Como and Roma will resume their Serie A campaigns on Sunday lunchtime at the Sinigaglia with more than three points in view. Five days before the match, Cesc Fabregas and Gian Piero Gasperini had already begun a good-natured long-distance exchange, one appearing at the Festival dello Sport in Trento and the other speaking from Castelnuovo Don Bosco, near Asti.
It is a meeting between two sides with designs on the upper reaches of the table. Roma arrive level at the summit with Inter, while Como are trying to restore momentum after September ended with their first defeat of the season, a 2-0 loss away to newly promoted Frosinone.
Quick facts
- Como host Roma on Sunday at lunchtime after the international break.
- Fabregas’ side face six matches in 16 days across Serie A and the Champions League.
- Roma begin a run of nine fixtures in 27 days.
- Moise Kean returned early from international duty with a physical issue.
- Bryan Cristante is doubtful for Roma because of knee inflammation.
- Como travel to Feyenoord in Rotterdam on Wednesday 14 for their first European away match.
The fixture brings together two coaches associated with proactive football, though through different routes. Como have built around possession, while Gasperini’s teams place greater emphasis on individual battles, making the contest a useful early measure of each club’s ambitions.
For Como, it is the first stage of a demanding sequence that runs from Roma at home to Torino away. The European trip to Feyenoord follows only days later, leaving Fabregas to assess both his squad’s condition and its ability to remain close to the leading pair.
The coach initially gave his players a full week away during the break, but training has resumed at Mozzate without the 15 players called up by their national teams. They are returning gradually, with Nico Paz set to be the final arrival on Thursday after travelling back from Argentina.
Como’s No. 10 is due to take part in Lionel Messi’s final night with Argentina, an exhibition against Benin billed as the forward’s farewell to the national side. His return will leave little time before Roma’s visit.
Kean’s situation is more immediate. The striker felt muscular fatigue after Italy’s match against France and had initially seemed likely to remain with the squad at least as a substitute, but was sent back to Como as a precaution. The club will assess him over the coming hours, with the intention of having him available against Roma, even if only from the bench.
Tasos Douvikas offers another centre-forward option after scoring for Greece against Serbia. Behind him, Martin Baturina and Assane Diao are among the leading candidates to start once they return from Croatia and Senegal duty respectively.
Lucas Da Cunha remains a central figure in midfield after making his France debut. Fabregas described the international recognition earned by Paz and Da Cunha as his “trophies”, while he can also call on Jayden Addai again following the long absence caused by an Achilles tendon rupture.
Roma weigh up Cristante absence
Roma return to work at Trigoria with Como the immediate focus, before a schedule that will test the squad’s depth. Gasperini has acknowledged the physical cost of nine games in 27 days, although he noted that the possibility of five substitutions offers some help.
Cristante is not expected to make the trip to Lake Como as he continues treatment on a knee problem. Gasperini said the midfielder is recovering from an issue involving the collateral ligament, but stressed that there is no need to take risks with either the Como match or the subsequent game against Real Madrid.
Mart de Roon is therefore likely to make his first Roma start alongside Manu Koné. After many years at Atalanta, the Dutch midfielder will face a Como side in what carries something close to derby feeling for him.
Gasperini also returned to the late-window discussion around Koné and Chelsea, insisting that replacing the Frenchman on the final day would have been unrealistic. He said he was pleased the midfielder remained in Rome and believes Koné can further raise his value with the club.
Donyell Malen should be available at full intensity again after missing the Netherlands squad because of a blow to the knee sustained against Inter. Paulo Dybala is expected to support him, with Lorenzo Pellegrini or Matias Soulé competing for the other advanced place and Mora also in contention.
Gasperini praised Dybala’s natural relationship with the ball and said the forward now appears happier after injuries and missed training had previously affected his mood. On Soulé, he recalled a strong first half of last season before pubalgia interrupted him, adding that the Argentine addressed the issue over the summer and has still begun this campaign well despite arriving overweight.
Sunday’s contest comes before the heavier part of the calendar for both clubs. Como need a response after Frosinone; Roma need to protect their place at the top. The Sinigaglia will offer the first answer before the European and domestic pressure begins to tighten.
