisilli and Wesley in midfield, Mora in behind, and Soulé and Malen up front. Il Corriere dello Sport and Il Tempo differ in placing De Roon alongside Cristante and Pisilli behind Malen and Soulé, while Il Corriere dello Sport also includes Ndicka in a back three. Il Corriere della Sera names Rensch in midfield and Ndicka in defence, with Ghilardi and Hermoso alongside him. All of the papers name Gasperini as coach.

Roma travel to the Bluenergy Stadium to face Udinese this afternoon, on Halloween, with the chance to stay near the top of Serie A. Gian Piero Gasperini's side are the clear favourites on paper, but the match is not expected to be straightforward. Udinese have made one of the worst starts in their history, and coach Runjaic's position is reportedly under threat. Gasperini has taken a cautious approach ahead of the fixture. Roma are still without Svilar, Koné, Dybala and Pellegrini. The Giallorossi also have to avoid looking ahead to their upcoming Champions League trip to Manchester, which is described as a fascinating away game. Udinese's physicality and recent meetings between the sides demand full focus. The article stresses that wounded, hungry opponents fighting for points are exactly where a big team must prove its worth. Roma need to secure their path in the league before turning their attention to the results at the top of the table in Milan.

Former Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini has praised the club's current form and the coaching of Gian Piero Gasperini, speaking in an interview with Il Foglio about the opening weeks of the Serie A season. Sabatini said he had seen a Roma match a month earlier and had been struck by how the players sought each other out and embraced after a decisive goal. Sabatini said: "Spiritual cohesion is a superior factor. Roma are going through this collective state of mind: Gasperini teaches the orthodoxy of winning, he is a coach who makes you take giant strides." He pointed to the 3-3 draw with Napoli as a boost for Italian football, saying both sides had played superbly in a battle that honoured the ball. Sabatini added: "When we are at this level, everyone has to chase the Serie A title." His comments underline the belief that Roma's collective spirit, built under Gasperini, has carried the team through the early stages of the campaign.

Roma head to the Bluenergy Stadium looking to beat Udinese and extend their winning run to two matches, and their unbeaten run to ten. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini is reportedly preparing a set of considered changes for the fixture. Daniele Ghilardi is set to start in defence, Rodrigo Mora is called upon to start from the first minute, and Marten de Roon is expected to be rested. Wesley returns to start on the flank, regaining his place on the wing. The match is not expected to be straightforward, but the article describes this Roma side as having the strength to keep fighting for their goals. Roma are chasing a second consecutive win and a tenth successive result without defeat, with Gasperini's ideas clearly set out for the trip north. The Italian sports dailies largely agree on the lineup. La Gazzetta dello Sport, Il Messaggero and La Repubblica all name a 3-4-1-2 with Gollini in goal, Ghilardi, Balerdi and Hermoso in defence, Lulli, Cristante, Pisilli and Wesley in midfield, Mora in behind, and Soulé and Malen up front. Il Corriere dello Sport and Il Tempo differ in placing De Roon alongside Cristante and Pisilli behind Malen and Soulé, while Il Corriere dello Sport also includes Ndicka in a back three. Il Corriere della Sera names Rensch in midfield and Ndicka in defence, with Ghilardi and Hermoso alongside him. All of the papers name Gasperini as coach.

Roma begin a run of five matches that are on paper favourable when they face Udinese at the Friuli today, 31 October, a sequence that could lift them up the table and leave them close to, if not ahead of, Lazio by the Rome derby on 13 December. La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that after a win over Cagliari that came with some scares, Roma head into the game in Udine with Gasperini's plan taking shape. Before the international break, Roma are set to face sides in difficulty, namely Udinese, Sassuolo, Parma, Monza and Bologna. Between those fixtures come the demanding Champions League trips to Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain, but the article suggests the conditions to push on are all there. Roma are chasing an eighth win of the season to stay attached to the leading group and keep moving forward. For today's game, with Udinese going through a difficult moment and looking for a way back, Gasperini is set to rotate ahead of the trip to England. There will be changes and continuity: Ghilardi and Balerdi lead the defence, Wesley is on the left, while the attacking thrust will again be entrusted to Donyell Malen, who already has ten goals this season, and Matías Soulé, increasingly decisive on the right flank. Roma are looking to stay in touch with the group at the top and keep up the pace.

Roma travel to the Bluenergy Stadium to face Udinese on Saturday 31 October at 18:00, in Serie A matchday 10. Gian Piero Gasperini's side arrive after a 4-2 win over Cagliari that moved them into third place with 21 points. Udinese, coached by Kosta Runjaic, ended a run of six consecutive defeats with a 0-0 draw at Parma, but have not scored in three matches and have collected just five points from their first nine games. Runiajc has confirmed the absences of Solet, Bayo, Zanoli and Alaba. Okoye is expected in goal, with Abankwah, Kabasele and Palma in the back three and Vojvoda and Kamara on the flanks. Karlstrom is set to anchor midfield alongside either Zarraga or Piotrowski, while Zaniolo and Ekkelenkamp support Davis up front. Bertola has recovered from injury. Gueye is also unavailable for the hosts. Roma are without Svilar, Koné, Pellegrini and Dybala, who has not been included in the squad. Gollini keeps his place in goal. Gasperini is expected to rotate heavily in defence, with Ghilardi, Balerdi and Hermoso favoured, while Mancini and N'Dicka are initially set to rest. Lulli and Wesley will operate on the flanks, with Cristante and Pisilli in midfield and De Roon given a breather. Soulé, Rodrigo Mora and Malen are confirmed up front. Both teams line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation. The match will be broadcast exclusively on DAZN, via the DAZN app on smart TVs, smartphones, tablets, consoles and computers, and on the DAZN 1 channel for satellite subscribers who have activated the option. There is no live coverage on the traditional Sky Sport channels. Kick-off is at 18:00 on Saturday 31 October. Bookmakers make Roma clear favourites. Udinese are priced between 5.50 and 5.70, a draw between 4.20 and 4.50, and a Roma win between 1.52 and 1.57. Market probabilities give Roma around a 60% chance of victory. Bookmakers also expect goals, with Over 2.5 favoured over Under, and Goal offered at a relatively low price. Roma have the second-best attack in the league. The most likely correct score is a 1-2 Roma win, priced around 7.00-7.50, ahead of 1-1, 0-1 and 0-2. The referee is Fabio Maresca of Napoli, with assistants Lo Cicero and Rossi L., Daniele Chiffi as fourth official, Daniele Paterna as VAR and Gianluca Aureliano as AVAR.

Roma head to the Bluenergy Stadium looking to beat Udinese and extend their winning run to two matches, and their unbeaten run to ten. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini is reportedly preparing a set of considered changes for the fixture. Daniele Ghilardi is set to start in defence, Rodrigo Mora is called upon to start from the first minute, and Marten de Roon is expected to be rested. Wesley returns to start on the flank, regaining his place on the wing. The match is not expected to be straightforward, but the article describes this Roma side as having the strength to keep fighting for their goals. Roma are chasing a second consecutive win and a tenth successive result without defeat, with Gasperini's ideas clearly set out for the trip north. The Italian sports dailies largely agree on the lineup. La Gazzetta dello Sport, Il Messaggero and La Repubblica all name a 3-4-1-2 with Gollini in goal, Ghilardi, Balerdi and Hermoso in defence, Lulli, Cristante, Pisilli and Wesley in midfield, Mora in behind, and Soulé and Malen up front. Il Corriere dello Sport and Il Tempo differ in placing De Roon alongside Cristante and Pisilli behind Malen and Soulé, while Il Corriere dello Sport also includes Ndicka in a back three. Il Corriere della Sera names Rensch in midfield and Ndicka in defence, with Ghilardi and Hermoso alongside him. All of the papers name Gasperini as coach.

Roma begin a run of five matches that are on paper favourable when they face Udinese at the Friuli today, 31 October, a sequence that could lift them up the table and leave them close to, if not ahead of, Lazio by the Rome derby on 13 December. La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that after a win over Cagliari that came with some scares, Roma head into the game in Udine with Gasperini's plan taking shape. Before the international break, Roma are set to face sides in difficulty, namely Udinese, Sassuolo, Parma, Monza and Bologna. Between those fixtures come the demanding Champions League trips to Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain, but the article suggests the conditions to push on are all there. Roma are chasing an eighth win of the season to stay attached to the leading group and keep moving forward. For today's game, with Udinese going through a difficult moment and looking for a way back, Gasperini is set to rotate ahead of the trip to England. There will be changes and continuity: Ghilardi and Balerdi lead the defence, Wesley is on the left, while the attacking thrust will again be entrusted to Donyell Malen, who already has ten goals this season, and Matías Soulé, increasingly decisive on the right flank. Roma are looking to stay in touch with the group at the top and keep up the pace.

Roma travel to the Bluenergy Stadium to face Udinese on Saturday 31 October at 18:00, in Serie A matchday 10. Gian Piero Gasperini's side arrive after a 4-2 win over Cagliari that moved them into third place with 21 points. Udinese, coached by Kosta Runjaic, ended a run of six consecutive defeats with a 0-0 draw at Parma, but have not scored in three matches and have collected just five points from their first nine games. Runiajc has confirmed the absences of Solet, Bayo, Zanoli and Alaba. Okoye is expected in goal, with Abankwah, Kabasele and Palma in the back three and Vojvoda and Kamara on the flanks. Karlstrom is set to anchor midfield alongside either Zarraga or Piotrowski, while Zaniolo and Ekkelenkamp support Davis up front. Bertola has recovered from injury. Gueye is also unavailable for the hosts. Roma are without Svilar, Koné, Pellegrini and Dybala, who has not been included in the squad. Gollini keeps his place in goal. Gasperini is expected to rotate heavily in defence, with Ghilardi, Balerdi and Hermoso favoured, while Mancini and N'Dicka are initially set to rest. Lulli and Wesley will operate on the flanks, with Cristante and Pisilli in midfield and De Roon given a breather. Soulé, Rodrigo Mora and Malen are confirmed up front. Both teams line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation. The match will be broadcast exclusively on DAZN, via the DAZN app on smart TVs, smartphones, tablets, consoles and computers, and on the DAZN 1 channel for satellite subscribers who have activated the option. There is no live coverage on the traditional Sky Sport channels. Kick-off is at 18:00 on Saturday 31 October. Bookmakers make Roma clear favourites. Udinese are priced between 5.50 and 5.70, a draw between 4.20 and 4.50, and a Roma win between 1.52 and 1.57. Market probabilities give Roma around a 60% chance of victory. Bookmakers also expect goals, with Over 2.5 favoured over Under, and Goal offered at a relatively low price. Roma have the second-best attack in the league. The most likely correct score is a 1-2 Roma win, priced around 7.00-7.50, ahead of 1-1, 0-1 and 0-2. The referee is Fabio Maresca of Napoli, with assistants Lo Cicero and Rossi L., Daniele Chiffi as fourth official, Daniele Paterna as VAR and Gianluca Aureliano as AVAR.

Roma travel to the Bluenergy Stadium to face Udinese on Saturday 31 October at 18:00, in Serie A matchday 10. Gian Piero Gasperini's side arrive after a 4-2 win over Cagliari that moved them into third place with 21 points. Udinese, coached by Kosta Runjaic, ended a run of six consecutive defeats with a 0-0 draw at Parma, but have not scored in three matches and have collected just five points from their first nine games. Runiajc has confirmed the absences of Solet, Bayo, Zanoli and Alaba. Okoye is expected in goal, with Abankwah, Kabasele and Palma in the back three and Vojvoda and Kamara on the flanks. Karlstrom is set to anchor midfield alongside either Zarraga or Piotrowski, while Zaniolo and Ekkelenkamp support Davis up front. Bertola has recovered from injury. Gueye is also unavailable for the hosts. Roma are without Svilar, Koné, Pellegrini and Dybala, who has not been included in the squad. Gollini keeps his place in goal. Gasperini is expected to rotate heavily in defence, with Ghilardi, Balerdi and Hermoso favoured, while Mancini and N'Dicka are initially set to rest. Lulli and Wesley will operate on the flanks, with Cristante and Pisilli in midfield and De Roon given a breather. Soulé, Rodrigo Mora and Malen are confirmed up front. Both teams line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation. The match will be broadcast exclusively on DAZN, via the DAZN app on smart TVs, smartphones, tablets, consoles and computers, and on the DAZN 1 channel for satellite subscribers who have activated the option. There is no live coverage on the traditional Sky Sport channels. Kick-off is at 18:00 on Saturday 31 October. Bookmakers make Roma clear favourites. Udinese are priced between 5.50 and 5.70, a draw between 4.20 and 4.50, and a Roma win between 1.52 and 1.57. Market probabilities give Roma around a 60% chance of victory. Bookmakers also expect goals, with Over 2.5 favoured over Under, and Goal offered at a relatively low price. Roma have the second-best attack in the league. The most likely correct score is a 1-2 Roma win, priced around 7.00-7.50, ahead of 1-1, 0-1 and 0-2. The referee is Fabio Maresca of Napoli, with assistants Lo Cicero and Rossi L., Daniele Chiffi as fourth official, Daniele Paterna as VAR and Gianluca Aureliano as AVAR.

Roma head to Udine tomorrow to face Udinese at the Bluenergy Stadium, with Gian Piero Gasperini's squad list released in the afternoon. Mile Svilar, Manu Koné and Paulo Dybala are absent, all already announced as unavailable. Young Roma players Di Nunzio and Camara have been called up again. The match comes at a delicate moment, as Roma must deal with fatigue on top of the injury absences. Ghilardi starts at centre-back from the first minute in place of Gianluca Mancini. In attack, Mora and Soulé operate behind Donyell Malen in the trequartista area. Udinese coach Kosta Runjaic spoke at his pre-match press conference: "Roma are fighting for the scudetto. They are strong, but we don't set off without hope. Davis and Zaniolo are not at 100% but they will play."

Gian Piero Gasperini has named a 22-man squad for Roma's trip to Udinese on Saturday 31 October at 18:00 at the Bluenergy Stadium, in Serie A matchday 10. Paulo Dybala will miss the match, as the coach had already indicated, while young players Di Nunzio and Camara are included. The goalkeepers are Vasquez, De Marzi and Gollini. The defenders are Rensch, Koulierakis, Ndicka, Molina, Hermoso, Mancini, Balerdi, Wesley, Lulli and Ghilardi. The midfielders are Cristante, De Roon, Pisilli, Di Nunzio and Mora, and the forwards are Castro, Malen, Soulé and Camara. The kit colours have also been confirmed. Roma will play in their traditional red first shirt, while the goalkeeper will wear yellow. The Giallorossi players on the bench will wear blue bibs. The match in Friuli is Roma's last league fixture before the European trip against Manchester United, scheduled for 3 November. Former Roma and Udinese midfielder Stefano Desideri spoke to Romanews on the eve of the match, analysing Roma's current form and their prospects for the rest of the season. Desideri does not fully share the criticism linked to fatigue after the win over Cagliari. He said: "With all the rotations and the adjustments, Roma have held up more than well," recalling the many closely spaced matches and injuries. He also praised Cristante, whom he considers "more and more of a leader" and a reference point for the younger players, and De Roon, whose impact he described as "impressive". In the table, Desideri places Roma and Inter ahead of their rivals, while acknowledging the surprising results of Lazio and the work of Como, who could remain at a high level until the end. On Udinese, he admits he did not expect such a difficult start: "They must pull themselves out by any means" to avoid getting drawn into the relegation battle. Looking ahead to the winter window, Desideri said he does not expect big deals: "I don't believe much in it." Nonetheless, he feels Gasperini's side could need "another midfielder" and "a winger", provided there are concrete and convenient opportunities. Roma are also weighing possible reinforcements for the winter window. Among the names linked with the club is Lisandro Martínez, the Argentine defender at Manchester United, whose contract expires on 30 June. According to the Spanish newspaper AS, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid have set their sights on the player. In Italy, Inter and Como are reportedly also evaluating the centre-back's profile, alongside Roma, to strengthen their defensive department.