Vierchowod's verdict: Como–Roma would be a tale of defensive errors, not a classic

Pietro Vierchowod, a double ex of Como and Roma, gave an interview ahead of today's fixture between the two clubs at the Sinigaglia. The former defender, who spent five seasons at Como and won the 1982–83 Scudetto in a single season at Roma, reflected on his career and offered his prediction for the match. Vierchowod recalled his year at Roma under Alfredo Liedholm with vivid detail. "I played the defence alone," he said. "Roma was the first Italian team to play a zonal system. The other defenders moved up; I stayed back with the goalkeeper. If I crossed the halfway line, Liedholm would shout at me: 'Pietro, go back!' I scored 20 goals in Serie A, but none at Roma. I wasn't even allowed to try." He also described an early embarrassment: before his debut he put on his match shirt, and Liedholm became furious because the manager was superstitious and distributed kits himself. "He said to me: 'What have you done? Let's hope nothing happens to you'," Vierchowod recalled. Asked which Como attacker he would like to mark, Vierchowod named Donyell Malen: "That would be a fine challenge. Quick players like him don't let it slip away from me—Romario, Careca." On Como's rise to the Champions League, he said: "I followed the whole journey, even in the dark years among the amateurs. It was thrilling. But last year surprised me. The city went mad." He praised the Roma squad of his era, singling out Roberto Pruzzo as "exceptional in the air and acrobatics", Bruno Conti for his dribbling, and Falcao for his sudden appearances in the box. On his prediction for today's match, Vierchowod said: "I hope for a draw, I can't choose. And I want few goals, because watching defences flutter around causes me too much pain. I'd like a 1–1. A 4–4 isn't football; it's just a pile of mistakes."

A former player who featured for both Roma and Como has looked ahead to their upcoming clash. He expressed regret at not having marked Malen during his time at Roma, noting that "Fabregas risks too much on the counter-attack; he needs a Deschamps." On the likely outcome, he said: "I hope for a 1–1 draw; if it ends 4–4, that's not football, that's a pile of mistakes." The double ex-player recalled inflaming Liedholm during his Roma spell, and now divides his time between cycling around Como and reflecting on his playing days.

Radio commentators have assessed the impact of Mile Svilar's injury on Roma's season, with analysis suggesting the goalkeeper's absence will be felt heavily in the weeks ahead. Svilar's situation has unsettled head coach Gian Piero Gasperini at a human level, according to radio pundit Aspri. The relationship with Pierluigi Gollini has been rebuilt following Svilar's injury, though Gasperini had wanted Vasquez as second-choice keeper—a player Aspri noted is not yet ready for that role. Gollini has been sidelined for an extended period. The matches Svilar will miss could fundamentally alter Roma's season trajectory. Bastianini compared the news to the impact of Wijnaldum's absence, describing Gasperini as nervous and concerned. The prospect of Gollini facing elite opposition such as Real Madrid raised questions about squad readiness, with Bastianini suggesting that either Gollini must prove doubters wrong or Roma risk a month where ambitions diminish significantly. Pugliese stressed that losing Svilar for a month will be taxing on the team. Roma currently hold the best defensive record in Europe after Arsenal, a standing that Pugliese warned will decline substantially during this period. The hope, he added, is that Svilar returns to full fitness and recovers his match rhythm when he becomes available again.

Como and Roma meet in a high-quality fixture on 11 October as both sides look to test their ambitions early in the season. Gasperini's Roma face significant absences: Bryan Cristante and Mile Svilar are unavailable, with Marten de Roon and Pierluigi Gollini stepping in. Como manager Cesc Fabregas is without Kean, his backup striker. Pellegrini returns to Roma's lineup after six months out, wearing the captain's armband on the trequarti alongside Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. The fixture is early enough in the campaign to offer limited guidance on league position, but Gasperini will use it to gauge the squad's form and competitive level. Roma field a 3-4-2-1: Gollini; Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Molina, de Roon, Koné, Wesley; Dybala, Pellegrini; Malen. Substitutes: Vasquez, De Marzi, Balerdi, Ghilardi, Rensch, Lulli, Pisilli, Soulé, Castro, Mora. Como line up in 4-2-3-1: Butez; Couto, Ramon, Chalobah, Valle; Da Cunha, Perrone; Diao, Paz, Baturina; Douvikas.

Lorenzo Pellegrini will start for Roma in the Serie A match against Como on 11 October, marking his first time in the team's opening formation for six months. Gian Piero Gasperini's side travel to the Giuseppe Sinigaglia for the sixth-round lunch kick-off, where they face Cesc Fabregas's Como side. The appointment comes during the international break window and presents Roma with a challenging away fixture. Gasperini must manage two significant absences: Mile Svilar is sidelined by a fracture to the fifth digit of his hand, and Bryan Cristante is unavailable. Pierluigi Gollini takes the goalkeeping role in Svilar's place. Wesley and Donyell Malen have recovered from their previous issues and are available. Marten de Roon is set to partner Manu Koné in midfield following Cristante's absence. Roma line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation: Gollini; Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Molina, De Roon, Koné, Wesley; Dybala, Pellegrini; Malen. The referee is Fabbri from Ravenna, with Imperiale and Baccini as assistants, Sozza as fourth official, Gariglio on VAR and Abisso as assistant VAR. Como deploy a 4-2-3-1: Butez; Couto, Ramon, Chalobah, Valle; Milla, Da Cunha; Diao, Nico Paz, Baturina; Douvikas, under manager Fabregas.

Fabio Capello has highlighted Donyell Malen as the key threat for Como ahead of Roma's Serie A sixth-round fixture at 12:30 on 11 October. The former Roma manager analysed the forward's qualities in La Gazzetta dello Sport, warning Como's defenders that Malen will be extremely difficult to contain. "The centre-back who faces Malen—Ramon or Chalobah—must be completely focused and very reactive, because today the Dutchman is unmarked," Capello said. "He has everything: a sense of goal, speed in ball control, power. He is never still. He is also clever, knows how to exploit any ball. In the box he reminds me of Paolo Rossi, with a more powerful physique. Some movements could evoke Ronaldo the phenomenon, though he himself was far more powerful. Above all, Malen always shoots and from every position. Great job by Gasperini to transform him into a centre-forward. When Roma has the ball, he always puts the attackers in motion."