Pierluigi Gollini

Roma have conceded the fewest goals of any team in Europe's top five leagues since August, letting in only three in seven Serie A matches so far. The Giallorossi's defensive record has been built on a unit that also contributes in attack, according to Corriere della Sera's Simone Valdarchi. The three league goals conceded came from Lautaro's brace in the Roma-Inter match and a short-lived Atalanta lead at the Olimpico. Across all competitions, Roma's win over Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League on Tuesday evening took them to six matches out of ten without conceding. The last three clean sheets came with Pierluigi Gollini in goal. He has stepped in after Mile Svilar suffered a fracture, and the article credits the backup keeper for answering the call. The article describes the defence as a reliable unit, and the centre-backs follow their men wherever they go, helping the team's first high press. Roma are among the most efficient sides in the immediate recovery of the ball. The wide defenders have also been productive going forward. Since the start of the season, they have contributed four goals and six assists to 10 of the 24 goals Gasperini's side have scored. The defensive work follows Gasperini's instructions, with the unit both protecting the goal and supporting the attack.

Roma travel to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Saturday at 18:00 to face Napoli in Serie A matchday eight, with Gian Piero Gasperini's side arriving after a 4-0 win over Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League, while Napoli beat Bodø/Glimt 4-3 on the same evening. Gasperini has to contend with several absences, and the problem Lorenzo Pellegrini suffered against Slovan Bratislava adds to his worries. Pellegrini left the pitch with a muscle issue to his right hamstring and will undergo further tests, so his availability for the Maradona is in doubt. Gollini is set to keep his place in goal in the absence of Svilar. Svilar is still out with a micro-fracture to his fifth toe and will only return in the coming weeks. Koné will also miss out, having picked up a first-degree muscle injury against Real Madrid, with his return expected later on. Dybala is yet to recover from a small tear to his calf muscle. Roma reached the Maradona after a positive week in Serie A and the Champions League. They first beat Genoa 2-0 at the Olimpico, returning to winning ways in Serie A after a draw at Como, and then thrashed Slovan Bratislava 4-0 to secure their first win in the Champions League league phase. Hermoso, Molina, Pisilli and Malen scored against the Slovaks, in a practically perfect evening for Gasperini's side, marred only by Pellegrini's injury. Gasperini also managed his regulars, initially resting Mancini, Ndicka and Soulé. Napoli also come into the match after a European win. They beat Bodø/Glimt 4-3 at the Maradona thanks to an opening goal from Politano, a brace from McTominay and an own goal from Bjørtuft. The result, after difficulties in the first two Champions League matchdays, lets Allegri's side approach the clash with Roma with greater confidence. Napoli have also been hit by absences: Favasuli is out with a second-degree tear to his rectus femoris, Vergara is recovering from a calf problem and Alisson Santos is out with a biceps femoris injury. Buongiorno and Neres remain doubtful, the latter with a thigh muscle injury. The head-to-head record stands at 90 official meetings played in Campania. Napoli have won 39, Roma 25, with 26 draws. Roma have not won at Napoli's ground since the 2017/18 season, when they triumphed 4-2. The last meeting at the Maradona, on 15 February 2026, ended 2-2. Ticket sales for the match have been banned for residents of the Lazio region, a measure adopted by the prefect of Naples, Michele di Bari, on the basis of the determination of the Committee for the analysis of security at sporting events and the proposal of the Naples Police Headquarters. The restriction applies to the sale of tickets to Lazio residents in general, not only to the away section. The match will be broadcast live on DAZN, with kick-off at 18:00 on Saturday 24 October at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Official line-ups will be announced about an hour before kick-off. Gasperini's probable Roma XI is Gollini; Mancini, Ndicka, Hermoso; Wesley, de Roon, Pisilli, Molina; Soulé, Mora; Malen. Mancini and Ndicka are expected to return alongside Hermoso, with Balerdi and Ghilardi as alternatives, while Wesley and Lulli are favoured on the flanks. Cristante, recovering from knee inflammation, could be in the squad at least. Mora is favoured to complete the attack in Dybala's absence, while Malen is confirmed up front after returning to scoring against Slovan Bratislava from the penalty spot. Napoli are expected to line up in a 3-4-2-1 with Meret in goal, Beukema, Rrahmani and Badiashile at the back, Di Lorenzo and the former Roma player Spinazzola on the flanks, Lobotka and Gilmour in midfield, Giovane and McTominay behind Hojlund. Anguissa is a candidate to return to the starting line-up after a spell on the bench in the last league fixture.

Roma travel to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Saturday at 18:00 to face Napoli in Serie A matchday eight, with Gian Piero Gasperini's side still short of several players. The match will be broadcast live on DAZN. Roma arrive after a positive week, having beaten Genoa 2-0 at the Olimpico to return to winning ways in Serie A following the draw at Como, and then thrashing Slovan Bratislava 4-0 in the Champions League for their first win in the league phase of the competition. Against the Slovaks, Hermoso, Molina, Pisilli and Malen scored, in a near-perfect evening for Gasperini's team that was marred only by the injury to Lorenzo Pellegrini. Napoli also come into the game on the back of a European win, beating Bodø/Glimt 4-3 at the Maradona thanks to an opening goal from Politano, a brace from McTominay and an own goal by Bjørtuft. That result came after a difficult first two Champions League matchdays and gives Allegri's side more confidence ahead of the clash with Roma. Roma's injury list is a concern. Svilar is out with a micro-fracture to his fifth toe and will return only in the coming weeks. Manu Koné is sidelined with a first-degree muscle injury sustained against Real Madrid, while Dybala is still recovering from a small tear to his calf muscle. Cristante, who has gradually overcome knee inflammation, could return to the squad at least. Pellegrini left the pitch against Slovan Bratislava with a muscular problem to his right hamstring and will undergo further tests, leaving his availability for the Maradona in doubt. Gollini is expected to keep his place in goal in Svilar's absence. On the Napoli side, Favasuli is out with a second-degree rectus femoris injury, Vergara is recovering from a calf problem and Alisson Santos is ruled out with a biceps femoris injury. Buongiorno and Neres are being assessed, with Neres suffering a thigh muscle injury. Allegri is expected to field a 3-4-2-1, with Meret in goal, Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani and Badiashile in defence, and Politano and Spinazzola on the flanks. Lobotka and McTominay are expected to start in midfield, with Anguissa a candidate to return from the start after coming off the bench in the last league match. Lang and De Bruyne are likely to operate behind Hojlund, favoured over Lucca to lead the attack. Lang versus Giovane is a open selection battle. For Roma, Gasperini's probable XI is a 3-4-2-1 with Gollini; Mancini, Ndicka and Hermoso; Wesley, de Roon, Pisilli and Molina; Soulé and Mora; Malen. Mancini and Ndicka are expected back after rotation in Europe, with Balerdi and Ghilardi as alternatives. Wesley and Lulli are currently favoured on the flanks, while de Roon and Pisilli could be confirmed in midfield. Cristante's return is the main news, and Soulé is expected to regain a place from the start after beginning on the bench in the Champions League, with Mora favoured to complete the attack in Dybala's absence. Malen is set to lead the line after returning to scoring against Slovan Bratislava from the penalty spot. The match is scheduled for 18:00 on Saturday 24 October at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona and will be shown live on DAZN. Official line-ups will be announced about an hour before kickoff.

Lorenzo Pellegrini has been ruled out with a new muscle problem, while Bryan Cristante is back in the squad and aiming to be fully available for Saturday's trip to Napoli, coach Gian Piero Gasperini has said. Speaking after the 4-0 win over Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League, Gasperini said: "Now we have recovered Cristante but we lose Pellegrini. In certain areas we are a bit stretched." Roma regained their winning form in Europe and rotated their squad, but the injury list grew. Pellegrini was forced off early in the second half against Slovan with a muscle problem, interrupting a spell in which he had been steadily regaining continuity and condition. Gasperini played down the severity of the injury but indicated a recovery of some length: "I don't think it's a serious thing. However small it is, when it's muscular it takes 20 days, I think it's around that value." Further tests will clarify the situation, but Pellegrini is set to miss the Napoli match and several of the games that follow. His absence further complicates the selection in the attacking midfield, already affected by the absence of Paulo Dybala. Cristante had been out for recent weeks with a knee problem sustained after the Roma-Inter match. Against Slovan he was officially named back in the matchday squad, although he did not play, with Gasperini preferring not to rush his return. Being on the bench is still a significant step towards full recovery. The aim now is for him to be genuinely available against Napoli at the Maradona, a date Gasperini had earlier identified as a possible return. His availability could prove particularly valuable given the shortage in midfield. Dybala's situation has changed since the first indications after the Real Madrid match. Initially a simple calf strain was mentioned, but the latest checks revealed a small tear. Ahead of the Slovan game, Gasperini explained the Argentine must rest for at least a couple of weeks. After the European match the coach stressed how much his absence weighs on the attack: "If we don't recover Dybala quickly we will really be few in number." Dybala will therefore miss Napoli, and his recovery will be managed with caution. Manu Koné's rehabilitation continues. Tests carried out after the Roma-Real Madrid match showed a first-degree tear of the right hamstring. The Frenchman will not be available at the Maradona and is working towards a return in the coming weeks. Gasperini had pointed to the Sassuolo match as a possible reference point for his return: "Koné has had an MRI: it is a first-degree tear, not particularly significant. It needs the necessary time for recovery and we hope to have him available for Sassuolo." Whether he could be available sooner for the Champions League trip to Manchester United remains to be assessed. Mile Svilar is also still out, recovering from a stress fracture to a finger. The goalkeeper is continuing his programme and will not be available for the trip to the Maradona. The aim is to have him back after the next international break, once the necessary consolidation work is complete. In the meantime Pierluigi Gollini continues to inspire confidence in goal, having kept two consecutive clean sheets against Genoa and Slovan Bratislava. Until Svilar returns, Gollini will remain Roma's first choice in goal. The absences of Dybala, Pellegrini and Koné mainly reduce the options between midfield and the attacking midfield, but Gasperini can count on Malen's return and the possible recovery of Cristante. The most natural solution remains a 3-4-2-1, with Soulé and Mora behind the Dutchman, although a two-striker system with Malen and Castro, supported by one of the two attacking midfielders, is not ruled out. If Cristante is fully available, an alternative would be to pair him with De Roon in midfield, allowing Pisilli to push forward into the attacking midfield. As of 21 October, the probable Roma line-up is: Gollini; Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Wesley, De Roon, Pisilli, Molina; Mora, Soulé; Malen. Coach: Gasperini.

Roma beat Slovan Bratislava 4-0, a result that partially eases the disappointment of the defeat to Real Madrid. The Giallorossi overwhelmed their opponents and, according to the Italian press, showed they intend to make their mark in Europe as well. Italian newspaper reviews single out another strong performance from Hermoso, the return to his best form from Wesley, and praise for Pisilli's goal, scored while wearing the captain's armband. The match also drew credit for head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who changed the players but not the way the team plays. He has repeatedly said there are no first-choice players and reserves, and the side keeps moving whoever takes the pitch. The Gazzetta dello Sport rated Roma as follows: Gollini 6, Ghilardi 7.5, Balerdi 7, Hermoso 7, Molina 7, De Roon 6.5, Pisilli 7, Wesley 7.5, Mora 5.5, Pellegrini 7.5, Malen 7.5, with Gasperini on 7.5. Hermoso was replaced by Koulierakis and De Roon by Mancini in the 77th minute. Wesley was replaced by Rensch in the 58th minute, Pellegrini by Soulé in the 52nd, and Malen by Castro in the 58th. Il Corriere dello Sport gave Pisilli 7.5, Hermoso 7.5 and Wesley 7.5, with Gasperini on 7.5. Il Corriere della Sera rated Pisilli 7.5 and Wesley 7, with Gasperini on 7. Across the Italian papers, Pisilli, Wesley and Hermoso were consistently among the highest-rated Roma players, while Mora received the lowest marks, ranging from 5.5 to 6. Gollini was rated 6 by every outlet.

Roma recorded their first four-goal haul of the Champions League season, routing Slovan Bratislava, who never got into the game. Hermoso opened the scoring, before Molina, Pisilli and Malen, from the penalty spot, completed the rout. The player ratings praised the whole side for being in good form and entering the match with the right mindset. The defence was the standout area. Ghilardi started strongly and got forward often, leaving the Gollini's penalty area regularly, and he won a fortunate deflection to set up Hermoso. Ghilardi also had a goal disallowed for an active offside by Castro, which the ratings described as a pity given how well he had played. Balerdi was rated calm, elegant and attentive, covering large areas of the pitch. Hermoso, rated 7.5, was described as the most accurate passer in the first half with a 90% pass accuracy, and he went on to score the opener with a header from a free kick. Wesley was rated 7, with the ratings saying he left a trail of scorched grass down his flank and that Slovan players barely saw him. Pellegrini was rated 6.5 but had to ask to be substituted, and the ratings expressed hope the problem was nothing serious. Mora, rated 6, struck the advertising boards near the net and was unlucky when his effort was ruled out for offside, while the ratings noted he had been running hard from both flanks. Gollini, rated 6, had little to do beyond a couple of catches. The ratings for Gasperini's side included several verdicts on the individual performances. Pisilli, who scored wearing the captain's armband, said: "Un sogno" ("A dream"). Molina, rated 6.5, pounced on a poor rebound from Takac to make it 2-0 and was applauded for sprinting to win a late corner. Malen, rated 7.5, was involved in the build-up to Molina's goal and Pisilli's, and finished the rout from the spot. Soulé, who came on for Pellegrini in the 51st minute, was rated 6.5 for an immediate steal in the box that set up Malen. Castro, who replaced Malen in the 58th minute, was rated 6. Gasperini was quoted in the ratings on Mora, saying he "deve strutturarsi" ("needs to find his structure"). The ratings noted Gasperini had a short squad again and rotated it, asking his players to focus on every detail, and that the side needed to score as many goals as possible, which he addressed with his usual rotations. Koulierakis replaced Hermoso in the 77th minute, and Mancini came on for De Roon at the same time.