Paulo Dybala admits he was getting ‘pressure’ to score his first Serie A goal of the season, while Lorenzo Pellegrini sees Roma improvements in a 1-0 win at Sassuolo.

The Giallorossi had lost three of their last four competitive games between Serie A and the Champions League, but emerged with a 1-0 victory from the Mapei Stadium.

The only goal of the game was scored by Dybala, on the rebound from a save on Bryan Cristante, to put them joint top of the table alongside Napoli.

Dybala and Pellegrini lead Roma response

“We are relaxed, we knew before the game with the other results that we could take top spot, but there is a very long way to go,” Dybala told DAZN Italia.

“These are three important points, also for us to make up for recent setbacks, and now we have to turn our focus to Wednesday.”

Although he had found the net in the Europa League, this was La Joya’s first Serie A goal of the season, and it allowed him to debut a special celebration with the ball under his jersey, for pregnant wife Oriana.

“Strikers live for goals, obviously, so we would love to score in every game. Unfortunately, there are negative moments during the season, but the important thing is that the team wins, not who scores.

“I had been waiting to make this celebration, as my wife was putting pressure on me to get on with it!”

Pellegrini came off the bench and almost scored within 120 seconds, as his dinked finish bounced off the upright.

The former captain was asked if Roma really can aim to stay top of the table and if a Scudetto challenge is their objective this season.

“The objective is to keep improving, and I thought today was a little better when attacking than previous games, we could’ve scored a few more goals,” replied Pellegrini.

“We were coming off defeats and really eager to prove ourselves on the pitch. We are giving our all.”

Curiously, all four defeats between Serie A and the Europa League have been at the Stadio Olimpico, but even in away fixtures, Roma always have a strong presence of cheering fans.

“We are fortunate that our fans always travel with us with passion, I don’t think they realise how much they give to us on the field with their presence. This is also a special match for me, as I called Sassuolo home for a while and want to salute the Sassuolo supporters too, as they remained in my heart.”

Gian Piero Gasperini reveals why the Paulo Dybala and Bryan Cristante tactical experiments go way back, as Roma beat Sassuolo and turn to their next ‘absolute priority.’

The use of Dybala as a False 9 has failed to provide results so far, but it paid off eventually, as La Joya scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory away to Sassuolo this afternoon.

Wesley and Zeki Celik also came close, while Lorenzo Pellegrini hit the upright just moments after coming off the bench, but it proved enough for all three points and the leadership alongside Napoli.

“I am very satisfied with our position, but also with today’s game, as it was not easy against a Sassuolo side that is doing well. After two defeats to Inter and Viktoria Plzen that left us with regrets, there was a good reaction,” Gasperini told DAZN Italia.

Midfielder Cristante tended to push into a more advanced role, and that was decisive for the goal before Dybala turned in the rebound, but Gasperini noted this is hardly new.

“I never doubted that Dybala was a striker. I might’ve had doubts on others. He can play as a centre-forward, a support striker, just not really wide. Players have characteristics and a coach must try to make the most of those strengths.

“I have to say Mario Pasalic scored lots of goals in that role over the years with me and Atalanta, but even if it was eight years ago, Cristante had been doing it first! He hasn’t forgotten, he is now more mature and experienced, so is giving the team a big hand.”

Gasperini still experimenting with Roma attack

Artem Dovbyk came off the bench and was instructed to not drift into the middle too much, so how is the Ukrainian developing under Gasperini’s very different style?

“We needed to keep the forwards a little wider for this match and allow spaces for the midfielders to push through the centre. Dovbyk came on well, his fitness levels are certainly better now,” noted the coach.

“I work with everyone and try to improve them, I’m attempting to find solutions in attack, because that has been the least prolific area of the team. Despite that, we have a good position in the table.

“It requires experiments during the matches, as Dybala was out for a while, this was the first time Bailey managed to start, so we are getting there.”

This means Roma are top of the Serie A table after eight rounds, which hadn’t happened since the 2013-14 campaign, albeit sharing the seat with Napoli.

Their next fixture is the midweek round against Parma on Sunday at 17.30 GMT, hoping to end their run of home losses.

“It is absolutely a priority to win at home. It’s a pity for our fans, who were not accustomed to seeing so many defeats. With an always sold out stadium and passionate crowd behind us, we want to give them something to celebrate,” added Gasperini.

“Some performances were unlucky, but others like on Thursday we really should’ve won. We have to be wary, as evidently some of our characteristics see us hit our heads against a brick wall at home and then concede on the counter, so we need to be more efficient.”

Paulo Dybala’s first Serie A goal of the season proved enough to beat Sassuolo and send Roma to the top of the table alongside Napoli.

The Giallorossi had the opportunity to go joint top of the table, but had also lost three of their last four games, including Thursday’s 2-1 to Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League. Angelino was the only absentee, but Matias Soulé was rested, with Paulo Dybala used as a False 9 and Leon Bailey getting his first start. The Neroverdi had seven points from three rounds and brought Alieu Fadera into the trident attack, with ex-Roma man Nemanja Matic in midfield. Tarik Muharemovic, Yeferson Paz, Daniel Boloca and Edoardo Pieragnolo missed out.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

It was an aggressive start from the hosts, as after a strong Aliou Fadera run from midfield, Kristian Thorstvedt got the header all wrong from seven yards. Mile Svilar then flew to palm away a deflected Fadera strike, but it was Roma who broke the deadlock.

Bryan Cristante surged forward on the Dybala lay-off and saw his effort parried by Arijanet Muric, but only into the path of La Joya to finish it off on the rebound. It was his first Serie A goal of the season.

Manu Koné charged down a powerful Sebastian Walukiewicz strike, and from the resulting corner Thorstvedt nodded wide when he should’ve left it for Filippo Romagna behind him.

Neil El Aynaoui’s effort was straight at Muric, who had to rush off his line to smother at Cristante’s feet after an inspired Dybala pass.

Bailey had his boot torn apart by a Josh Doig foul just outside the area, so had to finish the half with it wrapped in duct tape, while Dybala’s free kick hit the side-netting.

Sassuolo lost Romagna to injury, while Mario Hermoso replaced the disappointing Kostas Tsimikas and within 60 seconds had been booked for a raised elbow on Doig inches outside the area.

Zeki Celik stung the goalkeeper’s gloves at the near post on a Dybala lay-off, but Sassuolo saw Domenico Berardi forced off after a bizarre head injury when he crossed paths with Cristante and fell very awkwardly.

Lorenzo Pellegrini came on and within 120 seconds had almost doubled Roma’s lead, as his delicate dink beat the goalkeeper only to bounce off the upright on Artem Dovbyk’s assist.

Wesley could’ve rolled across for Dovbyk, but instead tested Muric himself at the near post, while the Brazilian stood up a cross for Zeki Celik’s header over the bar.

It was a strong ending to the game for Wesley, who also flashed a great right-foot finish across the face of goal to skim the back post.

The result remained open though, as Gianluca Mancini threw himself in the way of a Walid Cheddira angled drive at the near post in stoppages.

Pellegrini also threatened again with a right-foot curler from outside the box that Muric pushed round the far post with one glove.

Sassuolo 0-1 Roma

Dybala 16 (R)

26-10-2025 14:00

MatchDay 8

Mapei Stadium - Città del Tricolore

Sassuolo

Roma

0 - 1

Player statistic

1st half

		16'		Paulo Dybala
		24'		Gianluca Mancini
Kristian Thorstvedt		34'
Josh Doig		40'

2nd half

		47'		Mario Hermoso
Cristian Volpato		77'

Match statistic

41

Possession %

59

11

Total shots

15

1

Shots on target

8

7

Shots off target

6

3

Blocked shots

1

6

Corners

6

1

Offsides

1

18

Fouls

16

Sassuolo

Roma

Starting lineups

49

Arijanet Muric

Goalkeeper

19

Filippo Romagna

Defender

39'

21

Jay Idzes

Defender

3

Josh Doig

Defender

6

Sebastian Walukiewicz

Defender

20

Alieu Fadera

Midfielder

81'

90

Ismaël Koné

Midfielder

81'

42

Kristian Thorstvedt

Midfielder

60'

18

Nemanja Matic

Midfielder

99

Andrea Pinamonti

Attacker

10

Domenico Berardi

Attacker

60'

99

Mile Svilar

Goalkeeper

5

Evan Ndicka

Defender

23

Gianluca Mancini

Defender

12

Konstantinos Tsimikas

Defender

46'

43

Wesley

Defender

87'

19

Zeki Celik

Defender

4

Bryan Cristante

Midfielder

66'

17

Manu Koné

Midfielder

8

Neil El Aynaoui

Midfielder

31

Leon Bailey

Attacker

50'

21

Paulo Dybala

Attacker

66'

Substitutes

16

Gioele Zacchi

Goalkeeper

17

Yeferson Paz

Defender

25

Woyo Coulibaly

Defender

13

Stefano Turati

Goalkeeper

24

Luca Moro

Attacker

44

Edoardo Iannoni

Midfielder

77

Nicholas Pierini

Attacker

26

Cas Odenthal

Defender

35

Luca Lipani

Midfielder

22

Lorenzo Nyarko

Goalkeeper

5

Fali Candé

Defender

39'

7

Cristian Volpato

Midfielder

60'

40

Aster Vranckx

Midfielder

60'

9

Walid Cheddira

Attacker

81'

45

Armand Lauriente

Attacker

81'

92

Stephan El Shaarawy

Attacker

35

Tommaso Baldanzi

Midfielder

95

Pierluigi Gollini

Goalkeeper

32

Devis Vásquez

Goalkeeper

11

Evan Ferguson

Attacker

61

Niccolò Pisilli

Midfielder

87

Daniele Ghilardi

Defender

24

Jan Ziolkowski

Defender

66

Buba Sangaré

Defender

22

Mario Hermoso

Defender

46'

9

Artem Dovbyk

Attacker

50'

7

Lorenzo Pellegrini

Midfielder

66'

18

Matìas Soulé

Attacker

66'

2

Devyne Rensch

Defender

87'

{rsn-live-v2}

Gian Piero Gasperini explains why he made such radical changes to the Roma attack against Sassuolo, including fitness updates on Matias Soulé and Evan Ferguson.

It kicks off at the Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia at 14.00 GMT.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from all today’s Serie A games on the Liveblog.

Soulé had originally been mentioned in the starting XI released to the media, but was then replaced in the official line-up by Manu Koné, moving Neil El Aynaoui into a more advanced role.

This is the first time that the Argentine talent has been left on the bench this season, so what prompted that decision?

“We play very often, and Soulé had practically not missed a minute yet. We start like this, I hope he can be a valuable resource off the bench,” Gasperini told DAZN.

Gasperini keeps Roma strikers on their toes

Paulo Dybala is again used as a False 9, even though it has had extremely limited results so far, as Ferguson and Artem Dovbyk continue to struggle with one goal between them.

Following Thursday’s 2-1 Europa League defeat to Viktoria Plzen, Gasperini said that he had only just seen the first “real training session” from Ferguson, so what did that mean?

“He needs to be an important factor for the future. It was his first really hard working session, but unfortunately he also got a knock to the ankle and he’s on the bench today, but I’m not sure if he can play.”

A victory here would send Roma joint top of the Serie A table alongside Napoli, who beat Inter 3-1 last night.

“We all know the situation, but it’s quite early to start looking at the table. We need to focus our attention on Sassuolo, who are a newly promoted side, but getting good results already. We just need to concentrate on this game and getting the result we want today,” concluded Gasperini.

It is remarkable that Roma always saw the Stadio Olimpico as their fortress in previous years, but all four of their defeats in Serie A and the Europa League this season have been home fixtures.

Roma can go joint top of the table with a win away to Domenico Berardi’s Sassuolo, so give Leon Bailey his first start with Paulo Dybala and Neil El Aynaoui.

It kicks off at the Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia at 14.00 GMT.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from all today’s Serie A games on the Liveblog.

The Giallorossi are an unpredictable side at the moment, as while a victory would send them into joint first place with Napoli, they have also lost three of their last four competitive games.

Curiously, the defeats to Lille, Inter and Viktoria Plzen were all at the Stadio Olimpico, and they are still unbeaten on their travels this season.

Angelino is the only absentee, as Manu Kone has shaken off an ankle knock sustained on Thursday evening.

Gian Piero Gasperini keeps squad rotation to an absolute minimum, so Dybala start again, but centre-forwards Artem Dovbyk and Evan Ferguson are dropped for poor performances.

Instead, Bailey finally gets his first start for the club, with Dybala as a False 9.

Matias Soule’ had originally been named in the starting XI, but was then replaced by moving Neil El Aynaoui into a more advanced role.

Jan Ziolkowski was hauled off just 30 minutes into his first start for the club, so Zeki Celik is placed in the back three instead.

Sassuolo have improved recently with seven points from the last three rounds, steadily climbing up the table.

Tarik Muharemovic, Yeferson Paz, Daniel Boloca and Edoardo Pieragnolo are still out of action.

Former Roma players Nemanja Matic and Cristian Volpato are in the squad, but Berardi completes the trident attack with Andrea Pinamonti and Aliou Fadera.

Sassuolo vs. Roma line-ups

Sassuolo: Muric; Walukiewicz, Idzes, Romagna, Doig; I Koné, Matic, Thorstvedt; Berardi, Pinamonti, Fadera

Roma: Svilar; Celik, Mancini, N’Dicka; Wesley, Cristante, M Koné, Tsimikas; Bailey, El Aynaoui; Dybala

26-10-2025 14:00

MatchDay 8

Mapei Stadium - Città del Tricolore

Sassuolo

Roma

0 - 1

Player statistic

1st half

		16'		Paulo Dybala
		24'		Gianluca Mancini
Kristian Thorstvedt		34'
Josh Doig		40'

2nd half

		47'		Mario Hermoso
Cristian Volpato		77'

Match statistic

41

Possession %

59

11

Total shots

15

1

Shots on target

8

7

Shots off target

6

3

Blocked shots

1

6

Corners

6

1

Offsides

1

18

Fouls

16

Sassuolo

Roma

Starting lineups

49

Arijanet Muric

Goalkeeper

19

Filippo Romagna

Defender

39'

21

Jay Idzes

Defender

3

Josh Doig

Defender

6

Sebastian Walukiewicz

Defender

20

Alieu Fadera

Midfielder

81'

90

Ismaël Koné

Midfielder

81'

42

Kristian Thorstvedt

Midfielder

60'

18

Nemanja Matic

Midfielder

99

Andrea Pinamonti

Attacker

10

Domenico Berardi

Attacker

60'

99

Mile Svilar

Goalkeeper

5

Evan Ndicka

Defender

23

Gianluca Mancini

Defender

12

Konstantinos Tsimikas

Defender

46'

43

Wesley

Defender

87'

19

Zeki Celik

Defender

4

Bryan Cristante

Midfielder

66'

17

Manu Koné

Midfielder

8

Neil El Aynaoui

Midfielder

31

Leon Bailey

Attacker

50'

21

Paulo Dybala

Attacker

66'

Substitutes

16

Gioele Zacchi

Goalkeeper

17

Yeferson Paz

Defender

25

Woyo Coulibaly

Defender

13

Stefano Turati

Goalkeeper

24

Luca Moro

Attacker

44

Edoardo Iannoni

Midfielder

77

Nicholas Pierini

Attacker

26

Cas Odenthal

Defender

35

Luca Lipani

Midfielder

22

Lorenzo Nyarko

Goalkeeper

5

Fali Candé

Defender

39'

7

Cristian Volpato

Midfielder

60'

40

Aster Vranckx

Midfielder

60'

9

Walid Cheddira

Attacker

81'

45

Armand Lauriente

Attacker

81'

92

Stephan El Shaarawy

Attacker

35

Tommaso Baldanzi

Midfielder

95

Pierluigi Gollini

Goalkeeper

32

Devis Vásquez

Goalkeeper

11

Evan Ferguson

Attacker

61

Niccolò Pisilli

Midfielder

87

Daniele Ghilardi

Defender

24

Jan Ziolkowski

Defender

66

Buba Sangaré

Defender

22

Mario Hermoso

Defender

46'

9

Artem Dovbyk

Attacker

50'

7

Lorenzo Pellegrini

Midfielder

66'

18

Matìas Soulé

Attacker

66'

2

Devyne Rensch

Defender

87'

Paulo Dybala is expected to lead the line again for Roma when they take on Sassuolo in the league on Sunday afternoon, aiming to draw themselves level with Napoli at the top of the Serie A standings. 

The weekend’s fixtures thus far have fallen relatively favourably for the Giallorossi: Inter were beaten by Napoli, while Milan had to settle for a 2-2 draw against Pisa, which means that Roma will draw level with the Partenopei at the top of the standings with a win against Sassuolo. 

Pre-match reports suggest that Gian  Piero Gaperini will continue to leave both Artem Dovbyk and Evan Ferguson on the bench in favour of Dybala at centre-forward. If that is the case, then Matias Soule and Lorenzo Pellegrini are expected to provide the support in attack. 

Kostas Tsimikas is set for another start in the absence of Angelino, unavailable through injury. Wesley is expected to start on the opposite flank. 

Kick-off is due at 14.00 GMT.

Sassuolo vs. Roma: Probable line-ups

Sassuolo (4-3-3): Muric, Walukiewicz, Idzes, Romagna, Doig, Koné, Matic, Thorstvedt, Berardi, Pinamonti, Laurienté.

Roma (3-4-2-1): Svilar; Celik, Mancini, Ndicka; Wesley, Kone, Cristante, Tsimikas; Soule, Pellegrini; Dybala. 

Where to watch Sassuolo vs. Roma 

Tonight’s game will be available to watch live in the UK with DAZN. Supporters in the USA are able to tune in via Paramount+. 

Join us for all the pre-match build-up, in-game coverage and post-match reactions on the Football Italia Liveblog.