Brighton boss Hurzeler sees Roma friendly as major opportunity for growth

Roma have no injury concerns over Mario Hermoso ahead of Saturday's big match against Inter, with the defender set to be available for Gasperini to deploy against Chivu's attack. Hermoso will line up alongside Gianluca Mancini, with Leonardo Balerdi candidating for a starting spot after impressing in early appearances and set to compete with Evan N'Dicka for the centre-back role in the coming days. Gasperini is preparing multiple tactical options for the fixture. Emanuele Lulli could feature to counter Dimarco's threat, while Niccolò Pisilli might operate in a more advanced role on the trequarti, and Nahuel Molina could be deployed on the left wing. In a wide-ranging interview, the Roma head coach addressed the scudetto ambition, saying: "It is not this way of raising the bar. The bar is not raised by setting more or less achievable objectives: it is raised by improving every day, working on ourselves through this variety of players with all their own characteristics, trying to do better each time. Objectives can only be discussed after about twenty matches."

Roma and Inter clash on Saturday at 18:00 at the Olimpico in Serie A's fifth round, both level on points at the top of the table. The match offers Roma a chance to seize sole leadership, while Inter seek a third consecutive victory against the Giallorossi after two wins last season. For Gasperini, it is a chance to break a taboo: he has lost his last ten meetings with Inter. The focal point of the contest will be the left flank, where Wesley and Frederici Dimarco represent contrasting approaches to the same role. Wesley operates as a full-back across the width for Gasperini, tasked with covering ground, creating amplitude and depth in Roma's build-up play. He is more explosive and vertical than Dimarco, inclined toward running with the ball and attacking space through acceleration and incisive insertion. In Gasperini's system he is also required to press high, support attacks and recover quickly in transition—an athletic demand that could prove decisive against Dimarco's style. Dimarco remains one of Inter's principal assets and a cornerstone of the Italian national team. The left-winger brings outstanding technical quality, interpreting the role almost as a playmaking full-back: he attacks constantly, provides finishing passes, delivers precise crosses and poses a standing threat from set-pieces. Last season he was a leading protagonist in Inter's title win, closing the campaign with 6 goals and 18 assists and claiming the Serie A MVP award. His left foot is his primary strength, creating chances from deep or central areas through overlaps and receptions between the lines. He adds intensity, pressure and above-average offensive reading for the position; already this season he has made an impact, notably supplying the assist for Lautaro Martínez in the victory against Napoli. The duel on the flank shapes as one of the match's most compelling individual battles: Wesley will look to exploit pace and depth, while Dimarco will seek to impose technical mastery, crossing and combination play with his teammates.

Leonardo Balerdi has become the focal point of Roma's preparation for Saturday's clash with Inter at the Olimpico after an impressive display on Monday against Torino in place of Evan N'Dicka. His convincing performance prompted Gasperini to view the Argentine defender as a potential starter against the Serie A champions, a promotion that has raised competitive intensity across the defence and the wider squad. Gasperini's team selection will be shaped by who delivers the strongest performances in training at Trigoria: those who maintain full commitment and maximum effort will earn starting places. The likely starting formation will closely resemble the strongest XI fielded last season, built around the established core players. The returning absentees from Monday—N'Dicka, Wesley, and Manu Koné—are set to come back into contention. The intriguing tactical question centres on the left-back slot, where teenage defender Emanuele Lulli has emerged as the focus of recent debate. Lulli's physical test results place him ahead of Nahuel Molina, making him the favourite to start, provided Gasperini prioritises the pace and pressing strength needed to contain Inter's left-side playmaker Dimarco. A third option exists: Wesley deployed on the right with Molina on the left, a setup already tested in training. Elsewhere, Mario Hermoso will mark Nicolò Barella, while Niccolò Pisilli is warming up for a potential late-match impact.