Roma host Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico on 7 November 2026 in Serie A matchday 11. Roma are third with 24 points from 10 matches, unbeaten domestically and scoring at a club record pace of 28 league goals, whereas Sassuolo are 17th with eight points, one above the drop zone and winless in six. Roma need a convincing home performance to maintain momentum after a midweek Champions League exit to Manchester United, while Sassuolo need something from this trip just to ease a real relegation anxiety.
Gian Piero Gasperini has been in charge at Roma since 6 June 2025, when he replaced Claudio Ranieri, while Alberto Aquilani took the Sassuolo job on 12 June 2026, succeeding Fabio Grosso. The two have barely crossed paths in the dugout, so their head-to-head record tells us almost nothing.
Roma have won four of their last five matches, beating Udinese 5-2 in Serie A on 31 October before losing 2-3 to Manchester United in the Champions League on 3 November, though that midweek slip hasn't cost them anything domestically. Sassuolo, by contrast, lost 2-4 to Fiorentina on 2 November, their fourth straight league defeat and sixth game without a win.
Roma are short in a few areas, with Svilar (toe and broken finger) and Gollini (back) creating uncertainty in goal, while Pellegrini (thigh), Rensch (thigh, around three weeks), Manu Kone and Paulo Dybala (both returning from thigh and calf problems) leave Gasperini with less rotation than he'd like. Sassuolo have it worse: Leysen, Ismael Kone (broken leg and ankle), Boloca (muscle problem) and Volpato are all out, gutting their midfield and leaving Aquilani short of bodies in central midfield.
Gasperini's Roma press high and hard and with Svilar and Pellegrini absent, Bryan Cristante's screening role in midfield becomes more important than usual, though the attacking load falls on Donyell Malen and Matias Soule. Malen has eight Serie A goals already, joint top in the division and he's lining up against a Sassuolo backline that has conceded in every league game this season.
Sassuolo's plan will likely hinge on Domenico Berardi and Armand Lauriente catching Roma on the break but losing Ismael Kone and Boloca removes the two players most likely to win the ball back quickly enough to feed them in space. Kristian Thorstvedt is back from suspension, though Sassuolo have kept zero clean sheets in ten league games regardless. Roma's set piece volume alone should be enough to cause damage against a backline already missing key bodies.
Roma have won 13 of 24 previous meetings, with nine draws and just two defeats, winning the last four Serie A encounters between these sides and keeping clean sheets in the most recent three.
Roma's 28 league goals haven't all come from open play and their set piece routines should produce chances against a Sassuolo side missing key defensive bodies. Sassuolo can't hold the ball long enough to relieve that pressure, which means Roma will keep winning these situations repeatedly, while Roma chase the leaders and Sassuolo watch the trapdoor.
Roma 3-0 Sassuolo. Malen should get on the scoresheet and Roma's set pieces will do damage against a depleted backline. Without Ismael Kone and Boloca to carry the ball quickly through midfield, Berardi and Lauriente are unlikely to see enough of it in dangerous positions and Sassuolo won't have the defensive organisation to handle Gasperini's press.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
