Can Roma’s Gasperini Turn to Dybala as False 9 Against Sassuolo?

Reggio Emilia, Italy — After suffering three straight defeats, AS Roma is looking to turn things around as they prepare to face Sassuolo on Sunday, October 26, 2025. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini is faced with a critical decision: should he play Paulo Dybala as a false 9 instead of traditional strikers?

Gasperini expressed disappointment in his forwards after Roma’s recent matches, noting the need for offensive improvement. “Ferguson has played in nine of our ten competitive fixtures this season,” Gasperini said. “He’s young and adapting to a different league, so we need to be patient.” This comes as Roma has struggled offensively, scoring just seven goals in its first seven league matches.

The coach seems optimistic about Dybala, stating, “He could play. Physically he’s fine. He’s got good endurance, like all top players.” Dybala has a knack for creating opportunities and scoring, which Roma desperately needs after recent disappointing performances against Inter Milan and Viktoria Plzen.

Gasparini also addressed defensive issues, saying, “When you play so many games, it’s normal to change a few things around.” He mentioned the performance of players like Jan Ziolkowski and emphasized the importance of assessing performance rather than simply focusing on the result.

As both teams are under pressure to perform, Roma’s lineup is expected to include Svilar, cooling expectations for its defensive trio of Mancini, Čelik, and Ndicka. Gasperini hopes to regain momentum in Serie A with a solid performance against Sassuolo, who have picked up points in their last three matches.

The match will be streamed live at 10 AM ET, and both teams will be eager to secure a win to improve their standings in the league.