Cruciani: Roma's scudetto ambitions terrify me

Giuseppe Cruciani, a Lazio-supporting radio broadcaster and host of the programme La Zanzara, has expressed serious concern about Roma's prospects under Gian Piero Gasperini. Speaking on the podcast Numer1 alongside Ivan Zazzaroni and Sandro Sabatini, Cruciani openly admitted his fear of seeing Roma go all the way in the Serie A title race. He said: "I have a terror of the Circus Maximus and that Roma win the title. The reality is only one, and it is a reality that destroys me. I have not been saying this since today: I have been saying it since the construction of the market, from the fact that Gasperini has everything in hand and that the club is following a straight, sure and coherent path, which is that of putting everything in Gasperini's hands." Cruciani highlighted Roma's level of performance in the first three matches of the season. He stated: "Roma is a notch above, at least in these first three matches, both Juventus and Milan. I read a statistic and I believe that Roma in three matches has taken 70 shots on goal, of which I don't know how many inside the penalty box. I see a situation where they could really win every match." Cruciani also recounted his experience following Roma's comeback victory against Atalanta. He explained: "I was in a restaurant and following the result on one of those websites where updates appear. At a certain point I see that 0–1 was holding, but I was not watching the match and so I did not realise the dominance. I thought: 'At most they draw.' Then I get up, go into the other room where there was a screen and I see four chances in stoppage time."

Paulo Dybala and Romelu Lukaku will face each other as enemies tomorrow when Fenerbahce visit Roma, but their reunion carries the weight of unfulfilled promise. The pair were signed to form a devastating partnership in late summer 2023, when Lukaku arrived on a Friedkin Group charter flight to widespread Roma fan excitement. Together, Dybala and Lukaku collected 37 goals and 15 assists across their time as teammates, with Lukaku contributing 21 goals and 5 assists and Dybala 16 goals and 10 assists. When both were on the pitch, Lukaku scored 17 goals and Dybala 15—solid returns that suggested the chemistry was immediate and potent. Yet injuries and José Mourinho's dismissal as head coach meant those numbers never translated into the sustained success both player and club demanded. Lukaku departed at the end of that season, initially returning to Chelsea before joining Napoli. Dybala narrowly avoided a move to Saudi Arabia, saved by what he and Roma supporters regard as a fortunate reversal of circumstances. Their trajectories have since diverged sharply. Dybala has started the 2026-27 season impressively and remains the focal point of Gian Piero Gasperini's Roma attack. Lukaku, by contrast, is struggling in Turkey and may start tomorrow from the bench. Despite his current difficulties, Lukaku's history as a dangerous substitute—and the unpredictability of former teammates—means Roma cannot afford complacency in the 90 minutes ahead.

Roma will line up against Fenerbahce on 10 September using the tactical system Gian Piero Gasperini has favoured since pre-season: a central playmaker operating behind two mobile strikers, rather than two wide attacking midfielders. The formation is designed specifically to disrupt Fenerbahce's build-up play. Ismail Kartal's side typically deploy a 4-2-3-1, which leaves a deep-lying regulator vulnerable in the opening phase; Roma aim to press that regulator and rapidly flood the opposition half once possession is won. This approach proved effective against Fiorentina, Lecce, and Atalanta in the early league matches. The key tactical uncertainty centres on who plays as the central playmaker. Rodrigo Mora naturally favours the role, receiving the ball inside the pitch and immediately seeking a vertical pass. Matías Soulé, deployed from the same position, tends to drift right where he finds his preferred angles and space. However, after scoring decisively against Atalanta, the Argentine appears to have gained ground and could start ahead of the Portuguese midfielder. Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are expected to lead the attack; Gasperini has made clear he will not "preserve" Dybala when he is fit, and Dybala is keen to return to Champions League football after a five-year absence. Malen has started the season strongly as a primary attacking reference. On the flanks, Roma are likely to employ the successful approach used against Atalanta: overloading the right to draw pressure and freeing space on the left, where Bryan Cristante launches switches to Wesley. Wesley will be asked to push high and operate almost as an extra attacker during periods of possession in the opposition half. Nahuel Molina's candidacy for the right-back slot has grown after a positive appearance against Atalanta; his international experience may see him preferred to Emanuele Lulli in the starting eleven, though Lulli has delivered solid performances. Leonardo Balerdi, who impressed on Saturday, is in contention at centre-back, though Evan N'Dicka remains the favourite. The expected base formation will see Mile Svilar in goal, Gianluca Mancini, N'Dicka, and Konstantinos Koulierakis in defence, with Molina and Wesley as full-backs, Cristante and Manu Koné in midfield, and either Soulé or Mora supporting Dybala and Malen. Gasperini intends minimal rotation and continuity in identity: high pressure, aggressive spatial occupation, and numerous players advancing into the opposition half.