Serie A: Roma-Sassuolo on the pitch on Saturday at 8.45pm LIVE

The ninth effort for Gasperini's Roma is against Sassuolo, the last before the break to close a clear or almost clear path - at least in the championship. Because if in the Champions League the stains of the matches thrown away against Real Madrid and Manchester United remain, in Serie A it's a completely different story: the Giallorossi are still unbeaten, with only draws against Como and Napoli stopping a speed that still launches the Giallorossi team towards the top. For this reason, against Sassuolo it becomes essential to finish with three points, forgetting the English disappointment as soon as possible and there will be an entire yellow-red Olimpico to push Malen and his teammates, considering that the Capitoline club has also been able to open the away section to its fans.

However, the issue of the emergency remains with which the Roma coach has been fighting for weeks now: the emblem is Dybala, who will not be able to be available even for tomorrow evening. Even those who will be there are not at their best: in this case the example is Mancini, who has not trained to manage a state of general fatigue. The central defender will be called up, but could be spared, while the situation is different for Dybala, who has definitively recovered from the injury to the twin of his right calf.

The three MRIs of the week all gave negative results, but in any case from Trigoria they prefer not to risk it and have him back directly after the break, taking advantage of the two-week break to do a little reminder of their preparation. The same goes for Kone and Svilar, as well as Rensch, the last to stop due to an injury to the adductor longus in his right leg in the match in Manchester. The Dutchman will return in a couple of weeks, further reducing Gasperini's choices ahead of tomorrow. Few doubts ahead with Soulé and Malen immovable, while Pisilli and Mora are fighting for a place. More chances to start for the Portuguese, leaving the Cristante-De Roon duo in the middle of the field. Evaluations also need to be made in goal (where Gollini improves and should succeed) and in defence, where Koulierakis, Balerdi and Ghilardi undermine the starting trio.

But regardless of who plays, Roma needs three points to try to take advantage of a championship round where the two direct competitors (Lazio and Inter) will play against Napoli and Como respectively. A possible opportunity to be exploited, as well as the calendar which upon return will pit Parma, Monza and Bologna against the Giallorossi, before bringing forward Christmas with two big matches such as the derby and then the match against Juve. But in the meantime the journey continues from the Olimpico where the former Aquilani's Sassuolo arrives; then there will be time to think about the rest of the championship and the approaching transfer market, from which Gasp expects two reinforcements to aim, even more forcefully, to at least confirm the placement in the Champions League.