Roma head into the international break sitting top of Serie A on 13 points from five games, level with Inter, but a significant concern has emerged in midfield. Bryan Cristante has been ruled out with a knee injury that could keep him sidelined for up to three weeks, as reported by GOAL. The timing is far from ideal, with Gasperini now weighing options including Marten de Roon and Nicolo Pisilli to fill the void, according to GOAL's coverage of the squad situation. The games coming up, against Como in Serie A and then Real Madrid in the Champions League, make finding the right solution urgent. On the pitch, Roma's recent form has been solid if not entirely convincing. A 2-2 draw with Inter, after leading 2-0 at half-time, was a result that felt like dropped points rather than a share of the spoils. Off the pitch, Gasperini has spoken openly about the sale of Alessandro Romano to Cagliari, admitting the young midfielder was sacrificed for financial reasons. Romano has since earned a senior Italy call-up and started against Belgium, making the decision look increasingly costly. Positively, Leonardo Balerdi has impressed at the back and cemented his place ahead of Evan Ndicka, per GOAL, giving Gasperini a reliable defensive foundation as Roma prepare for a defining stretch of the season.