Roma are building momentum at the right time. A 4-2 win over Cagliari at the Olimpico kept the Giallorossi firmly in the title conversation, sitting third in Serie A with 21 points from nine games, just one point behind leaders Inter. The victory was not straightforward: Cagliari levelled at 2-2 deep into the second half before substitute Rodrigo Mora headed Roma back in front and then set up Malen to seal the points. Mora's impact off the bench has been striking, and his performance raised a genuine question for Gasperini about whether the Portuguese forward is now the most effective option behind Dybala.

The injury picture remains the most pressing concern heading into a busy spell. Gasperini confirmed before the Cagliari match that Dybala could be available from the bench, while Koné is unlikely to return before the November break and Svilar could be back in training by the end of this week. Recovering the goalkeeper in time for the Champions League trip to Manchester would be a significant boost.

Off the pitch, Leonardo Balerdi has quickly become a fan favourite after his decisive brace in the 3-3 draw at Napoli, and Roma are working through the conditions that could turn his loan from Marseille into a permanent deal. Next up is a trip to Udinese on Saturday, where Gasperini will want a response that keeps Roma within touching distance of the top.