Serie A Preview: Bologna vs Roma – Team News, Lineups & Prediction

Alberto Aquilani, the former Roma midfielder, is reportedly close to an agreement to become Sassuolo's head coach. According to reports, Aquilani met with Sassuolo's management again recently, with a deal appearing imminent. The 47-year-old, who played for Roma from 2002 to 2009 and later spent time at Sassuolo in 2017, would make the leap to management after managing Catanzaro. Sassuolo views him as the ideal fit to work alongside Fabio Grosso. If the transfer materializes, Aquilani would become the fifth former Roma player or manager Roma will face next season. The others are Eusebio Di Francesco (Lecce, matchday 2), Cristian Chivu (Inter, 20 September), Daniele De Rossi (Genoa, 18 October), and Luciano Spalletti (Juventus, 20 December). Aquilani would face his former club on 8 November at the Stadio Olimpico in what would be his first return as an opposing manager. The fixture list presents an unusual situation for Roma, with the club set to encounter a notable series of familiar faces throughout the 2025–26 campaign. Each match carries potential narrative weight given the connections between these coaches and the Giallorossi.

Fabio Capello has assessed AS Roma's fixture list for the upcoming season in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport. Capello expects Roma to start the new campaign with the same certainty and quality they showed at the end of the previous season, given that Gasperini is the new head coach. However, he warns that the early schedule presents significant challenges. Capello highlighted that Roma will not face any newly promoted teams in their opening ten fixtures—an unusual circumstance that leaves them vulnerable to a demanding run of matches. The Giallorossi will encounter Inter, Napoli, Como, Atalanta, and Fiorentina during this period, alongside difficult away trips to Torino and Udinese. Roma's opening match will be against Fiorentina, while their season concludes with an away fixture at Cagliari. Capello stated: "Knowing Gasperini, I expect a Roma that in August restarts from the certainties and the brilliance with which it ended this season. The schedule is not, however, very straightforward: the Giallorossi will not face any newly promoted sides in the first ten matches, but instead they will come up against Inter, Napoli, Como, Atalanta, Fiorentina… plus complicated away trips like those with Torino and Udinese."

Roma announced Gian Piero Gasperini as head coach on 6 June 2025, marking the start of his first season in charge. The club achieved Champions League qualification, with El Shaarawy among the goal scorers during the campaign. Gasperini's appointment came following the departure of Claudio Ranieri, who had managed the club in the 2024–25 season. The 'condottiero' (commander) has guided Roma towards European football's elite competition in his inaugural year, fulfilling a key objective for the Friedkin Group ownership.

Several transfer developments are emerging around Roma's squad. Artem Dovbyk is drawing attention from clubs abroad, while Roma are competing with Juventus to pursue Diaz. Additionally, the club is preparing a survey to gather fan feedback on stadium matters. In other news, Greenwood is preparing to leave Marseille, and Ferguson has departed Roma. Fiorentina are reportedly interested in Filippo Romano, with an offer of €3 million being prepared.

Roma's transfer window continues to develop on multiple fronts. D'Amico's status remains unresolved as the club awaits clarity on his position. Dovbyk has attracted market movement, with activity intensifying around the striker's future. Ferguson has departed Roma, marking another change in the squad setup. The developments reflect ongoing reshaping of the playing group as the transfer window progresses.

Artem Dovbyk is expected to depart AS Roma this summer after two seasons at the club. According to transfer expert Matteo Moretto, multiple foreign clubs competing in next season's Champions League have already expressed interest in the Ukrainian striker. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini reportedly prefers a centre-forward with different characteristics for his Roma project, contributing to the likelihood of Dovbyk's exit. Trabzonspor made an enquiry about Dovbyk in recent days and proposed an offer around €10 million, which Roma rejected as insufficient given they paid approximately €36 million for him two years ago. Fiorentina was also linked with the player in a potential swap deal involving Piccoli, though that negotiation never gained traction. In Serie A, Roma's preference to move Dovbyk on reflects Gasperini's tactical vision for the squad. Dovbyk's recent campaign was disrupted by injuries and surgery, limiting him to just 3 goals across 18 appearances in Serie A and European competition. His departure would mark a significant reshaping of Roma's attacking options as the club prepares for the upcoming season.

Irish striker Evan Ferguson has left AS Roma after a single season at the club. The 2004-born forward made 22 appearances and scored five goals in the Giallorossi shirt but was unable to establish himself, hampered by multiple injuries during his time in Serie A. Ferguson's departure marks the end of a difficult spell in Rome. Despite showing promise, recurring fitness issues prevented him from making a sustained impact at the club. His exit represents another chapter in Roma's ongoing squad evolution under current management. Ferguson addressed the Roma fanbase in a statement: "No one wants their time to be interrupted, but injuries are part of the game. Thank you to everyone at Roma and the fans for the support in recent months. I wish my teammates and everyone at the club the best for the future. Forza Roma ❤️💛." The forward departs with respect for the club and its supporters despite the injury-plagued campaign.

Several transfer developments are emerging around Roma's squad. Artem Dovbyk is drawing attention from clubs abroad, while Roma are competing with Juventus to pursue Diaz. Additionally, the club is preparing a survey to gather fan feedback on stadium matters. In other news, Greenwood is preparing to leave Marseille, and Ferguson has departed Roma. Fiorentina are reportedly interested in Filippo Romano, with an offer of €3 million being prepared.

Roma's transfer window continues to develop on multiple fronts. D'Amico's status remains unresolved as the club awaits clarity on his position. Dovbyk has attracted market movement, with activity intensifying around the striker's future. Ferguson has departed Roma, marking another change in the squad setup. The developments reflect ongoing reshaping of the playing group as the transfer window progresses.

Roma's incoming sporting director Tony D'Amico will need to reinforce the defence alongside the planned attacking overhaul, with the club facing potential squad gaps depending on Ndicka's future. Although the attack is the primary focus—built around Malen and Dybala with Pellegrini in support—the defence will require significant investment. The backline was Roma's strongest asset under Gasperini's management this season, forming the foundation for Champions League qualification, but numerical reinforcement is essential. With Kumbulla set to return, Ziolkowski departing for game time, and Ndicka's status uncertain due to Financial Fair Play concerns, Roma would be left with only four senior centre-backs (Hermoso, Mancini, Ghilardi, and possibly Ndicka) for a demanding season requiring at least two players per position. That would leave two additional defenders short. Several targets have been identified. Oosterwolde is viewed as a promising profile but carries a price tag of €20–25 million, becoming viable mainly if Ndicka departs. Bologna's Lucumì, available on an expiring contract, is another option at roughly €20 million—far lower than Bologna's initial €28 million demand. Solet represents an ideal profile but costs at least €25 million and Inter are already advanced in negotiations. Muharemovic is ready to leave Sassuolo, though domestic competition is driving up his price. Gasperini has been clear that Roma needs experienced, quality defenders—both a high-level starter and a reliable backup.

Roma defenders Gianluca Mancini and Lorenzo Pellegrini have been spotted vacationing together in Ibiza following the conclusion of the season. The pair are taking time to relax after a long campaign that culminated in Roma securing qualification for the Champions League. The break comes as several Roma players enjoy downtime before preparations begin for the new season ahead.

Tony D'Amico is in Bergamo negotiating the termination of his contract with Atalanta, bringing his move to Roma as sporting director closer. The agreement between D'Amico and the Giallorossi has been delayed by outstanding financial matters with the Nerazzurri, who removed him from his position roughly a week ago and appointed Cristiano Giuntoli as his replacement. Once the resolution is finalized, D'Amico will officially join head coach Gian Piero Gasperini at Trigoria. D'Amico's immediate priorities at Roma include negotiating contract renewals for Çelik, Lorenzo Pellegrini, and Paulo Dybala. The club must also address Financial Fair Play compliance and capital gains requirements by 30 June, though the deadline could potentially be extended to 30 June 2027 through agreement with UEFA, allowing Roma to defer certain accounting obligations. This flexibility could help the club avoid selling key squad members during the current transfer window and instead register incoming revenue from Champions League participation in the next financial year. Gasperini's preferred target for recruitment is Mason Greenwood, though additional signings are expected beyond that single acquisition. The incoming sporting director will oversee all these matters alongside the club's broader transfer strategy.