Stramaccioni: Gasperini struggles with Inter's approach; winner sends title message

Gian Piero Gasperini reacted to Zaniolo's goal at Udine as if the score were still 0-0, a reaction that captures the level of intensity he demands from Roma. The coach was proved right, as a familiar second-half lapse resurfaced again. Roma relaxed too much from a certain point on, and the positioning for Palma's goal, along with their limited movement, confirmed the problem. The match at Udine was a game where it is possible to look for small faults, but the strength of this Roma side lies in its intensity. As soon as the team sinks its teeth into an opponent, even when it could comfortably afford to ease off, it can look unrecognisable, if only for a few minutes. That habit is the Roma of this season and the standard set by Gasperini himself. The key moments were Zaniolo's goal, which prompted Gasperini's visible anger, and Palma's strike, where Roma's positioning was poor. Roma's reduced mobility in that period also stood out. The defining image is the coach's reaction to a goal scored in a match that was already in hand, which the article presents as a clear marker of the club's demands.

Former Roma striker Okaka has backed the Giallorossi to win the Scudetto, speaking to Sky Sport on the day Roma face Udinese. He said the team under Gian Piero Gasperini is in a strong position so early in the season, and that the club has a clear ambition. Okaka praised the club's young players, who have been scoring for Roma this season. "It's a positive aspect because young players are the future of football. At Rome they have a master like Gasperini who prepares them for the big step, and for this reason they find it easier to emerge," he said. Asked which of the two sides had surprised him more, Roma or Udinese, he named Udinese. "Certainly Udinese. I didn't expect them to be so low. Roma, on the other hand, had already built an important base last year, with a coach who created a different kind of magic. Udinese are a fantastic club, very strong, who could reach the European zone. Unfortunately, things don't always go as you imagine." He added that Udinese face a difficult match tonight against "an armada that wants to play for the title". Asked what convinces him most about Roma, Okaka pointed to the chemistry between coach, squad and fans. "Rome is not a square like the others: you must put your heart in first, then everything follows. Let's hope we all go to the Circo Massimo to celebrate." He also spoke about Donyell Malen, saying: "Beyond the qualities of the Dutchman, what strikes me is his way of playing. He has an incredible hunger, he feels the shirt he wears, he never pulls back his leg, he runs and fights. He is someone who has connected with all of Rome."

Former Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini has heaped praise on the club and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, highlighting the squad's collective spirit as the key to the team's current form. Speaking to Il Foglio, Sabatini focused on the group's cohesion and the influence of Gasperini, who he said has taught the side the orthodoxy of winning. 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 steps." For Sabatini, Roma's progress comes not only from results but also from the identity built within the squad and the coach's ability to drive the group forward. Sabatini also commented on the spectacular 3-3 draw with Napoli, a match he described as a positive sign for Italian football as a whole. He said: "The 3-3 with Napoli is a tonic for Italian football. Both teams played very well, producing a battle that honours the ball: when we are at this level, everyone must chase Serie A." Roma now turn their attention to an away trip to Udinese, a fixture that carries weight in the table. The same day also features Milan-Inter and Juventus-Napoli.

Roma travel to the Bluenergy Stadium this afternoon to face Udinese, managed by Kosta Runjaic, in the tenth round of Serie A. Gian Piero Gasperini's side arrive in Friuli unbeaten in the league and looking to build on their midweek win over Cagliari. Udinese are seeking a victory they have not managed since late August, and will try to use home advantage against a Roma side still missing several players. Gasperini will be without Svilar, Koné, Pellegrini and Dybala. With two hours to kick-off, the Roma coach appears set to make further changes from the Cagliari game. Ghilardi is expected to get a chance in defence, while Rodrigo Mora is the favourite to partner Soulé behind Malen in attack. Udinese's probable line-up is in a 3-4-2-1 formation: Okoye; Abankwah, Kabasele, Ebosse; Vojvoda, Karlström, Piotrowski, Kamara; Ekkelenkamp, Zaniolo; Davis. Roma are also set up 3-4-2-1: Gollini; Ghilardi, Ndicka, Hermoso; Molina, Cristante, De Roon, Wesley; Soulé, Mora; Malen. Udinese's substitutes are Mrozek, Padelli, Lovric, Zarraga, Bertola, Palma, Miller, Zanoli, Arizala, Unai Gomez and Chakvetadze. Roma's bench comprises Vasquez, De Marzi, Rensch, Koulierakis, Castro, Lulli, Mancini, Balerdi, Pisilli, Di Nunzio and Camara. The referee is Maresca of Napoli, with assistants Lo Cicero and Rossi L. The fourth official is Chiffi, while Paterna is the VAR and Aureliano the assistant VAR.

Gian Piero Gasperini's Roma are planning to attack Udinese's vulnerability from dead-ball situations, with the aim of winning the match at Udine and catching out coach Runjaic. Roma need points as Inter and Lazio keep up the pressure at the top, and the article says the Giallorossi cannot afford to fall behind in the chase. Gasperini has reportedly passed on the message that it is no time to give up. Udine will not be easy. Udinese have taken less from their results than they deserved, and against Parma they faced a real siege, with twenty shots and no goals. Runjaic is looking for a turnaround and wants to find it precisely against Roma. The Friulani have already shown they can trouble the Giallorossi, and last season Gasperini's side suffered badly against their physicality. Roma's plan starts with taking the game onto technical ground and quality, avoiding a contest of duels and tackles where Udinese can use all their strength. With the ball at their feet, Roma believe they have the quality to make the difference. Udinese have won one of their last seven matches, scoring few goals and conceding many. Since Monza, they have conceded the most goals from set pieces, five in total, with an average of 0.57 xG conceded per match from these situations. Roma, meanwhile, have been less effective from set pieces this season: they are ninth for goals from dead-ball situations with three, compared with fifteen in 2025-26, when they finished fourth in Serie A. Gasperini has the men and the options to hurt Udinese. Hermoso is a guarantee in the air, Cristante knows how to attack the near post, and Balerdi can also be a resource. Bryan Cristante has already shown he can be decisive from these situations: with De Rossi on the bench, his header decided a nerve-shredding match. The match kicks off at 18:00, and the article suggests set pieces could be the key to taking the game.

Former Roma director Walter Sabatini has continued to praise Gian Piero Gasperini's side, focusing on the spirit within the group. Sabatini said: "The spiritual cohesion is a superior factor. Roma are going through this collective state of mind." He added: "Gasperini teaches the orthodoxy of winning, he is a coach who makes you take giant strides." On the 3-3 draw in Naples, Sabatini said: "It is a tonic for Italian football. Both sides played very well." Roma open their final week before the international break in Udine, and the fixture will be followed by matches against Manchester United and Sassuolo. Gasperini does not plan to rotate and wants to field the best possible Roma side in Udine. Gollini will be confirmed in goal, while Ghilardi is named by all the newspapers among the starters in defence. The other two central defensive places remain a contest between Balerdi, N'Dicka and Hermoso. Lulli and Wesley are favoured on the flanks, while Cristante, De Roon and Pisilli rotate in midfield. Up front, Soulé and Malen are certain to start, with Pisilli and Mora in contention to complete the attack. Roma have 21 points after nine matches, the same total as after nine matchdays last season, but they have collected four more points than in the same fixtures last year. Gasperini is close to his 30th Serie A win as Roma coach and could reach it in his 48th game in charge, ahead of Spalletti (54), Capello (55) and Mourinho (59).

Roma sporting director Tony D'Amico spoke to reporters before Udinese v Roma, a Serie A matchday 10 fixture at the Bluenergy Stadium, and said the club is not rushing its January transfer decisions. Asked about Endrick's prospects in the January window, D'Amico said it was difficult to think of names because the squad was short of numbers, adding: "Endrick is strong, but we are focused on what we have to do on the pitch. There will be time for the market." D'Amico also spoke about Mario Hermoso's contract. He said the club was happy with the whole squad, given the number of matches ahead and the need to widen the squad, and described Hermoso as important to the club, including during the week, and an example for the younger players. Asked about extending Hermoso's deal, D'Amico said: "We are happy to have him with us, and we will also talk about the renewal." He added that the club was also pleased with how the young players were being developed alongside Gasperini. On Paulo Dybala's fitness, D'Amico said the Argentine needed a few more days and that the club would assess him midweek. He admitted that losing an important resource during a busy run of games hurt, adding: "These things happen." Describing Udinese, he said: "Udinese are difficult to play against, physical, regardless of their league position. We need quality, and we think we can put in a good performance." Asked about comments from Massimiliano Allegri, D'Amico said: "We think about ourselves, we work hard, and the result is what you deserve on the pitch. Today will be difficult for us."

Roma sporting director Tony D'Amico says there is no hurry over the transfer market or Mario Hermoso's contract renewal, while Paulo Dybala needs a few more days and will be reassessed midweek. D'Amico spoke to Dazn before Roma's match against Udinese. D'Amico said it was a source of pride to see young players featuring for the team. Roma have plenty of matches to play, and as Gasperini says, it is important to widen the squad. The club has no immediate timeline on the Spaniard's future. Dybala's absence is a blow, as it leaves Roma one fewer option at a time when the fixtures are piling up. Roma play every three days, so the squad needs depth. On Hermoso, D'Amico said: "Mario is important on Sundays but also during the week, he is an example for the young players. We will talk about the renewal at the right moment." On Dybala, he said: "Today we face a strong and physical team. They are difficult to play against. We are convinced we will put in a good performance. Dybala needs a few more days, we will see midweek. It is a pity because we will be a player short, and there are a lot of matches." Asked about comments from Allegri, D'Amico said: "We are focused on ourselves. We think about working, and the final result of every championship is what a team deserves on the pitch. We think about ourselves." On reported interest in Endrick, he said: "Today it is hard to think about names. There is a long way to go. Endrick is strong, but we are focused on what we have to do on the pitch. We play every three days, there will be time."

Roma sporting director D'Amico spoke ahead of the Udinese match, the tenth round of Serie A, with the headline point that Paulo Dybala needs a few more days before returning to training. Dybala will be assessed mid-week, and D'Amico said losing a player is a blow for the coach given the number of matches, but that such things happen. On the squad, D'Amico praised the progress of the young players, saying: "We are happy with how all the boys are growing. We have a lot of matches and it is important to widen the squad." Roma face Udinese with a fixture list that is demanding, and the sporting director stressed the need for depth. On Mario Hermoso's contract, he said: "Mario is an important player for us, not only on Sundays but also during the week. He is an example especially for the young players, so we are happy to have him with us, and at the right moment we will deal with the renewal." Looking at the match itself, D'Amico described Udinese as a difficult side to face, physical and possibly content to play with a low block, regardless of their league position. He said Roma would need a bit of quality to break them down and added: "We are convinced we can put in a good performance." Asked about comments from Allegri about Roma, D'Amico replied: "We are focused on ourselves. We are used to working hard and in the end the result is what you deserve on the pitch. We think about ourselves because today will be a difficult match." Finally, asked about interest in Endrick for January, D'Amico said: "Today it is difficult to talk about names, there is still a long way to go. Endrick is a strong player, but today we are focused on what we need to do on the pitch because we play every three days. There will be time for the transfer market."

Roma routed Udinese 5-2, scoring four times in the opening 37 minutes through Cristante, Mora, Malen and N'Dicka. In the second half, Zaniolo and Palma tried to reopen the game for Udinese before Ghilardi sealed the win with the final goal. Roma's first-half display was enough to settle the match well before the closing stages, with the hosts' four-goal cushion built before half-time.

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Roma beat Udinese 5-2 at Udine on Halloween, with Bryan Cristante, Rodrigo Mora, Donyell Malen and Evan Ndicka all scoring in a dominant first half, and Daniele Ghilardi adding a late goal. Roma move up to 24 points and are temporarily just one point behind joint leaders Inter and Lazio. Gasperini named Ghilardi, Ndicka and Hermoso in defence in front of Gollini, with Cristante and De Roon in midfield, Molina and Wesley on the flanks, and Malen and Soulé alongside Rodrigo Mora up front. Udinese opened brightly, with Miller testing Gollini from distance, but Roma struck at their first real attack. Cristante headed home from Wesley's cross inside ten minutes, beating Okoye with a powerful run and header. Udinese tried to respond through physical play and Vojvoda's left-foot effort, which Gollini held comfortably. Roma then hit the woodwork twice within a minute. Soulé struck the post after taking advantage of a mistake by Palma, and Malen, with the goal open, hit the crossbar after Okoye parried his first-time shot. Gasperini was seen on the bench in disbelief. The second goal came on the half-hour, when Cristante sent a strong ball to the far post for Mora to tap in. Two minutes later Malen made amends for his miss, skipping past Kabasele and curling a left-footed shot into the corner. Cristante then tried a backheel that Okoye saved, and Ndicka headed in Soulé's perfect corner in the 37th minute. Zaniolo was the main outlet for Udinese, but Ndicka dealt with him well. Maresca sent the teams off at half-time with no added time. The second half began without changes and at a slower pace. Five minutes in, Nicolò Zaniolo reduced the deficit, reacting first to the rebound from Gollini after Miller's long-range effort. Gasperini was furious on the touchline at his side's start to the half. Malen then missed a chance from close range after Molina's cross arrived a moment late. Runjaic made changes on the hour, bringing on Chakvetadze and Unai Gomez for Davis and Ekkelenkamp. Gasperini replied by sending on Castro and Pisilli for Malen and Mora. Palma pulled one back for Udinese with a sweet first-time right-foot strike with twelve minutes left. Gasperini immediately made changes, bringing on Rensch and Mancini for Wesley and Soulé. Unai Gomez came close for Udinese at the 83rd minute. Ghilardi settled the match in the second minute of added time with a powerful first-time right-foot shot that Okoye could not reach. Roma won 5-2, and Maresca blew for full time after four minutes of added time.