Balerdi emerges as Gasperini's trump card as Roma seal their defence

Roma host Inter at the Olimpico on Saturday with both sides unbeaten and level on points. The visitors have not lost in Rome since 2016, but head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has endured a particularly difficult run against them, going 17 matches without a win in all competitions—including ten consecutive defeats. The Giallorossi, by contrast, are thriving: they have raised their squad's standard significantly and compete at a level far removed from a year ago, when absences of Evan N'Dicka, Manu Koné and Wesley would have created substantial difficulties. Gasperini is expected to have both Wesley and Koné available from the start, though much will depend on the collective display. Roma's current trajectory differs markedly from past seasons. The team enjoys playing, scores freely and suffocates opponents. The fixture will determine Serie A's leader heading into the international break. The Olimpico is preparing for a heavyweight occasion and promises to be an intimidating atmosphere for the visitors.

Roma face Inter on Saturday evening in a contest that pits two contrasting goalkeeper narratives at its heart. Mile Svilar, Roma's standout performer this season, meets Inter's Pepo Martínez, a 28-year-old promoted to the starting role who must quickly prove himself convincing answers. Inter have already scored 13 goals, while Donyell Malen leads Roma's attack with 6. The match becomes a window into the form and reliability of each side's number one. Svilar has emerged as one of Roma's key strengths under Gasperini. He has never conceded more than two goals in a single Serie A match since the coach's arrival, though he faced a sharper test at San Siro in April, when he collected five. Martínez's task is complicated by Inter's defence lacking a recognised leader and a clear structure for direct confrontations. Svilar's record in 138 appearances for Roma includes 54 clean sheets—roughly 40 per cent of matches—making life considerably easier for the defenders in front of him. The statistics underscore Svilar's impact. In the 2025–26 season, Roma finished third with an expected goals against (xG) figure of 42.59. In reality, Gasperini's side conceded only 31 goals by season's end—a gap of 11 goals that belongs almost exclusively to Svilar's saves. This margin of performance separates a goalkeeper whose positioning and decision-making have become central to Roma's defensive identity.

Roma will host Inter at the Olimpico looking to move top of the Serie A table outright, with the match billed as a showcase of attacking prowess from both sides. The Giallorossi faithful are expected to fill the stadium to drive their team toward a result that could send a strong early message to the title race. Although Inter are favoured, a single match can produce anything, and Roma's ambitions rest on the longer campaign ahead. Roma have improved in mentality and squad quality this season, and manager Gasperini has equipped the attacking units to be at least comparable. Dybala is positioned as the deciding factor, ready to go head-to-head with fellow Argentine and friend Lautaro. Alongside him, Malen and Castro offer attacking options, with Castro featuring in all four league matches so far. Matías Soulé splits his role with Mora, a young talent with eye-catching play but a slight frame. Inter possess their own firepower. Pio Esposito has scored twice—in the opening league match and the most recent round against Friuli—while Thuram has shown he has shed the rust from post-World Cup. Bonny offers another goal threat, having scored once thus far. The attacking duel between the two sides promises to define the contest.

Former Roma striker Ciccio Graziani has praised the early shape of Gian Piero Gasperini's squad, highlighting the strength of the bench as a key advantage. Speaking to Il Tempo, Graziani spent three seasons at Roma and won two Coppa Italia titles with the club. He said: "I am very happy with what I am seeing. The squad is strong and compared to the past it has an important bench, almost of the same value as the starters. This allows the coach to best manage his resources and the many commitments." Graziani was particularly effusive about forward Donyell Malen, describing him as exceptional. "At Roma an attacker like this has not been seen for a long time. He is strong physically and technically skilled. I do not understand why in his national team they do not play him in the position most suited to him, exactly the position that manager Gasperini gives him. It is madness not to make the most of his undoubted qualities." He also backed Gasperini's appointment: "After his long and rewarding experience at Atalanta, he chose Roma and arrived with a strong desire to prove himself. Last season he was good at building; this summer he worked very well to shore up the squad and the results are showing. I believe the arrival of D'Amico was decisive. The two know each other perfectly and have already shown they are a couple capable of building top-level teams." Graziani acknowledged the emotional weight of Mourinho's imminent return to the Olimpico with Real Madrid. "A fantastic coach. When he left Roma I was enormously disappointed. I almost wept. Beyond winning a European cup and coming close in another, he was able to bring the environment together, and what you feel in the stadium today is also the fruit of his great work." On Saturday's match against Inter, Graziani said: "It will be a great contest between two squads that so far have not missed a beat. Anything can happen at the Olimpico, but it will not be a decisive match—it comes too early, and whatever the final result, both teams will have time and opportunity to run."

Radio Roma pundits have offered their assessments ahead of Roma's match against Inter, with the consensus that Roma possess both the tactical tools and psychological edge to trouble their title-contending rivals. Piero Torri, speaking on Radio Manà Manà Sport Roma (90.9), outlined his reading of Gasperini's likely approach: "For me a great team never adapts to its opponents but always imposes its own way of playing. Pisilli as a trequartista behind Dybala and Malen could be a move to try to surprise Inter, but I think the team is used to playing in a certain way. It seems to me that all four midfielders are in reasonably good form so it could work. But I have the impression that Gasp is not of that idea—I think he can always go with 1–2 or 2–1 in attack to put Inter's defence under pressure, because it is not that solid. On the break Inter can really hurt you. I think Gasperini wants to go more for hurting Inter rather than thinking about not getting hurt. It is right that in a strong squad there are more competitions in several departments—when there is competitiveness inside the team it is good for everyone. I hope the Argentines return healthy from their national team commitments, in fact it's just as well they didn't remember to call up Dybala." Mario Mattioli and Nando Orsi, both on Radio Radio Mattino (104.5), struck a similar note. Mattioli suggested: "Given there is quite a long break after this, I think that if at some point in the match there is a draw the two teams could decide to keep it. Never more than this time could Roma pull off the surprise. Today I see them superior to Inter—not on the pitch but in character and psychological propensity. Inter concedes goals, but then wins." Orsi added that Inter concedes much in defence and Roma can and must take advantage, though Inter possesses unmatched fighting spirit and the ability to shut teams down in the penalty area. "I think Saturday will see many goals," he said. "Roma plays man-to-man; it is true they do not concede goals but they have not yet faced teams with extraordinary offensive potential. Despite being at the fifth matchday, this match can give different judgements. At the moment Gasp is being proven right in his use of Dybala—he understood he is that player who gives you the spark." Roberto Pruzzo observed that Roma arrive at the fifth matchday and the international break with a consolidated formation and clear identity, with Dybala and Malen beyond dispute. Inter, despite absences, have shown the strength to turn games around after conceding. Both teams want to win the title, though Pruzzo suggested: "Saturday, at a certain point, I do not rule out that the two teams could be satisfied with a draw."

Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen have become the focal point of Roma's season, with their partnership producing record-breaking statistics since they began their connection on the pitch on 18 January. At Turin on 15 September, Malen scored his sixth Serie A goal of the campaign, set up by Dybala's through-ball that left him one-on-one with the goalkeeper. The pair have started together nine times and Roma have won eight of those matches and drawn one—the January fixture against Milan when Dybala was managing a meniscus problem. Excluding that Milan game, one or both players have recorded a goal or assist in every other appearance: ten goals for Malen, one for Dybala, and nine assists all provided by the Argentine. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini praised both players after the Turin result. Roma now face Inter at the Olimpico, a fixture that represents a significant challenge for both Gasperini's record against the club and Roma's own history at home in this fixture. The strength of Inter's defence will be tested by the creativity and finishing power of Roma's attacking tandem, who enter the match with considerable momentum and the backing of the Olimpico crowd. According to Lorenzo Pes writing in Il Tempo, the anticipation surrounding the Inter match is matched by the desire of Dybala and Malen to deliver another statement performance. Their partnership has captured the imagination of supporters with the scale of their statistical output—11 goals and nine assists between them across nine shared starts—setting a standard that could define Roma's season.

Roma extended their unbeaten run to four Serie A matches after victory in Turin, staying joint-top with Inter on maximum points. Donyell Malen continued his goalscoring form, and crucially, Gasperini's side kept a clean sheet against Torino—their third in the league this season. Mile Svilar's record has been breached only by Atalanta's Ederson goal. Leonardo Balerdi has emerged as the key addition to Roma's defence alongside the established trio of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso. Gasperini effectively now has four reliable centre-backs, providing both security at the back and additional tactical flexibility in attack. The defensive unit's strength will be tested severely on Saturday in a top-of-the-table clash at Inter, who boast Serie A's best attack with 13 goals and inflicted six defeats on Roma in the previous season—nearly a fifth of all the goals Roma conceded across the entire league campaign. Bareldi's performance against Torino underlined his value: he won 7 duels, made 11 defensive actions and 6 clearances—more than any other player on the pitch—while completing 29 passes with a success rate of 91%. According to Simone Valdarchi in Il Corriere della Sera, the defender showed aggression in close-range tackles near his own goal and courage in pressing opponents up to the attacking third. His immediate promotion to full integration suggests Gasperini has found a complete solution to Roma's defensive depth.

Roma face Inter on Saturday evening in a contest that pits two contrasting goalkeeper narratives at its heart. Mile Svilar, Roma's standout performer this season, meets Inter's Pepo Martínez, a 28-year-old promoted to the starting role who must quickly prove himself convincing answers. Inter have already scored 13 goals, while Donyell Malen leads Roma's attack with 6. The match becomes a window into the form and reliability of each side's number one. Svilar has emerged as one of Roma's key strengths under Gasperini. He has never conceded more than two goals in a single Serie A match since the coach's arrival, though he faced a sharper test at San Siro in April, when he collected five. Martínez's task is complicated by Inter's defence lacking a recognised leader and a clear structure for direct confrontations. Svilar's record in 138 appearances for Roma includes 54 clean sheets—roughly 40 per cent of matches—making life considerably easier for the defenders in front of him. The statistics underscore Svilar's impact. In the 2025–26 season, Roma finished third with an expected goals against (xG) figure of 42.59. In reality, Gasperini's side conceded only 31 goals by season's end—a gap of 11 goals that belongs almost exclusively to Svilar's saves. This margin of performance separates a goalkeeper whose positioning and decision-making have become central to Roma's defensive identity.

Roma's defensive department has emerged as one of the strongest in Europe through the opening weeks of the 2026-27 campaign. After finishing last season as Serie A's second-best defence behind Como, the backline under Gian Piero Gasperini has been further reinforced with the arrivals of Leonardo Balerdi and Konstantinos Koulierakis, joining established defenders Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, Mario Hermoso and Daniele Ghilardi. In this season's opening fixtures, Roma have conceded just one goal—scored by Ederson in the match against Atalanta. Comparing the opening rounds across Europe's five major leagues, Roma's defensive record is matched only by Arsenal, the runners-up in the European championship, who have also conceded a single goal in their first four matches. Freiburg in the Bundesliga has the same record but across three games played, while Real Madrid and Barcelona in La Liga have both conceded four goals and four clubs in Ligue 1 sit at two goals conceded. At shot-on-target metrics, Roma rank second in Serie A, allowing an average of three shots per match—just behind Como's 2.75—while Arsenal lead across Europe with 2.25 per game, according to Sofascore data. Goalkeeper Mile Svilar has provided crucial protection between the posts, making decisive interventions in moments of defensive vulnerability. This strong defensive performance stands in sharp contrast to Inter, Roma's next league opponent, who have already conceded six goals in their opening matches.

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has named three AS Roma players in his latest national squad selection. Leonardo Balerdi, Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro have been called up, though notable absences include Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina, who will remain at Trigoria. The squad announcement came via the Argentina Football Association's official social media channels. Dybala and Molina's omission marks a surprise, as both are among Roma's more established international players. Both will stay at the club during the international break while their teammates fulfil their national team duties.

Roma have conceded just one goal in their opening four league matches, reflecting the defensive solidity Gasperini has built with a central defence of the highest calibre. The additions of Balerdi and Koulierakis have reinforced a department already well-established, creating what Gasperini probably hoped to have available last season but did not. The wealth of options is now reshaping how the side defends. Evan N'Dicka commands the backline with his reading of play; Balerdi has impressed from the bench and in his league debut against Torino, winning over Roma's supporters. Gianluca Mancini has weathered early-season difficulties to deliver a strong performance at Torino. Mario Hermoso, the ever-reliable figure, has anchored the defence through demanding fixtures. Daniele Ghilardi impressed at Lecce, and Koulierakis waits his turn—however the combinations rotate, the defence stands as Roma's most complete department. Behind them, the goalkeeper between the posts no longer makes headlines, his standards now expected rather than celebrated. Roma lead Serie A with a single goal conceded so far. Among Europe's five major leagues, only Arsenal can match that defensive record. This defensive foundation arrives before Roma face Inter, whose forward line of Lautaro Martínez, Thuram, Esposito and Bonny has shown defensive frailty in their early season outings.

Roma extended their unbeaten run to four Serie A matches after victory in Turin, staying joint-top with Inter on maximum points. Donyell Malen continued his goalscoring form, and crucially, Gasperini's side kept a clean sheet against Torino—their third in the league this season. Mile Svilar's record has been breached only by Atalanta's Ederson goal. Leonardo Balerdi has emerged as the key addition to Roma's defence alongside the established trio of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso. Gasperini effectively now has four reliable centre-backs, providing both security at the back and additional tactical flexibility in attack. The defensive unit's strength will be tested severely on Saturday in a top-of-the-table clash at Inter, who boast Serie A's best attack with 13 goals and inflicted six defeats on Roma in the previous season—nearly a fifth of all the goals Roma conceded across the entire league campaign. Bareldi's performance against Torino underlined his value: he won 7 duels, made 11 defensive actions and 6 clearances—more than any other player on the pitch—while completing 29 passes with a success rate of 91%. According to Simone Valdarchi in Il Corriere della Sera, the defender showed aggression in close-range tackles near his own goal and courage in pressing opponents up to the attacking third. His immediate promotion to full integration suggests Gasperini has found a complete solution to Roma's defensive depth.