Roma top of the table, now the grueling stretch: nine matches in 28 days from October

Roma are enjoying first place in the standings, but the international break is only a moment of respite before a dizzying calendar. As Corriere dello Sport reports, from October 11 to November 7 Gian Piero Gasperini's Giallorossi will play nine matches in 28 days between Serie A and Champions League, a grueling stretch that will extend until the next break, scheduled for the weekend of November 15.

A protagonistic start

The squad arrives at this juncture after four victories in the first five league matches and the unbeaten top spot in the standings, confirmed by their comeback draw against Inter at the Olimpico in the last game before the break. In Champions League the first taste came in Istanbul against Fenerbahçe.

The international break, Corriere dello Sport explains, runs from September 21 to October 6: Uefa has in fact combined the usual September and October breaks into a single extended pause. Gasperini will thus have more time to help injured players recover, including Malen and Wesley, and work on physical conditioning ahead of a month that will not allow for any dips in form.

The return: Como, then Mourinho and De Rossi

Serie A will resume on October 10, but Roma will take the field on Sunday October 11 at 12:30 against Cesc Fabregas's Como at the Sinigaglia. Three days later, Wednesday October 14, the Olimpico will host Real Madrid for the second matchday of the Champions League League Phase: a clash that also marks the return to the Capital of José Mourinho, who won the Conference League with Roma and came close to winning the Europa League.

Immediately after the league campaign resumes: Saturday October 17 at 20:45 Daniele De Rossi's Genoa will arrive at the Olimpico, another former Giallorossi symbol now acting as opposing manager.