Chivu's selection doubts ahead of Roma-Inter: Carlos Augusto eyes Dimarco spot, Diouf-Jones decisions pending

Roma and Inter meet on Saturday 19 September 2026 in a Serie A fixture billed as the competition's flagship match, with both sides unbeaten and on maximum points so far this season. The match takes place at the Olimpico before the international break. Gasperini has announced that all his squad members are available for selection, but is monitoring the fitness of Wesley and Evan N'Dicka, suggesting Leonardo Balerdi will start in defence. Inter will be without Calhanoglu and Stones, with Akanji and Zielinski set to replace them. Both teams will pay tribute to Sandro Mazzola before kick-off. The Inter and Italy legend died at 83 during the night.

Roma legend Giuseppe Giannini has urged the side to embrace the challenge of facing Inter at the top of the table, believing they can rise to the occasion. Speaking to Corriere della Sera, Giannini acknowledged the difficulty of the fixture but called for Roma to play with enthusiasm and without hesitation at this early stage of the season. "A defeat wouldn't compromise anything and a draw would be positive," he said. "But I expect the usual Roma, with the structure the coach has given them." Asked whether a win against Inter would justify talk of a title dream, Giannini cautioned against premature optimism but stressed the symbolic importance of three points. He noted the progress Roma have made following last season, which he described as a bedding-in year that ended with third place. "All have noticed Roma's growth," Giannini explained. "Three points would be a further confirmation and would also help external perception: reaching the break on a perfect record would be exhilarating."

Roma face Inter in a top-of-the-table clash at the Olimpico today at 18:00, with approximately 68,000 spectators expected for a match that will have worldwide impact. Ryan Friedkin, the Friedkin Group's vice-president, is expected to attend the fixture, underscoring the American ownership's continued involvement with the club. Ed Shipley, Dan Friedkin's right-hand man, arrived in Rome two days ago. The presence of the Friedkin family reflects their proximity to Roma: Corbin Friedkin was present nine days earlier at the Olimpico's upper reaches for Roma's Champions League opener away to Fenerbahce.

Roma and Inter meet on Saturday 19 September 2026 in a Serie A fixture billed as the competition's flagship match, with both sides unbeaten and on maximum points so far this season. The match takes place at the Olimpico before the international break. Gasperini has announced that all his squad members are available for selection, but is monitoring the fitness of Wesley and Evan N'Dicka, suggesting Leonardo Balerdi will start in defence. Inter will be without Calhanoglu and Stones, with Akanji and Zielinski set to replace them. Both teams will pay tribute to Sandro Mazzola before kick-off. The Inter and Italy legend died at 83 during the night.

Roma face Inter at the Stadio Olimpico at 18:00 today in the fifth round of Serie A, with Gian Piero Gasperini's side taking on Cristian Chivu's Inter in a full house. A handful of selection questions remain unresolved just hours before kickoff, particularly in defence and the attacking midfield positions. Mile Svilar will start in goal, with Gianluca Mancini and Evan N'Dicka expected to form a defensive pairing. The main uncertainty centres on the third defender: Leonardo Balerdi, who produced an excellent display in Turin, may displace Mario Hermoso. With Emanuele Lulli operating on the right and Wesley on the left, Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné appear set for central midfield duties, with the Frenchman available after recent physical problems. The principal dilemma concerns the role behind Donyell Malen, the Serie A leading scorer with six goals. Paulo Dybala is expected to start alongside the striker, while the second attacking midfield spot is contested between Matías Soulé and Niccolò Pisilli. Soulé would provide greater offensive quality, whereas Pisilli offers Gasperini a different tactical solution through his positioning, running off the ball and pressing intensity. Roma's probable XI: Svilar; Mancini, N'Dicka, Balerdi; Lulli, Cristante, Koné, Wesley; Dybala, Soulé; Malen.

Roma face Inter in a Serie A showdown on matchday five this evening. Italian newspapers have published their predicted starting line-ups for the fixture, with several variations across the back line and forward positions. The Corriere dello Sport predict a back four of Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso, with Lulli in a full-back role, alongside midfield regulars Cristante and Koné, and Wesley at left-back. The Gazzetta dello Sport and Il Tempo both feature Balerdi in defence alongside Mancini and Hermoso, with Soulé among the attacking options. The Messaggero and Corriere della Sera instead deploy Pisilli in an advanced role. Mile Svilar is expected in goal across all predicted line-ups. Donyell Malen features prominently as a forward option in every formation, while Paulo Dybala is tipped to lead the attack. Bryan Cristante, Manu Koné and Wesley appear constant across midfield and left-back in all predictions.

Roma and Inter meet on Saturday 19 September 2026 in a Serie A fixture billed as the competition's flagship match, with both sides unbeaten and on maximum points so far this season. The match takes place at the Olimpico before the international break. Gasperini has announced that all his squad members are available for selection, but is monitoring the fitness of Wesley and Evan N'Dicka, suggesting Leonardo Balerdi will start in defence. Inter will be without Calhanoglu and Stones, with Akanji and Zielinski set to replace them. Both teams will pay tribute to Sandro Mazzola before kick-off. The Inter and Italy legend died at 83 during the night.

Roma face Inter at the Stadio Olimpico at 18:00 today in the fifth round of Serie A, with Gian Piero Gasperini's side taking on Cristian Chivu's Inter in a full house. A handful of selection questions remain unresolved just hours before kickoff, particularly in defence and the attacking midfield positions. Mile Svilar will start in goal, with Gianluca Mancini and Evan N'Dicka expected to form a defensive pairing. The main uncertainty centres on the third defender: Leonardo Balerdi, who produced an excellent display in Turin, may displace Mario Hermoso. With Emanuele Lulli operating on the right and Wesley on the left, Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné appear set for central midfield duties, with the Frenchman available after recent physical problems. The principal dilemma concerns the role behind Donyell Malen, the Serie A leading scorer with six goals. Paulo Dybala is expected to start alongside the striker, while the second attacking midfield spot is contested between Matías Soulé and Niccolò Pisilli. Soulé would provide greater offensive quality, whereas Pisilli offers Gasperini a different tactical solution through his positioning, running off the ball and pressing intensity. Roma's probable XI: Svilar; Mancini, N'Dicka, Balerdi; Lulli, Cristante, Koné, Wesley; Dybala, Soulé; Malen.

Roma face Inter in a Serie A showdown on matchday five this evening. Italian newspapers have published their predicted starting line-ups for the fixture, with several variations across the back line and forward positions. The Corriere dello Sport predict a back four of Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso, with Lulli in a full-back role, alongside midfield regulars Cristante and Koné, and Wesley at left-back. The Gazzetta dello Sport and Il Tempo both feature Balerdi in defence alongside Mancini and Hermoso, with Soulé among the attacking options. The Messaggero and Corriere della Sera instead deploy Pisilli in an advanced role. Mile Svilar is expected in goal across all predicted line-ups. Donyell Malen features prominently as a forward option in every formation, while Paulo Dybala is tipped to lead the attack. Bryan Cristante, Manu Koné and Wesley appear constant across midfield and left-back in all predictions.

Roma face Inter at the Stadio Olimpico at 18:00 today in the fifth round of Serie A, with Gian Piero Gasperini's side taking on Cristian Chivu's Inter in a full house. A handful of selection questions remain unresolved just hours before kickoff, particularly in defence and the attacking midfield positions. Mile Svilar will start in goal, with Gianluca Mancini and Evan N'Dicka expected to form a defensive pairing. The main uncertainty centres on the third defender: Leonardo Balerdi, who produced an excellent display in Turin, may displace Mario Hermoso. With Emanuele Lulli operating on the right and Wesley on the left, Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné appear set for central midfield duties, with the Frenchman available after recent physical problems. The principal dilemma concerns the role behind Donyell Malen, the Serie A leading scorer with six goals. Paulo Dybala is expected to start alongside the striker, while the second attacking midfield spot is contested between Matías Soulé and Niccolò Pisilli. Soulé would provide greater offensive quality, whereas Pisilli offers Gasperini a different tactical solution through his positioning, running off the ball and pressing intensity. Roma's probable XI: Svilar; Mancini, N'Dicka, Balerdi; Lulli, Cristante, Koné, Wesley; Dybala, Soulé; Malen.

Roma face Inter in a Serie A showdown on matchday five this evening. Italian newspapers have published their predicted starting line-ups for the fixture, with several variations across the back line and forward positions. The Corriere dello Sport predict a back four of Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso, with Lulli in a full-back role, alongside midfield regulars Cristante and Koné, and Wesley at left-back. The Gazzetta dello Sport and Il Tempo both feature Balerdi in defence alongside Mancini and Hermoso, with Soulé among the attacking options. The Messaggero and Corriere della Sera instead deploy Pisilli in an advanced role. Mile Svilar is expected in goal across all predicted line-ups. Donyell Malen features prominently as a forward option in every formation, while Paulo Dybala is tipped to lead the attack. Bryan Cristante, Manu Koné and Wesley appear constant across midfield and left-back in all predictions.

Roma and Inter meet not only as Serie A rivals but also as clubs whose combined squad value totals €1.429 billion according to Football Benchmark's latest estimates, updated in September after the close of the summer transfer window. Inter's squad is valued at €829 million against Roma's €600 million—a 38 per cent gap that nonetheless reveals Roma as far closer to the Milan club in sporting assets than overall club valuations suggest. The standout figure is Roma's trajectory over the past two seasons. The squad value fell to a low of €372 million in 2024, but has since climbed to €434 million in 2025 and €600 million in 2026—a rise of over €220 million in just two years. Football Benchmark attributes this surge to two drivers: the work of Gian Piero Gasperini in returning Roma to the Champions League and enhancing the squad's profile, and the Friedkin Group's investment in the transfer market. The highest-valued Roma players illustrate both developments. Manu Koné tops the list at €64 million, followed by Donyell Malen at €58 million and Wesley at €52 million. Two of the summer's major acquisitions, Rodrigo Mora (€51 million) and Santiago Castro (€44 million), sit close behind. Academy graduate Niccolò Pisilli is valued at €40 million, underscoring the club's youth development impact on its asset base. Paulo Dybala, despite his technical weight, is estimated at only €7 million—a valuation shaped primarily by his age of 32 and a contract renewed for a single season. Football Benchmark's model considers age, position, contract expiry, individual performance, international appearances, disciplinary record, and commercial appeal. Inter's squad value has grown more steadily, rising from €610 million in 2022 to €829 million today, gaining €131 million in the past year alone. The field will decide the match itself later; the market, meanwhile, signals that the distance between Roma and Inter has narrowed considerably.