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Roma In Better Shape Ahead Of Torino Clash As Key Players Return And N

Sanjeev Kumar | January 18, 2026 8:22 AM CST

Roma head to face Torino in Serie A with Gian Piero Gasperini convinced the squad now looks stronger, despite the frustration of a recent Coppa Italia exit in Turin.

Roma target another league victory after three wins in their last four matches, while Torino search for consistency following mixed form and a drop into mid-table. Pre-match models still lean towards an away success. Roma have historically dominated this Serie A fixture, recording 71 wins in 161 league meetings with Torino. That record includes 42 draws and 48 victories for Torino, underlining Roma's long-term edge before the latest clash at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino. Roma sit fifth in Serie A, level on points with Juventus before Luciano Spalletti's side play on 17 January 2026. Gasperini's team have taken nine points from their last four league games. Torino occupy 11th place on 23 points and snapped a run of two league defeats by knocking Roma out of the Coppa Italia with a dramatic 3-2 victory. Recent trends show contrasting patterns in Turin. Torino have suffered four defeats in their last five Serie A home games, including losses against Cagliari and Udinese. They have not lost three straight league matches at home since a four-game streak between July and November 2020. Roma, meanwhile, have scored in their last 14 Serie A away games at Torino. Roma travel north boosted by several key returns. Evan Ndicka is back from the Africa Cup of Nations, while suspensions for Mario Hermoso, Gianluca Mancini and Bryan Cristante have ended. Gasperini explained the improved situation clearly, saying: "Better [shape] than the last 15 or 20 days, between the end of December and January, because Ndicka has come straight back in, and we're past the suspensions to [Mario] Hermoso, [Gianluca] Mancini and [Bryan] Cristante," Gasperini said. "[Lorenzo] Pellegrini will return in attack, and most likely [Evan] Ferguson will also come back in. He's taken a big bruise but seems to have got over it after a week. He'll train and could be called up." Those returns combine with fresh depth in the squad and allow Roma to reset after the cup disappointment. Gasperini highlighted the new arrivals and the change in mood, stating: "Two new players have come in [Donyell Malen and Robinio Vaz], so we've definitely made up some of the numbers. We'll go to Turin with regrets about the Coppa Italia exit, but this is the league. We've had excellent results and are in an excellent position, so it's just another game."

Roma vs Torino Serie A key signings and tactics Roma strengthened their attack by signing Donyell Malen from Aston Villa on 16 January 2026. Malen had scored seven goals and supplied two assists in all competitions for Aston Villa earlier this season. Gasperini expects Malen to become an important option in the forward line once adaptation is complete. The coach set out why the Netherlands international fits Roma's plans. Gasperini said: "He has the right characteristics, and like all players who come in, might need a bit of time to settle in and start playing consistently," Gasperini added. "But he's a player who played a lot for Aston Villa and is a starter for the Netherlands national team. I'm convinced that they'll like him a lot. He's currently a centre-forward, that's the role he prefers, where he can make the most of his speed and his ability to shoot with both feet. I think he has to play close to the goal." Roma vs Torino Serie A players to watch For Torino, Duvan Zapata remains a central figure in attack. Zapata has scored six Serie A goals against Roma, including strikes in each of the last two meetings with the Giallorossi while wearing Torino colours. In the three-points-for-a-win era, only Maxi Lopez has scored in three straight league games for Torino against Roma, between 2015 and 2017. Roma will again look towards Paulo Dybala, despite a recent league drought. Dybala has scored once in his last 18 Serie A appearances, against Sassuolo on 26 October. However, Dybala has nine Serie A goals against Torino, more than against any team except Udinese, and has scored five times in six league matches versus Torino since joining Roma in 2022-23. Underlying numbers indicate Roma have a strong chance to extend that positive record. The Opta model assesses Roma as favourites, while still giving Torino a realistic chance and acknowledging the draw as a significant possibility.

Outcome	Opta win probability

Torino27.1%Draw28.6%Roma44.3%

Roma also arrive in Turin with momentum in defence and recent clean sheets. Gasperini's side have won their last two Serie A matches without conceding, and have only once put together three straight league victories this season, between September and October. Torino will try to repeat their league win in the last meeting, which stopped an eight-game winless run against Roma.