AS Roma are set for a gruelling nine-match schedule in under a month, beginning with an away trip to face Como on Sunday, 11 October at 12:30. Gian Piero Gasperini's side, sitting top of Serie A with 13 points, must balance domestic duties with the start of their Champions League group stage.
The fixture list is relentless. After Como, Roma host José Mourinho's Real Madrid on 14 October, followed by Daniele De Rossi's Genoa, Slovan Bratislava, Napoli, Cagliari, Udinese, Manchester United at Old Trafford on 3 November, and Sassuolo. This run will test a squad currently leading the league with four wins and a draw from their first five games, scoring 14 goals and conceding just three.
Squad news
Ahead of the trip, the team has some concerns. Bryan Cristante stayed in Rome with a knee issue and will miss the Como match, with Marten De Roon ready to step in. Donyell Malen and Wesley only trained partially with the group after the international break but are expected to be available. The club, alongside manager Gasperini, also opted not to release Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina for Lionel Messi's farewell match with Argentina.
Gasperini emphasised the required mindset for this period. "I prefer to keep a straight bar, using the city's enthusiasm to compensate for some difficulties," the manager said. Before considering the rest of the calendar, however, there is Cesc Fabregas's Como, fresh from a win in their Champions League opener. The last meeting, in March, ended in a 2-1 victory for the Lombardy side.
Roma are in strong form, with their last league outing a 2-2 draw against Inter, having come back from two goals down. The season's top scorer is Donyell Malen with 6 goals in 5 appearances. To track all the upcoming fixtures in this demanding run, the full schedule is on our fixtures page, while the updated league table is in the standings. Sunday's challenge at the Sinigaglia is the first step in a month that will define the team's ambitions on both fronts.
This story first appeared at ANSA Sport
