Borussia Dortmund 2–2 Roma: Svilar's busy day, Dybala shines on Ferragosto

Roma will open their 2026-27 Serie A campaign against Fiorentina on Monday at 20:45 in the late fixture of matchday one at the Olimpico. The fixture is far from a new one: the two clubs have met in Serie A's opening match on 11 previous occasions, a record that stretches back to the 1934-35 season. Roma lost 4-1 away at Firenze in that first meeting, but won 4-0 at home three years later. The Giallorossi took a narrow home win in 1942-43, while Fiorentina levelled the score with a Tuscan victory in 1947-48. Two meetings between the late 1960s and early 1970s both went to Fiorentina, 2-1 at Rome in 1968-69 and 1-0 in 1970-71. After a 20-year gap, Roma won 4-0 at the Olimpico in 1990-91, and then 3-0 at home in 2004-05. The most recent openers between the sides came in 2014-15 and 2021-22, both won by Roma at the Olimpico. The first saw goals from Nainggolan and Gervinho in a 2-0 victory, while under Mourinho in 2021-22 Roma won 3-1, with Veretout scoring twice after early goals from Mkhitaryan and Milenkovic. The upcoming match will give Gasperini's squad their first competitive outing of the season.

Rodrigo Mora has made an immediate impact at Roma since arriving at the Fulvio Bernardini training centre on Wednesday, impressing head coach Gian Piero Gasperini enough to earn consideration for a starting place in Monday's season opener against Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico. Gasperini is expected to deploy his customary 3-4-1-2 formation for the league debut, with three attacking midfielders operating behind the front pairing of Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. Matías Soulé remains the favourite for the trequartista role, but Mora has risen sharply in the pecking order after impressing in initial training sessions. Bryan Cristante offers an alternative and defensive balance, though the ongoing fitness concerns surrounding Manu Koné and Neil El Aynaoui, combined with Niccolò Pisilli's gradual return, may push Cristante back into midfield proper. The match is expected to draw a large crowd, with the visiting supporters' section now open to Fiorentina fans.

Paulo Dybala has stoked Roma's anticipation for the 2026–27 season with a message on Instagram ahead of the home fixture against Fiorentina on Monday 24 August at 20:45. The Argentine forward posted images from the 2–0 derby win on 17 May, writing: "The last home match, with desire to begin the same way." That victory saw Dybala play a starring role before Roma sealed Champions League qualification days later at Verona. The Olimpico is expected to be at full capacity as the giallorossi prepare for their season opener. Dybala enters his fifth season at the club in sharp condition following a high-level pre-season. Wearing number 21, he will be central to Roma's ambitions under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini as the campaign begins. The forward's public enthusiasm reflects the mood in the dressing room, where desire to replicate last season's closing surge is running high.

Wesley has returned to full training and will occupy the left flank in Monday's season opener against Fiorentina at the Olimpico, with an ankle problem now resolved. The Brazilian, who missed a friendly against Borussia Dortmund, scored against the Viola at the same venue last season and is ready to feature. Molina will make his debut on the opposite flank. In midfield, Gasperini will deploy the Cristante–Koné pairing, while the main uncertainty centres on the attacking midfield role behind Dybala and Malen, where Mora and Soulé are competing. The defence will be anchored by Svilar in goal, with Mancini, N'Dicka, and Hermoso forming the back three. Pisilli is also available, though Pellegrini will need more time to recover. Roma are primed for their 2026–27 campaign.

Sebino Nela, the legendary Roma defender and 1982–83 Scudetto winner, has assessed Gian Piero Gasperini's squad ahead of the transfer deadline, which falls in less than two weeks. Nela believes Roma has improved but still requires reinforcements in two areas: a wide midfielder and a winger striker. "The Roma has still need of a wide midfielder and of a winger striker," Nela told Il Tempo. "The season is long, there are three competitions and it is important to have a deep squad. In the football of five substitutions, having a bench of level can make the difference." On the summer arrivals, Nela praised Castro and Molina but urged patience with Koulierakis, who is adapting to Italian football. He remains cautious about Rodrigo Mora as an attacking option, questioning whether his profile matches what the team needs despite Gasperini's backing. However, Nela acknowledged that if Mora flourishes under the coach's guidance, "a day, maybe, he will become a new Dybala, especially if he follows the coach's indications." He suggested a strong one-on-one player capable of scoring goals would complete an attack already bolstered by Soulé, Dybala, Mora, and Pellegrini.

Roma's transfer activity is entering its most intense phase with 11 days remaining in the summer window. The club is prioritising the signing of a left-back and left winger, with the attacking department potentially reinforced only by a loan deal, possibly with a purchase option. The American ownership's strategy is taking shape through over €100 million invested to strengthen Gasperini's squad while lowering both wage bill and average age. The green line of investment—acquisitions targeting both immediate impact and long-term development—is evident across the squad. Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini have agreed wage cuts on their renewals. Among the notable signings are two strikers and a Greek defender, contributing to an squad now containing 11 players under 25: Ziolkowski (21), Koulierakis (22), Ghilardi (23), Rensch (23), Pisilli (21), Koné and El Aynaoui (25), Mora and Vaz (19), Castro (21) and Soulé (22). These are players ready to perform now and into the future under a manager like Gasperini, who has consistently developed and promoted emerging talent. Potential arrivals of Fofana and Luis Henrique—or even just one of them—would further increase the number of young players in the squad. The possibility of selling academy product Ziolkowski and Matías Soulé remains under consideration as part of the squad restructuring.

Wesley has returned to full training and will occupy the left flank in Monday's season opener against Fiorentina at the Olimpico, with an ankle problem now resolved. The Brazilian, who missed a friendly against Borussia Dortmund, scored against the Viola at the same venue last season and is ready to feature. Molina will make his debut on the opposite flank. In midfield, Gasperini will deploy the Cristante–Koné pairing, while the main uncertainty centres on the attacking midfield role behind Dybala and Malen, where Mora and Soulé are competing. The defence will be anchored by Svilar in goal, with Mancini, N'Dicka, and Hermoso forming the back three. Pisilli is also available, though Pellegrini will need more time to recover. Roma are primed for their 2026–27 campaign.

Rodrigo Mora has made an immediate impact at Roma since arriving at the Fulvio Bernardini training centre on Wednesday, impressing head coach Gian Piero Gasperini enough to earn consideration for a starting place in Monday's season opener against Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico. Gasperini is expected to deploy his customary 3-4-1-2 formation for the league debut, with three attacking midfielders operating behind the front pairing of Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. Matías Soulé remains the favourite for the trequartista role, but Mora has risen sharply in the pecking order after impressing in initial training sessions. Bryan Cristante offers an alternative and defensive balance, though the ongoing fitness concerns surrounding Manu Koné and Neil El Aynaoui, combined with Niccolò Pisilli's gradual return, may push Cristante back into midfield proper. The match is expected to draw a large crowd, with the visiting supporters' section now open to Fiorentina fans.

Niccolò Pisilli has cleared medical checks at Trigoria and is on course for selection in Roma's opening Serie A fixture against Fiorentina. The academy product has resumed regular group training after recovering from a calf muscle injury that sidelined him since late July, and is pushing Manu Koné for a starting berth alongside Bryan Cristante in midfield, though Koné currently holds the edge in Gian Piero Gasperini's tactical plans. Pisilli, born in 2004, was unavailable for much of the pre-season campaign but is now building momentum four days before the season opener. Koné, meanwhile, missed most of pre-season preparation owing to post-World Cup rest, yet remains slightly favoured for the midfield role. Wesley, the left-sided Brazilian defender, sustained a minor ankle sprain in recent days that forced him to sit out an August 15th friendly against Borussia Dortmund. The club has implemented precautionary measures with partial training for Wesley, but he is expected to start on the left flank for Roma's debut at Stadio Olimpico.

Wesley has returned to full training and will occupy the left flank in Monday's season opener against Fiorentina at the Olimpico, with an ankle problem now resolved. The Brazilian, who missed a friendly against Borussia Dortmund, scored against the Viola at the same venue last season and is ready to feature. Molina will make his debut on the opposite flank. In midfield, Gasperini will deploy the Cristante–Koné pairing, while the main uncertainty centres on the attacking midfield role behind Dybala and Malen, where Mora and Soulé are competing. The defence will be anchored by Svilar in goal, with Mancini, N'Dicka, and Hermoso forming the back three. Pisilli is also available, though Pellegrini will need more time to recover. Roma are primed for their 2026–27 campaign.

AS Roma has built a squad of striking youth following years of investing heavily in players under 25, creating a roster balanced between promising talent and senior experience. Paulo Dybala, who will turn 33 next November, is the oldest player on the books, followed by Bryan Cristante, Mario Hermoso and Pierluigi Gollini all aged 31, and Gianluca Mancini and Lorenzo Pellegrini both 30. The remainder of the squad skews considerably younger, with 19-year-old Rodrigo Mora emerging as the club's most junior player, matched in age by Robinio Vaz though slightly older by a few months. Jan Ziółkowski is 21, while Castro and Niccolò Pisilli will turn 22 this year. The youth project, initiated under Daniele De Rossi, has been maintained throughout Gian Piero Gasperini's tenure across two transfer windows. Players born in 2003—Daniele Ghilardi, Devyne Rensch, Matías Soulé, Wesley and Koulierakis—form a strong cohort, with Manu Koné and Neil El Aynaoui the only two 25-year-olds in the squad. The young foundation is complemented by experienced operators: Mile Svilar, Donyell Malen and Evan N'Dicka are 27, while Molina is 28. This structure combines future potential with a stable base of proven professionalism.

Rodrigo Mora impressed in his first training session and now has four days to convince Gasperini he deserves the starting role in Roma's match against Fiorentina on Monday. The Portuguese forward will compete with Matías Soulé for the trequartista position in a 3-4-1-2 formation that Roma trialled on 19 August. Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are set to start as the two strikers, with Mora eyeing an opportunity to stake his claim in the role that suits him best. Soulé's availability for the match remains uncertain as AC Milan continues to press for his signature, alongside English club Sunderland. The competition for places elsewhere in the team appears settled: Molina is ready to make his debut, Wesley will start at left-back, Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné will operate in midfield, and the defensive line in front of Mile Svilar will comprise Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, and Mario Hermoso. Gasperini's early feedback on Mora has been positive, giving the forward genuine scope to earn a starting berth.