Roma go travel go Lake Como for one Serie A match wey fit mean plenty for top-four and title race. The game dey happen at Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, and e dey come before Roma face Real Madrid for Champions League on Wednesday.
International break nearly finish, and Roma fans don miss watching their team. The Giallorossi enter weekend tied for first with Inter, and Serie A dey look like three-horse race between Roma, Inter and Como. So this match fit get same kind implication like Roma pre-break tie with Inter.
For Como, sporting director Carlalberto Ludi talk say their focus na quality and possession, to dominate game. Ludi tell DAZN Italia say Maxence Caqueret get that role today, though Martin Baturina also get those qualities. He talk say Como want play well and carry game to strong side like Roma.
Ludi still yan say e go be very interesting clash between two good teams and important advert for Serie A. He hope say fans for Como go happy. The two teams na attacking sides wey take Champions League qualification places away from Juventus and Milan last season.
But before match, three points separate the teams. Como suffer surprising 2-0 defeat to Frosinone before long international break. Coaches Cesc Fàbregas and Gian Piero Gasperini share sensibility, even if their tactical approach differ small.
There was controversy over last couple days. Coach Cesc Fàbregas hit out angrily at Italy medical staff, suggesting dem play Moise Kean for Nations League even when striker carry injury. Na why Moise Kean rule out of today encounter and might miss next couple competitive fixtures too.
Ludi insist say Como rapport with Nazionale dey excellent, but naturally any club no go happy when player return with small injury. He talk say Como dey proud to get player representing Italy, and that go for all their internationals. Ludi add say for football, people tend see only total alignment or conflict, but that rarely be truth of situation. He say we dey honoured to represent Italy, dey sad say we no fit count on Moise Kean today, but rapport remains good.
For Roma side, Gian Piero Gasperini get to manage him squad well. The match against Real Madrid on Wednesday na the exact thing Giallorossi don wait nearly decade for, and normally match against one of Europe biggest clubs, plus José Mourinho, na occasion Romanisti go anticipate. But points against Como count just as much, if not more. Como no be kind opponent Roma can rotate heavily against and still collect three points.
Como be like 2020s version of Sassuolo and Atalanta. Their owners invest heavily for project, dem play ambitious, beautiful football under Cesc Fàbregas, and dem no hide say dem want quickly cement themselves as part of elite for Italy and Europe. Ludi frame weekend matchup as chance to show say Como belong at Roma level.
Gasperini suppose expect best from Scudetto contender, and Real Madrid be damned, win for Como arguably more necessary. E be classic responsibility every manager fighting across multiple competitions dey face: put out side capable to win difficult away match while keep squad fresh enough to take on club like Madrid.
Good news be say Roma get interesting options for rotation. Question na whether Gasperini go use dem to manage minutes of established starters or trust emerging talents to help Roma collect three crucial points. Most important question Roma dey face at this point na how attack go function when Donyell Malen need break.
Malen arguably be key figure in Gasperini tactics; more than that, e don be best player in Serie A so far this season. Him partnership with Paulo Dybala give Roma one of best attacks for Europe, but even most productive forwards no fit play every single match. When fixture list begin look like “be careful what you wish for” prank from higher-ups at UEFA who hear Romanisti complain say dem miss Champions League football for too long, players like Malen need care.
If Roma want answer on how attack survive without Malen, Santiago Castro development into true alternative to Dutchman must be central. This weekend match na serious opportunity for Argentine to show himself as reliable vice-Malen during one of Roma most intense stretches of season. Castro ambitions to become just as valuable player for Roma as Malen no be secret. He tell TNT Sports during international break say he need perform for Roma if he want continue earning opportunities with Argentina.
Castro dey at part of career where he go either become star in him own right or another also-ran. While Malen be worthy permanent member of starting eleven, Roma investment in Castro imply say dem view am as someone who go fill that role for long term too. So Gasperini get every incentive to consider Castro up front this weekend, even from first minute. At minimum, if Roma fit establish control early enough to manage Malen workload, expect to see Roma number nine for pitch.
Whether Castro start or come off bench, him ability to make impact against serious opponent fit determine how much confidence manager get in rotating attack over coming weeks. Como no be easiest opponent for youngster to prove himself against, but in some sense, that suppose be the point. Cesc Fàbregas want him team dominate possession and occupy attacking third, which fit leave Roma and Castro with significant opportunities to exploit space when possession change hands.
No expectation say Castro go become Malen Jr. overnight. But Gasperini get to know say attack no go fall apart when Malen no dey pitch. That na more manageable goal for moment; if Castro fit achieve am, Giallorossi fit just get squad necessary to fight on multiple fronts for long term.
Just as Santiago Castro fit get golden opportunity to shine this weekend against Como, Rodrigo Mora dey line up for chance to cement himself as key player in Roma creative play, especially if, as reported, Matías Soulé dey rested ahead Real Madrid match. Mora don generate huge excitement since he arrive Rome, and Gasperini appear willing to trust am. Him performances for Portugal Under-21 side this international break catch eye; you no dey see spectacular bicycle kicks like that every day.
Timing of this opportunity for Mora make sense. Whenever he play, Mora don give Gasperini intriguing profile wey complement Roma other creative players amazingly. There be small of young Paulo Dybala in way Mora turn final third of pitch into big chance on goal out of nowhere. Mora get speed and technical quality to exploit space behind Como midfield, provided he fit make right decisions when opportunity come.
Again, just as we no suppose crucify Castro if he no be Malen overnight, nobody suppose expect Mora to take over Roma attack when he get reins for first time. Still, if Mora fit give Dybala breather and show say he fit handle demands of match like this one, he go don do him job and prove him worth. If Mora fit give Gasperini another reliable option in attack, Roma go be all better for am.
