Cristante: Champions League dream is difficult but alive, we are there

Roma have opened ticket sales for their Serie A fixture against Atalanta on September 5 at 20:45 at the Stadio Olimpico. The match is the third round of the season and represents a high-level test for the Giallorossi, arriving after opening fixtures against Fiorentina at home and Lecce away. Tickets went on sale from 12:00 today. Supporters can find all pricing information and purchase tickets via the dedicated page on Roma's official website.

Matteo Marcenaro has been appointed to referee Roma's first Serie A match of the season against Fiorentina at Stadio Olimpico on 24 August at 20:45. The fixture comes five days after the announcement of the Serie A refereeing assignments for opening weekend. Marcenaro last took charge of a Roma match on 18 April, when Roma faced Atalanta. He will be supported by assistants Lo Cicero and Rossi, with Fabbri as fourth official. Abisso will serve as VAR and Giua as assistant VAR for the match.

Matteo Marcenaro of Genoa has been assigned to referee Roma's first match of the 2026-27 season against Fiorentina on Monday 24 August at 20:45 at the Stadio Olimpico. The fixture marks Gian Piero Gasperini's official debut in Serie A with Roma. Marcenaro's assistants will be Lo Cicero and Rossi, with Fabbri as fourth official. Abisso will operate at VAR, supported by Giua as AVAR. Roma's record against Marcenaro is positive overall. In seven previous matches overseen by the Genoa-based referee, the Giallorossi have won four, drawn two, and lost one. Their most recent encounter came in the 2025-26 season, matchday 33 of Serie A, when Roma drew 1-1 with Atalanta. Fiorentina, by contrast, have a less favourable record with Marcenaro, having won four and lost two of their six previous meetings with him before the Atalanta fixture. Fiorentina's last game under Marcenaro was Atalanta-Fiorentina on matchday 13 of the 2025-26 season, which finished 2-0 to Atalanta.

Rodrigo Mora impressed in his first training session and now has four days to convince Gasperini he deserves the starting role in Roma's match against Fiorentina on Monday. The Portuguese forward will compete with Matías Soulé for the trequartista position in a 3-4-1-2 formation that Roma trialled on 19 August. Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are set to start as the two strikers, with Mora eyeing an opportunity to stake his claim in the role that suits him best. Soulé's availability for the match remains uncertain as AC Milan continues to press for his signature, alongside English club Sunderland. The competition for places elsewhere in the team appears settled: Molina is ready to make his debut, Wesley will start at left-back, Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné will operate in midfield, and the defensive line in front of Mile Svilar will comprise Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, and Mario Hermoso. Gasperini's early feedback on Mora has been positive, giving the forward genuine scope to earn a starting berth.

Niccolò Pisilli and Wesley have returned to training with Roma ahead of Monday evening's Serie A fixture against Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico, which is set for a sell-out. Pisilli has recovered from a muscular problem to the thigh that sidelined him in recent weeks, while Wesley completed partial work with the squad after a minor ankle sprain. Gian Piero Gasperini appears set to deploy the Cristante–Koné pairing in midfield despite Pisilli's availability. Wesley, the Brazilian winger, is targeting a starting berth against Fiorentina. Manchester United completed a deal for Brighton's Carlos Baleba on the same day, removing any uncertainty over Manu Koné's future at Roma. In defence, Mario Hermoso holds an advantage over Koulierakis for a place, while Molina will make his debut on the right. Lorenzo Pellegrini is unavailable for the match.

Stadio Olimpico will register its first sell-out of the season for Roma's Serie A opener against Fiorentina on Monday, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini working through final selection decisions ahead of the fixture. Paulo Dybala, who impressed in pre-season, will lead the attack alongside Matías Soulé, while Donyell Malen holds a slight advantage over another forward option, though rotation is possible given his current form. Mario Hermoso is favoured to partner Gianluca Mancini and Evan N'Dicka in defence, with Nahuel Molina operating on the flank. Wesley is being monitored for a minor ankle sprain; should he be unavailable, Devyne Rensch is ready, with Lulli available as cover. Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné are expected to anchor midfield, while Niccolò Pisilli, recently back from a muscular injury, is likely to start on the bench. Mora, who arrived at Ciampino yesterday, will meet Gasperini today but is unlikely to start. The Olimpico atmosphere is already building with 63,000 spectators expected, though the police authority has yet to rule on whether the away section can reopen following incidents in January.