Roma are building genuine momentum in Serie A, sitting third with 21 points from nine games, but a growing injury list threatens to test the squad's depth at a critical stage of the season. The 4-2 home win over Cagliari was far from straightforward, with the Giallorossi twice required to come from behind before substitute Rodrigo Mora headed them in front and then set up Denzell Malen to seal the points. It was the kind of resilient, late-game character that defines a side with real belief, and Gasperini's team have shown it repeatedly this season.

The bigger concern surrounds Paulo Dybala, whose muscular injury sustained against Real Madrid in the Champions League has proved more serious than first feared. Gasperini confirmed after the Cagliari match that the Argentine will miss the trip to Udinese on Saturday too, leaving Mora and Malen to carry the attacking burden. Goalkeeper Mile Svilar also remains sidelined, though the coach suggested he could be back in contention within days, with the Champions League visit to Manchester United on 3 November a key target for his return.

Mora's impact off the bench has been decisive enough that Gasperini is expected to start the young Portuguese forward at Udine, where a win would temporarily lift Roma to within a point of the top two. The squad has the quality to cope, but how Gasperini manages his injury absentees over the coming weeks will shape Roma's title and European ambitions alike.