Brighton boss Hurzeler sees Roma friendly as major opportunity for growth

Roma are preparing intensively for the 2026–27 season during a training camp in Wales, where they have entered the second phase of their pre-season programme. The club played Cardiff in their opening friendly, losing 4–1, though the defeat is not causing concern given the early stage of August. Roma face Newport on Tuesday 4 August, before a significant test against Brighton at the Amex on Saturday 8 August. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will use the Brighton match to make his first evaluations of the squad's progress and fitness levels. Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler has acknowledged the importance of the fixture from the Seagulls' perspective. Speaking to the club's official channels, Hurzeler said: "I think this week we've laid some good foundations. We continue to build on these foundations and focus on the small details to improve further from today. And then we'll have another big opportunity against Roma at the Amex next Saturday to take the next step." The match represents a valuable opportunity for both sides to assess their summer preparations as the new season approaches.

Roma face Newport County on Tuesday, 4 August at 20:00 (UK time) at Rodney Parade in Newport, Wales in their fifth pre-season friendly. The match will be broadcast live exclusively on DAZN. Gian Piero Gasperini's squad come into the fixture following victories over Roma Primavera and Trastevere, a draw with Cannes, and a defeat to Cardiff City on Saturday. Roma will be without Wesley, who sustained an ankle sprain and did not train today, Niccolò Pisilli (expected to return next week), and Bah (cruciate ligament injury). The debut of new arrival Koulierakis is anticipated. This will be Roma's second test in Wales under Gasperini. To watch the match, viewers will need a DAZN subscription and can stream via the DAZN app on smart TV, gaming consoles (Xbox or PlayStation), Amazon Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast, or TIM VISION Box. Live coverage and updates will also be available via Forzaroma.info and Roma's social media channels on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Roma will take on Newport County in a friendly during their pre-season training camp in Wales. The match comes after two disappointing warm-up results: the Giallorossi conceded three goals in a comeback loss to Cannes and suffered a 4–1 defeat to Cardiff. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is using the Newport County fixture as the second stage of Roma's Welsh training camp. The back-to-back defeats have highlighted defensive issues ahead of the 2026–27 season. Both friendly results underscore areas Gasperini will need to address in the coming weeks. The pre-season programme in Wales is designed to build fitness and tactical sharpness before Roma's competitive fixtures resume. The article provides details on where to watch the match, kickoff times, and expected starting lineups, though specific timing and team sheets will be confirmed closer to kickoff.