Roma and Napoli secured their first wins of this Champions League campaign at the third attempt. They had contrasting evenings against Slovan and Bodø/Glimt, but for both sides, the three points are a real lifeline.
Today, meanwhile, it is Como and Inter’s turn, as they face Manchester United and Shakhtar Donetsk.
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Below, as usual, are the morning’s biggest stories.
🏆 Juventus go all in on the Europa League
Juventus are looking to the Europa League for the answers they cannot find in the domestic league. After wins against NEC and Celta Vigo, the Bianconeri want to beat Rennes at the Allianz Stadium to strengthen their hold on top spot and move closer to the last 16. With qualification for next season’s Champions League through Serie A becoming increasingly difficult, the European competition could offer a realistic route to that goal. Luciano Spalletti is expected to keep rotation to a minimum and is also considering playing Kolo Muani and Woltemade together.
The match will also be important for winning back the fans’ confidence and assessing the squad’s condition after the defeat to Lazio. Options out wide are limited: Conceiçao is sidelined with a shoulder problem, while Zhegrova is not in the UEFA squad. After Rennes, there will be five games left to secure a place in the last 16 without going through the play-offs. Spalletti expects an immediate response, particularly in terms of attitude, after questioning the team’s backing following their latest defeat.
✍️ Milan working on a new deal for Cisse
Alphadjo Cisse wants to celebrate turning 20 with another starring performance. After his hat-trick against Salzburg, the Milan talent is aiming for a repeat away at Bournemouth, who have won both of their European matches so far. Despite his cup heroics, Cisse did not feature in the subsequent league match against Atalanta. The numbers, however, favour the young Rossoneri player in Europe, where he scores more frequently than in Serie A. His goals also reveal an interesting detail: he has scored five in his first seven appearances for Milan, all away from home. That form could help his chances of featuring against an attack-minded English side.
Meanwhile, Milan are working on a contract extension for Cisse with a pay rise, while the player is aiming to fully earn Ruben Amorim’s trust. The trip to England could be another opportunity to prove he deserves a regular place in the Rossoneri attack, perhaps even alongside Christian Pulisic
😧 Inter, forget the defence! Is the problem up front?
Inter are preparing to face Shakhtar Donetsk at San Siro on matchday three of the Champions League league phase, aiming to secure three valuable points. To do so, however, Cristian Chivu’s side will need to be more clinical in front of goal, a weakness exposed in their first two European matches against Real Madrid and Club Brugge.
The numbers highlight the problem: 51 shots and just 4 goals in total. That conversion rate is far too low for a competition in which every chance can make the difference. During the final training session at Appiano Gentile, Chivu focused specifically on accuracy in the final third. Against a well-organised Shakhtar side that poses a threat on the counter, the Nerazzurri will need to turn their dominance into decisive goals.
👏 Napoli, Allegri: "KDB is extraordinary! He’ll enjoy playing as a deep-lying playmaker"
After the win over Bodø/Glimt, Max Allegri spoke again about De Bruyne:
“Kevin at the base of midfield? He’ll really enjoy playing there. He did well even when Lobotka came on. He’s an extraordinary player".
Then, on recent results:
"The more quality players you have, the better. Results change opinions. In Venice and Florence, we had great chances but made the wrong final decision. It was the same against Inter and Como. We can’t concede goals like these. You get the feeling you’re fragile, and when that happens, your attacking play suffers too. We need to put in the work and improve”.
🤕 Roma, Gasp: "We always risk an injury..."
Gian Piero Gasperini spoke to Sky Sport after the match against Slovan Bratislava:
“The team are in good spirits and in good shape. They always need to get the basics right, and on nights like tonight they can even afford to be a little less precise. These are hugely important responses. The schedule is what it is, and I need everyone – whenever they are involved – to deliver“.
“The only thing that worries me is that every time we play these kinds of matches, we risk losing a player. We’re a little short in some positions. These matches are an incredible test. We’ll approach these two games with that spirit”.
“It was important for us to take the game seriously from the start, because there are no easy teams to face in the Champions League. We’re changing quite a few players from one match to the next, which allows us to stay fairly fresh and leaves us with few excuses about fatigue. Playing these kinds of games helps you find sharpness and rhythm“.
💪 Lazio, Cancellieri set to return to the squad
Lazio have returned to training at Formello after their win over Juventus and are now looking ahead to Saturday evening’s clash with Parma. The most positive news concerns Cancellieri, who has resumed training with his teammates and is on course to make the squad. Marusic and Rovella, whose returns have been awaited for weeks, still need to be assessed: the coming days will reveal whether they can at least take a place on the bench.
Gudmundsson underwent shoulder checks today and is still awaiting clearance to resume training, initially on an individual programme. His return could be pushed back until after the November international break. As reported by LaLazioSiamoNoi, the team will train in the mornings through to Friday’s final session, when Gattuso will finalise his selections for the Parma match. At present, no changes to the starting XI are expected following the convincing win in Turin.
🤔 Fiorentina, Vanoli considers how to fit Oulai in
Christ Inao Oulai could return to the spotlight away at Inter. After three consecutive games on the bench, the Ivorian midfielder is in contention for a starting place in the midfield Paolo Vanoli is reshaping in search of greater balance. As reported by Corriere dello Sport, one option is to play him alongside Fagioli and Ndour, using the dual-playmaker setup the coach has already identified as a possible solution for Fiorentina going forward.
Fiorentina need greater solidity, especially in defence: with 17 goals conceded in seven matches, they have the worst defensive record in Serie A. The clash with the Italian champions will therefore demand focus and quality in possession. When training resumes at Viola Park, the staff will step up Oulai’s integration into the tactical system, with a specific programme to get him fully prepared for the match at San Siro.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.