Cristante: Roma believe in Champions League push

Gian Piero Gasperini spoke to media following Roma's 2–0 away win at Bologna, expressing confidence in the club's ambitions and the squad's commitment. The coach acknowledged that while Roma produced a strong first half, the team struggled somewhat in the second period and must improve for upcoming matches. He emphasized the importance of maintaining belief: "We must believe we can win every match. We are in a condition to play a first half like today, in the second we struggled a bit. We must improve on this for the next game." Gasperini highlighted Donyell Malen's impressive performance and noted that absences of Matías Soulé and Paulo Dybala had affected Roma's depth. He also praised a player named El Ayanoui for his display, noting that the player had returned from African Cup of Nations duty with Morocco and had earned recovery time before stepping in. The coach underlined his professional responsibility for tactical matters while expressing gratitude for the club's backing since his arrival. Reflecting on the organisation at Roma, Gasperini stated: "The Roma are a powerful club that will be able to do great things, and I hope to contribute on the technical side." He credited the Friedkin Group with demonstrating consistent trust and commitment to the project from day one, framing the technical direction as his primary focus moving forward.

Gian Piero Gasperini praised Roma's 2–0 victory over Bologna, with goals from Malen and El Aynaoui, highlighting strong defensive play in the first half. Gasperini expressed confidence in Malen's abilities, noting he had already identified him as the ideal player for the role during pre-season. He commended El Aynaoui's performance after the striker's return from Africa Cup of Nations duties, saying he remained physically and emotionally affected by the extended competition but has since shown his quality. Gasperini acknowledged Roma's injury struggles throughout the season, citing absences of key players including Wesley, Soulé, Dybala, and Koné. He noted that Dybala had not played since 25 January, while Soulé missed 40 days. Despite these setbacks, he praised the squad's resilience, highlighting solid performances even against stronger opponents like Atalanta and Juventus. The head coach attributed some difficulties to unfortunate circumstances, including Wesley's red card at Como. Regarding the summer transfer window, Gasperini stated: "If I have technical responsibilities, it is fair that I get what I want." He indicated he holds ideas on how to elevate Roma's level and strength, though he deferred detailed market discussions to the coming season. With four matches remaining, Gasperini expressed determination, saying the team still has opportunities ahead.

Roma has returned to winning ways after recent turmoil, securing a 2–0 victory away from home. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini addressed the club's ambitions in a press conference, stating his desire to raise the team's level while making clear demands for support. Gasperini said: "I want to raise the level, but I demand to be satisfied." The comment reflects his determination to strengthen the squad and his expectations that the club will back his vision. The victory comes as Roma attempts to move forward from a difficult period and rebuild momentum in the campaign.

Bryan Cristante spoke after Roma's 2–0 victory over Bologna, discussing the club's push for the Champions League. The midfielder confirmed that the European dream remains active despite the difficulty of the chase. He acknowledged that Juventus is a strong competitor but called for Roma to stay in contention, noting that the season often brings surprises. Cristante also paid tribute to former manager Claudio Ranieri, who departed the club recently. He said: "Certainly, the manager is a great coach and a great figure, we send him our regards. Last year we made a great journey, we can only give him a big hug and thank him." Ranieri guided Roma through a significant campaign in the previous season before his exit. With 61 points after 34 matches, Roma are positioned to compete for a European place. Cristante's comments reflect the team's determination to close the gap on rivals in the final stages of the season, though he acknowledged the mathematical challenge ahead.

Roma faced Bologna at the Dall'Ara stadium on April 25, 2026, with Gasperini selecting his starting XI following the previous Saturday's draw against Atalanta. Roma lined up in a 3-4-2-1 formation with Mile Svilar in goal, a back three of Gianluca Mancini, Ndicka, and Hermoso, and Wesley returning to the right flank alongside Celik on the left. The midfield pairing of Cristante and El Aynaoui anchored the side, with Niccolò Pisilli and Matías Soulé deployed behind the sole striker Donyell Malen. Paulo Dybala was among the substitutes after recovering from a recent issue. This fixture represented a critical moment for Roma as the season entered its final stretch, with points still to play for in the title race. Gasperini had also recovered Wesley and defender Rensch from their previous unavailability. The match provided an important test for Roma's form and their prospects for the remainder of the campaign. Bologna, managed by Italiano, fielded a 3-4-3 formation featuring Ravaglia in goal, with Castro and Rowe leading their attacking line. The contest between these two sides carried significance for both teams' final-season ambitions.

Bologna host Roma at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara on Saturday evening in a crucial Serie A fixture. Bologna sit ten points behind sixth-placed Roma and cannot afford another slip-up after a 2-0 defeat at Juventus, having lost three of their last four matches by multiple goals. Roma, managed by Gian Piero Gasperini, are targeting a top-four finish for the first time since 2017–18, but trail fourth-placed Juventus by five points following a 1-1 home draw against Atalanta. With only five games remaining, both sides face mounting pressure in their pursuit of European qualification. Bologna's home record presents a significant weakness—they have lost 50% of their Serie A matches at Renato Dall'Ara this season (W6, D2, L8) and have won only two of ten encounters against current top-seven sides. Roma, however, struggle on the road, having failed to win any of their last seven away games in all competitions (D3, L4) despite scoring in six of them. Defensively, Roma have conceded at least two goals in each of their last four Serie A away matches. Bologna will be without goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski, defender Nicolo Casale, and striker Thijs Dallinga, with Federico Bernardeschi also sidelined by injury. Roma cannot call upon Artem Dovbyk and Evan Ferguson, though Paulo Dybala may be available from the bench. Injuries to Manu Kone and Lorenzo Pellegrini have depleted Roma's midfield, leaving Niccolo Pisilli and Bryan Cristante to fill the gaps. The prediction favours Roma to win, given Bologna's fatigue from additional recent matches.