Wesley and Lulli named in Serie A Under-23 Team of the Week

Roma held a training session at Trigoria on Friday 2 October, with director of sport Vincenzo D'Amico present alongside head coach Gian Piero Gasperini as the club prepares for the resumption of Serie A action. Three players were absent from the session due to injury: Bryan Cristante, Donyell Malen and Wesley. Cristante's situation is the most concerning. The midfielder is suffering from knee inflammation, and his availability for the away fixture against Como on 11 October appears very unlikely. The injury threatens to affect his readiness for Roma's Champions League match against Real Madrid just three days after the Como game. Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini trained regularly with the group and are both working to build their fitness during the international break, aiming to increase their influence in Gasperini's plans for the Como match. Roma face a demanding run of matches after the domestic season resumes, and the medical staff will continue monitoring the injured players as they seek to have as many men available as possible for the opening stretch of the campaign.

Roma held their final training session of the week on 2 October with director of sport Tony D'Amico in attendance. Bryan Cristante will miss the trip to Como due to a knee problem and remains a doubt for the Champions League fixture against Real Madrid. Donyell Malen and Wesley underwent individual training today but are expected to return in the coming days and will be available for the Como match under manager Fabregas. Gasperini has granted the squad two days' rest over the weekend, with the group reconvening on Monday to prepare for the Serie A visit to Sinigaglia. Head coach Gasperini and chief executive Galantic will attend the Trento Sports Festival at 18:45.

Bryan Cristante will miss Roma's Serie A trip to Como after the international break because of a knee injury, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini ruling him out of that fixture. The absence may extend beyond the league match; according to Angelo Mangiante, Cristante remains a doubt for the Champions League meeting with Real Madrid that follows, one of the most anticipated fixtures in Roma's campaign so far. Cristante's injury forces Gasperini to reshape the midfield for at least the Como match. Manu Koné is the fixed point of the department, while Marten De Roon and Niccolò Pisilli are the main alternatives to complete the trio. Gasperini will make his choice when training resumes and he can assess the condition of players returning from international duty.

Roma held a training session at Trigoria on Friday 2 October, with director of sport Vincenzo D'Amico present alongside head coach Gian Piero Gasperini as the club prepares for the resumption of Serie A action. Three players were absent from the session due to injury: Bryan Cristante, Donyell Malen and Wesley. Cristante's situation is the most concerning. The midfielder is suffering from knee inflammation, and his availability for the away fixture against Como on 11 October appears very unlikely. The injury threatens to affect his readiness for Roma's Champions League match against Real Madrid just three days after the Como game. Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini trained regularly with the group and are both working to build their fitness during the international break, aiming to increase their influence in Gasperini's plans for the Como match. Roma face a demanding run of matches after the domestic season resumes, and the medical staff will continue monitoring the injured players as they seek to have as many men available as possible for the opening stretch of the campaign.

Roma held their final training session of the week on 2 October with director of sport Tony D'Amico in attendance. Bryan Cristante will miss the trip to Como due to a knee problem and remains a doubt for the Champions League fixture against Real Madrid. Donyell Malen and Wesley underwent individual training today but are expected to return in the coming days and will be available for the Como match under manager Fabregas. Gasperini has granted the squad two days' rest over the weekend, with the group reconvening on Monday to prepare for the Serie A visit to Sinigaglia. Head coach Gasperini and chief executive Galantic will attend the Trento Sports Festival at 18:45.

Roma radio stations debated the club's immediate fixtures and stadium plans on 2 October, with key voices offering contrasting views on priorities and squad management ahead of a taxing schedule. David Rossi told Rete Sport that Roma's match against Real Madrid is the least important of the next three fixtures in his assessment. "Delle prossime tre partite, quella meno importante per me è Roma-Real Madrid," he said, though he acknowledged the risk that a strong performance against the Spanish club could have unforeseen consequences. "Però se prendi la super-sveglia contro il Real, poi rischi che possa lasciare il segno e allora non ti puoi allargare. Ma col Real rischi di perdere anche se ti giochi i resti, perchè loro sono comunque più forti." Rossi expected defensive rotation, anticipating Emanuele Lulli or Daniele Ghilardi against Genoa, and noted concerns about Wesley and Nahuel Molina potentially playing all three matches. Bryan Cristante's availability was downplayed as a minor concern given Marten de Roon's presence in the squad. Gianluca Piacentini drew stark contrasts between this season and last, saying: "La Roma dell'anno scorso e quella di quest'anno sono due squadre di due paesi diversi, manco due campionati diversi." He praised the overall squad output under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini but noted a paradox—low conversion despite high volume—even after two 4–0 victories. On points targets, Piacentini stated: "Se contro Como e Genoa dovessi fare 4 punti sarebbe tanta roba, ma pure se li facessi contro Real Madrid e Slovan Bratislava. Per due vittorie e due pareggi firmerei subito." Checco Oddo Casano highlighted Rodrigo Mora's directness as a tactical advantage, observing that Roma now shoots significantly more often at goal this season, though he questioned whether this reflected Donyell Malen's arrival or broader squad work. Stadium development dominated the latter portion of the discussion. Paolo Cosenza raised concerns about siting a new ground near a hospital, while Mario Corsi countered that ambulance delays are a city-wide problem affecting the Stadio Olimpico already. Alessandro Antinelli noted the proposed Roma stadium is a strong candidate for Euro 2032 should construction begin in spring, and would regenerate the area. Stefano Carina reported Mayor Gualtieri's two-and-a-half-year completion timeline and noted the Pietralata site is among Euro 2032 venues, though he expressed concern about ticket affordability in the new facility.

Roma radio stations debated the club's immediate fixtures and stadium plans on 2 October, with key voices offering contrasting views on priorities and squad management ahead of a taxing schedule. David Rossi told Rete Sport that Roma's match against Real Madrid is the least important of the next three fixtures in his assessment. "Delle prossime tre partite, quella meno importante per me è Roma-Real Madrid," he said, though he acknowledged the risk that a strong performance against the Spanish club could have unforeseen consequences. "Però se prendi la super-sveglia contro il Real, poi rischi che possa lasciare il segno e allora non ti puoi allargare. Ma col Real rischi di perdere anche se ti giochi i resti, perchè loro sono comunque più forti." Rossi expected defensive rotation, anticipating Emanuele Lulli or Daniele Ghilardi against Genoa, and noted concerns about Wesley and Nahuel Molina potentially playing all three matches. Bryan Cristante's availability was downplayed as a minor concern given Marten de Roon's presence in the squad. Gianluca Piacentini drew stark contrasts between this season and last, saying: "La Roma dell'anno scorso e quella di quest'anno sono due squadre di due paesi diversi, manco due campionati diversi." He praised the overall squad output under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini but noted a paradox—low conversion despite high volume—even after two 4–0 victories. On points targets, Piacentini stated: "Se contro Como e Genoa dovessi fare 4 punti sarebbe tanta roba, ma pure se li facessi contro Real Madrid e Slovan Bratislava. Per due vittorie e due pareggi firmerei subito." Checco Oddo Casano highlighted Rodrigo Mora's directness as a tactical advantage, observing that Roma now shoots significantly more often at goal this season, though he questioned whether this reflected Donyell Malen's arrival or broader squad work. Stadium development dominated the latter portion of the discussion. Paolo Cosenza raised concerns about siting a new ground near a hospital, while Mario Corsi countered that ambulance delays are a city-wide problem affecting the Stadio Olimpico already. Alessandro Antinelli noted the proposed Roma stadium is a strong candidate for Euro 2032 should construction begin in spring, and would regenerate the area. Stefano Carina reported Mayor Gualtieri's two-and-a-half-year completion timeline and noted the Pietralata site is among Euro 2032 venues, though he expressed concern about ticket affordability in the new facility.

Italy's U21 side won 1–0 away to Armenia in Yerevan in their penultimate European Championship qualifier on 1 October. The match remained goalless at half-time despite Italy creating multiple chances. The Azzurrini stepped up the pressure in the second half, though a Koleosho penalty was saved by Ghazaryan. Cisse sealed victory in the 96th minute with a decisive finish that keeps Italy's qualification hopes alive. For the group to be won, Italy must beat Poland in a direct encounter on Monday 5 October in Pescara, but must do so by a margin of two goals. Only the group winners and the best runner-up qualify for the European Championship. Two Roma players featured: Niccolò Pisilli started and played the full match, while Emanuele Lulli came on at half-time and contributed to Italy's second-half siege. Both received yellow cards, Pisilli in the 31st minute and Lulli in the 94th.

Roma enter a critical period from 11 October that will reveal whether their depth can match their starting XI. Between the away trip to Como and the home fixture against Sassuolo on 7 November, the Giallorossi will play nine matches in 28 days—six in Serie A and three in the UEFA Champions League—at an average of one game every three days. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has built his team around a recognisable core of first-choice players, but that group will no longer be enough. The test will determine whether those who have played less can step up without a noticeable drop in performance. Through the first five matchdays, the numbers reveal Gasperini's structural priorities. Goalkeeper Mile Svilar has not missed a minute in the league; Bryan Cristante has played 424 minutes, Mario Hermoso 419, Paulo Dybala 407 and Gianluca Mancini 392. Eight players have exceeded 300 minutes, forming the nucleus around which the team has built its current lead. Donyell Malen has scored six goals in five league matches and become the technical reference point of the attack, while Dybala has contributed four assists. Cristante, Hermoso and Mancini have provided near-absolute continuity and reliability. The midfield partnership of Cristante and Manu Koné has been the reference pairing, with different but complementary characteristics, while Marten de Roon and Niccolò Pisilli have seen far less action. De Roon knows Gasperini's football intimately and can guarantee balance and reading of play, but has been used mainly in brief spells; Pisilli brings dynamism and runs forward but must prove he can perform when the opponent's quality rises. Matches against Real Madrid, Napoli and Manchester United will inevitably create minutes for both. The defence faces similar pressures. Mancini and Hermoso have been almost untouchable, but the competition behind them is abundant: Leonardo Balerdi, Daniele Ghilardi and Konstantinos Koulierakis must transform from alternatives into genuinely interchangeable options. Ghilardi has already accumulated 142 league minutes, while Koulierakis has been used far less despite the summer investment. In Gasperini's system, where defenders are asked to accept constant individual duels and play far from their goal, changing a centre-back is never a neutral substitution—the player entering must have fully absorbed the line's timing, aggression and mechanics. On the flanks, rotations will be equally unavoidable. Wesley has been heavily used, young Emanuele Lulli has been a major surprise, and Nahuel Molina has collected 216 Serie A minutes with two starts. Devyne Rensch has found the least space but has always proved reliable. In attack, Matías Soulé has already broken down the distinction between starter and reserve with 279 minutes, three starts, two goals and an assist. Rodrigo Mora has 171 league minutes and a goal across two starts but has seen his space diminish. Santiago Castro has played little and never started in the league, while Lorenzo Pellegrini arrives after a long absence from official matches and must regain rhythm and standing. The fixture list permits no simple calculations. Como, Real Madrid, Genoa, Slovan Bratislava, Napoli, Cagliari, Udinese, Manchester United and Sassuolo in less than a month means there are no real matches in which to field eleven reserves and rest everyone else. Gasperini must continually shuffle the cards, retaining six or seven men from the core structure each time and progressively introducing others. Roma has shown a competitive first eleven so far; in the next four weeks it must prove it has something more—sixteen or eighteen players capable of sustaining the same level. If the goal is to stay in the highest reaches of Serie A while being competitive in the Champions League, the quality of alternatives becomes almost as important as that of the starters.