Turci hails Soulé's growth and De Roon's impact at Roma

Former Roma midfielder Angelo Di Livio, speaking to Retesport a few hours before Roma's match against Slovan Bratislava, said the team must play with intelligence and without rushing, as they did against Genoa, which he called the model performance for today. He said there is only one result that matters, and that Bryan Cristante is back tonight, with Gasperini having guaranteed him around twenty minutes, which will be a test for Napoli. Di Livio said the win over Genoa was less attractive because many players had little playing time. He called it an important game and said De Rossi's side did not have a single shot on target in the second half. On Matías Soulé, he said he liked the flashes of quality against Genoa but that the forward had long spells of inactivity. He named Emanuele Lulli as the best player on the pitch against Genoa. On Paulo Dybala, Di Livio was blunt: "Non ci puoi fare affidamento, gioca 4-5 partite e poi rimane fuori." On Lulli, he urged caution, saying the defender could potentially become a star but should be allowed to grow calmly. He noted that against Genoa Lulli won back a lost ball, earned a corner, and showed grit and a fighting spirit. On Daniele Ghilardi, Di Livio said that when trained and prepared well he also has the legs to play as a fifth defender.

Tommaso Turci, journalist and pitch-side reporter for DAZN, spoke exclusively to Retesport and singled out Matías Soulé for praise, saying the Argentine is "making giant strides forward." Turci said Soulé is becoming a leader and a player for a top team, adding that the goal he set up for Lulli showed more than technique, with plenty of personality in the move. He also said Soulé is physically fit and in line with Gasperini's ideas. Turci described Roma as organised and improving, but said the club is still at the beginning of the season. He argued that consistency will make the difference, and that Roma will only become a credible challenger for the top of the table when the players who have seen less game time add value, as happened against Genoa and in the latest match. He said that when the squad responds in that way, it shows the team will have a campaign of a certain standing. On Inter, Turci said Roma are showing they can stay near the top of the table, though how long this can last remains to be seen, and he said Inter, once fully up to speed, would pull clear of the others by 10-15 points. On the new arrivals, Turci said Marten de Roon impressed him, although everyone knew he would suit Gasperini's style of play. He said watching how De Roon fitted into the group and the dressing room convinced him he is a top player. Turci also praised the coaching staff, saying they are fully aligned with Gasperini, from Raimondi to Gritti. He said Gasperini consults everyone and that each member of staff looks after the details during matches, adding that all top coaches have a strong staff and that Gasperini is no different. Turci also described how Gasperini reacted after Lulli's goal: the coach was visibly moved, congratulated the scorer, and immediately gave his team instructions, even though the goal had strongly shaped the match. Turci noted that Gasperini had just reached 300 wins.

Former Roma midfielder Federico Viviani has spoken exclusively to Retesport, reflecting on his debut against Slovan Bratislava and expressing regret that Luis Enrique did not remain at the club. Viviani made his debut against Slovan Bratislava on 18 August 2011, and it was his first start for Roma at the Stadio Olimpico, in front of more than 60,000 spectators. Having come through the club's youth sector, he described the night as indescribable on a personal level. Viviani said the Roma of 2026-27 is showing it is a very good team after 10 matches, though he noted the season is still long. Asked about the Slovan Bratislava match, he recalled that Roma had many chances that went unconverted, and that the evening was strange, with supporters rightly expecting more. He said the emotion of his personal milestone was swept away by what happened on the pitch afterwards. On Luis Enrique, Viviani said he had been able to speak with former team-mates and that the coach was, in his view, years ahead in managing the group and in his working methods. "For me it was a great experience, he had ways of training and setting the team out that were cutting-edge," he said. He added: "Unfortunately we know how it went... That project was not carried forward, partly by his own choice... Francesco and Daniele, who were great champions, tried to dissuade him, but Luis Enrique did not change his mind. He came out of it drained, as it was his first experience with a first team." Viviani spoke warmly of Gianluca Mancini's teammate Daniele Ghilardi's fellow academy product Daniele Lulli, noting that Lulli shares Viviani's agent and that the club brought him up from childhood. He said: "It always gives great pleasure to see young players come through the youth sector and find continuity in the first team: it is every young player's dream to play for the team they grew up with." He added that scoring his first Serie A goal at the Olimpico must have been a great reward for Lulli. Asked about regrets, Viviani said the only thing that disappointed him was Luis Enrique's departure, because he would have kept him at the club. He said the coach also stood in the way of a possible move for Viviani in January. "The only regret is this: had he stayed, I would have had the chance to work with him, continuing to grow on and off the pitch. He helped me enormously, it was a fundamental experience. I will always be bound to Luis Enrique for the opportunities he gave me." On his future, Viviani said he has started a coaching course and hopes everything goes well. He said the hardest part after retiring is understanding which path is right for you. On Daniele De Rossi, he said: "He was a fundamental part of my growth, above all on a human level and in how he behaved with team-mates. He is an exceptional person as well as a fantastic player. Not one person who knows him could say a bad word about him. I hope he becomes a great coach because he deserves it."

Lorenzo Pellegrini returns to the starting XI tonight as Roma face Slovan Bratislava in the UEFA Champions League, 2,806 days after the club last won a Champions League match. Roma have not competed in Europe's premier competition for seven years, and Malen and his team-mates aim to return to winning ways after points slipped away against Fenerbahce and Real Madrid. The last Roma win came on 12 February 2019, when the Giallorossi beat Porto 2-1 at the Stadio Olimpico. Porto progressed on the return leg after a 3-1 victory. Pellegrini started that evening too, and he is the only survivor from that side. The squad around him has changed completely since then. Di Francesco's 4-3-3 that night included Cristante, who is missing tonight through injury, and Daniele De Rossi in midfield. Dzeko led the line, with El Shaarawy alongside him and Zaniolo, who scored twice, in support. The defence was made up of Florenzi, Manolas, Fazio and Kolarov, with Mirante in goal. Santon, Kluivert and Nzonzi came off the bench. Seven years on from that night, Roma want to win in the Champions League again.

Stephan El Shaarawy, Niccolò Pisilli and Tommaso Baldanzi were among the Roma figures who attended the preview of "In un battito", the film about former Roma midfielder Edoardo Bove, at the Festa del Cinema di Roma. El Shaarawy received a warm welcome on arrival, a sign of the affection that still surrounds him in the Roma environment. The film, directed by Giovanni Troilo, follows Bove's journey after the collapse he suffered on 1 December 2024 during Fiorentina-Inter. It deals with a particularly delicate chapter of the midfielder's life and places his human experience at its centre. Bove, who is no longer at the club, kept strong ties with his former team-mates, and their presence at the screening was seen as a mark of that bond. El Shaarawy shared a dressing room with Bove at Roma, and his attendance was a gesture of closeness towards the player. Pisilli and Baldanzi are also linked to Bove's time in giallorosso. Their presence underlined the significance of an evening dedicated to the personal story of a player who remains close to his former colleagues.

Several Roma figures attended the premiere of "In un Battito", the documentary about Edoardo Bove's life since his collapse on 1 December 2024, at the Festival del Cinema in Rome on the evening of 18 October. Current Roma midfielder Niccolò Pisilli was among those present, alongside former Giallorossi Tommaso Baldanzi and Stephan El Shaarawy, all accompanied by their partners. Bove, a former Roma midfielder who now plays for Watford, was the focus of the film. Tennis player and Roma fan Flavio Cobolli, Bove's best friend, walked the red carpet. Former Fiorentina coach Raffaele Palladino, who was in charge of the club at the time of the tragic event, also attended. The presence of so many Roma people was highlighted by Eleonora Trotta on Instagram. The premiere was an occasion to show closeness and affection for a project that involved Bove personally. The documentary follows his recovery and return to life after the medical emergency suffered during a match on 1 December 2024.

Roma head to Bratislava for their third Champions League match looking for a first win of the campaign, after a draw with Fenerbahce and a defeat to Real Madrid. Gian Piero Gasperini has left Evan N'Dicka and Gianluca Mancini out of the starting line-up, with Daniele Ghilardi and Leonardo Balerdi starting in defence. Donyell Malen leads the attack, with Rodrigo Mora and Lorenzo Pellegrini behind him. Roma line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation: Pierluigi Gollini in goal; Ghilardi, Balerdi and Mario Hermoso in the back three; Nahuel Molina, Marten de Roon, Niccolò Pisilli and Wesley in midfield; Mora and Pellegrini in the attacking pair; and Malen up front. On the bench are Giorgio De Marzi, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Mancini, N'Dicka, Devyne Rensch, Emanuele Lulli, Di Nunzio, Bryan Cristante, Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro. Slovan Bratislava, coached by Yaya Touré, set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Takac starts in goal, protected by Blackman, Bajric, Markovic and Sandro Cruz. Pokorny and Gajdos form the double pivot, with Barseghyan, Ibrahim and Suleman Camara behind Marcelli.

Tommaso Turci, journalist and pitch-side reporter for DAZN, spoke exclusively to Retesport and singled out Matías Soulé for praise, saying the Argentine is "making giant strides forward." Turci said Soulé is becoming a leader and a player for a top team, adding that the goal he set up for Lulli showed more than technique, with plenty of personality in the move. He also said Soulé is physically fit and in line with Gasperini's ideas. Turci described Roma as organised and improving, but said the club is still at the beginning of the season. He argued that consistency will make the difference, and that Roma will only become a credible challenger for the top of the table when the players who have seen less game time add value, as happened against Genoa and in the latest match. He said that when the squad responds in that way, it shows the team will have a campaign of a certain standing. On Inter, Turci said Roma are showing they can stay near the top of the table, though how long this can last remains to be seen, and he said Inter, once fully up to speed, would pull clear of the others by 10-15 points. On the new arrivals, Turci said Marten de Roon impressed him, although everyone knew he would suit Gasperini's style of play. He said watching how De Roon fitted into the group and the dressing room convinced him he is a top player. Turci also praised the coaching staff, saying they are fully aligned with Gasperini, from Raimondi to Gritti. He said Gasperini consults everyone and that each member of staff looks after the details during matches, adding that all top coaches have a strong staff and that Gasperini is no different. Turci also described how Gasperini reacted after Lulli's goal: the coach was visibly moved, congratulated the scorer, and immediately gave his team instructions, even though the goal had strongly shaped the match. Turci noted that Gasperini had just reached 300 wins.

Gian Piero Gasperini has named his squad for Roma's Champions League league-phase match against Slovan Bratislava, the third matchday of the 2026-27 competition. Bryan Cristante is back in the group. The defenders selected are Rensch, Koulierakis, N'Dicka, Molina, Hermoso, Mancini, Balerdi, Wesley, Lulli and Ghilardi. The midfielders named are Cristante, Pellegrini, De Roon, Pisilli, Di Nunzio and Mora.

Roma head to Bratislava for their third Champions League match looking for a first win of the campaign, after a draw with Fenerbahce and a defeat to Real Madrid. Gian Piero Gasperini has left Evan N'Dicka and Gianluca Mancini out of the starting line-up, with Daniele Ghilardi and Leonardo Balerdi starting in defence. Donyell Malen leads the attack, with Rodrigo Mora and Lorenzo Pellegrini behind him. Roma line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation: Pierluigi Gollini in goal; Ghilardi, Balerdi and Mario Hermoso in the back three; Nahuel Molina, Marten de Roon, Niccolò Pisilli and Wesley in midfield; Mora and Pellegrini in the attacking pair; and Malen up front. On the bench are Giorgio De Marzi, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Mancini, N'Dicka, Devyne Rensch, Emanuele Lulli, Di Nunzio, Bryan Cristante, Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro. Slovan Bratislava, coached by Yaya Touré, set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Takac starts in goal, protected by Blackman, Bajric, Markovic and Sandro Cruz. Pokorny and Gajdos form the double pivot, with Barseghyan, Ibrahim and Suleman Camara behind Marcelli.

Former Roma midfielder Angelo Di Livio, speaking to Retesport a few hours before Roma's match against Slovan Bratislava, said the team must play with intelligence and without rushing, as they did against Genoa, which he called the model performance for today. He said there is only one result that matters, and that Bryan Cristante is back tonight, with Gasperini having guaranteed him around twenty minutes, which will be a test for Napoli. Di Livio said the win over Genoa was less attractive because many players had little playing time. He called it an important game and said De Rossi's side did not have a single shot on target in the second half. On Matías Soulé, he said he liked the flashes of quality against Genoa but that the forward had long spells of inactivity. He named Emanuele Lulli as the best player on the pitch against Genoa. On Paulo Dybala, Di Livio was blunt: "Non ci puoi fare affidamento, gioca 4-5 partite e poi rimane fuori." On Lulli, he urged caution, saying the defender could potentially become a star but should be allowed to grow calmly. He noted that against Genoa Lulli won back a lost ball, earned a corner, and showed grit and a fighting spirit. On Daniele Ghilardi, Di Livio said that when trained and prepared well he also has the legs to play as a fifth defender.

Tommaso Turci, journalist and pitch-side reporter for DAZN, spoke exclusively to Retesport and singled out Matías Soulé for praise, saying the Argentine is "making giant strides forward." Turci said Soulé is becoming a leader and a player for a top team, adding that the goal he set up for Lulli showed more than technique, with plenty of personality in the move. He also said Soulé is physically fit and in line with Gasperini's ideas. Turci described Roma as organised and improving, but said the club is still at the beginning of the season. He argued that consistency will make the difference, and that Roma will only become a credible challenger for the top of the table when the players who have seen less game time add value, as happened against Genoa and in the latest match. He said that when the squad responds in that way, it shows the team will have a campaign of a certain standing. On Inter, Turci said Roma are showing they can stay near the top of the table, though how long this can last remains to be seen, and he said Inter, once fully up to speed, would pull clear of the others by 10-15 points. On the new arrivals, Turci said Marten de Roon impressed him, although everyone knew he would suit Gasperini's style of play. He said watching how De Roon fitted into the group and the dressing room convinced him he is a top player. Turci also praised the coaching staff, saying they are fully aligned with Gasperini, from Raimondi to Gritti. He said Gasperini consults everyone and that each member of staff looks after the details during matches, adding that all top coaches have a strong staff and that Gasperini is no different. Turci also described how Gasperini reacted after Lulli's goal: the coach was visibly moved, congratulated the scorer, and immediately gave his team instructions, even though the goal had strongly shaped the match. Turci noted that Gasperini had just reached 300 wins.