Gasperini: ‘Roma need to keep everyone in top shape, Castro decisive’

Gasperini: ‘Roma need to keep everyone in top shape, Castro decisive’ Gian Piero Gasperini explains his Roma changes against Cagliari, who reshuffle their own tactics, and assures Santiago Castro earned this opportunity. ‘He was decisive.’ It kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome at 19.45 GMT (20.45 CET). You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game, Sassuolo-Lazio and Torino-Como on the Serie A Liveblog. The Giallorossi are missing numerous players going into this midweek Serie A round, as Paulo Dybala did not recover in time to be on the bench, while Mile Svilar, Manu Koné and Lorenzo Pellegrini are still out of action too. Gasperini changes Roma line-up NAPLES, ITALY – OCTOBER 24: Gian Piero Gasperini AS Roma head coach before the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and AS Roma at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on October 24, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images) “The difficulties we face are different in each game,” Gasperini told DAZN Italia. “When there are so many matches close together, there are going to be knocks and concerns, it is not the same thing as playing once a week. At the same time, it gives us an opportunity to spread the responsibility around and boost the confidence of many players in a competitive squad.” It looks as if Cagliari have adjusted their tactics for this match and moved to three at the back, coming off a 1-1 draw with Juventus, followed by back-to-back defeats. ROME, ITALY – OCTOBER 14: Gian Piero Gasperini, Manager of AS Roma, looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD2 match between AS Roma and Real Madrid C.F. at Stadio Olimpico on October 14, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images) “I expect Cagliari to remain positive, albeit with a more defensive set-up, but still ready to go on the counter-attack,” added Gasperini. “We have to be wary of the pace of Alieu Fadera and M’Bala Nzola, but they have important options off the bench too. We’ve got to play with a high tempo, quality, and also clear heads.” ROME, ITALY – OCTOBER 17: Santiago Castro of AS Roma celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Genoa CFC at Stadio Olimpico on October 17, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images) Roma rotate their squad too, with Donyell Malen, Rodrigo Mora, Mario Hermoso and more on the bench this evening. “With this schedule, it is inevitable, but it is also worth noting that Castro played two games ago and was decisive. We need to keep all our players in top shape.” Roma drew three of their last four Serie A matches, but those were against Inter, Como and Napoli.