Di Biagio: Gasperini has transformed Roma's engine, but Inter clash will not decide the title race

Roma's fixture against Inter will be shaped by tactical duels across the pitch, with the flanks emerging as the decisive battleground. Wesley and Federico Dimarco are set to be the principal actors in this wide play, with the Brazilian having been a key target for Gian Piero Gasperini during his time at Atalanta before joining Roma, where the coach has given him a new tactical role. Cristian Chivu considers Dimarco an irreplaceable cornerstone of Inter's system, while Gasperini has similarly tailored Wesley's position to suit his requirements. The two offer different qualities but carry equal importance in their respective teams' structures and will face direct opposition across the 90 minutes. Gasperini's tactical approach on Roma's left flank will be directly influenced by Dimarco's presence on Inter's left. On Roma's right flank, an open competition remains between Emanuele Lulli and Nahuel Molina, with training sessions before the match set to determine which player is best suited to contain Inter's attacking raids. The wider picture of Roma's wing play is completed by Andy Diouf, deployed on the flanks by Chivu out of tactical necessity despite being primarily considered an attacking midfielder. Meanwhile, attention on the attacking front is inevitable, with Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen leading Roma's offensive threat against Inter's Lautaro Martínez and Marcus Thuram.

Luigi Di Biagio, a midfielder who played for both Roma and Inter, has backed Roma to emerge as title contenders this season ahead of Saturday's match between the clubs. Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Di Biagio said the fixture would be a spectacle but is too early to decide the Scudetto race. "Inter has the obligation to win it for the squad they have and for their history over recent years. Roma, instead, is there for a path of growth and is a very pleasant surprise," he said. He added that Roma could challenge for the title this season just as he predicted they would surprise in the Champions League last year. Di Biagio praised how Gasperini has shaped Roma's squad, saying the club has signed players suited to his demands without making mistakes. He highlighted the transformation brought by Donyell Malen, describing how the forward has changed Roma's entire attacking structure. When asked whether enthusiasm could be a double-edged sword, Di Biagio rejected the notion: "No, a one-edged sword only… It is only something positive. I will keep enthusiasm my whole life." Asked to compare Malen with Inter's Lautaro Martínez, Di Biagio said: "Malen almost runs a department by himself, he is the sun and everyone else moves around him: Dybala, Soulé, the wingers, the midfielders. He attacks depth and in the final thirty metres becomes incredibly decisive. Lautaro, especially with Thuram, does a different job: he turns more."

Roma and Inter will meet on the pitch this Saturday as the Serie A leaders, but behind the fixture lies a stark contrast in how their respective owners build and sustain their projects. Gian Piero Gasperini's Roma have invested €211 million in player acquisitions since his arrival, while Cristian Chivu's Inter have spent €186 million—a gap of €25 million that illustrates the Friedkin Group's commitment to backing the sporting project despite UEFA financial fair play constraints. By contrast, Inter's ownership under Oaktree has prioritised economic and financial stability. The €211 million Roma figure spans the campaigns that began with Gasperini's appointment. In the 2025–26 season, Roma spent €86.5 million, with Wesley arriving for €25 million and Neil El Aynaoui for €23 million, alongside Robinio Vaz (€20 million), Jan Ziółkowski (€6.5 million), and several expensive loans including Donyell Malen, Bailey, Evan Ferguson, Daniele Ghilardi and Zaragoza. The acceleration came this summer: the Friedkin Group approved €124.5 million for 2026–27, comprising Santiago Castro (€35 million), Rodrigo Mora (€25 million), Malen's permanent transfer (€25 million), Konstantinos Koulierakis (€16.5 million), Nahuel Molina (€13 million), Ghilardi's purchase (€8 million), Marten de Roon (€1 million) and Leonardo Balerdi's loan (€1 million). The Porto agreement for Mora includes a further €25 million for 2027 or 50 per cent of any future sale. The contrast deepens when examining the wider impact on club finances. Since summer 2025, Roma's squad costs—including salaries, depreciation and loan fees—have risen by approximately €15 million, while Inter's have fallen by approximately €10 million. The Friedkin Group has covered losses through fresh capital injections, accepting red accounts to sustain sporting growth; Roma has not closed a profitable financial year since their 2020 arrival, with 2025–26 expected to end in loss. Oaktree delivered a €35 million profit in its first Inter season and is preparing to close the next year in the black. Both approaches remain valid: Chivu inherited a structured squad already competing at the highest level, while Gasperini was tasked with rebuilding after Roma's seven-year absence from the Champions League. Saturday's direct clash will test both strategies on the pitch. One club has chosen acceleration to close the gap; the other is maintaining competitiveness while reducing the squad's economic burden.

Roma legend Aldair has praised Gasperini's squad, singling out Donyell Malen as the strongest player in the team. "They are right to say he is the strongest; I would have struggled against him too," Aldair said. On the title race, he added: "Roma can compete all the way with Inter." He also highlighted the defence, saying: "N'Dicka is making the difference, but Mancini and Hermoso always hold firm. And Balerdi — have you seen him?" Meanwhile, police have issued 16 Daspo (stadium bans) to Curva Sud supporters who were recorded performing a Roman salute during the Roma–Atalanta match on 5 September. The bans will last between one and five years and will prevent these supporters from attending Roma matches both in Rome and abroad. Four of those supporters have also been issued additional restrictions requiring them to report to police stations on match days when Roma play at home. Gasperini has brought a new defensive solidity to Roma. In the 2025–26 season, his team conceded just 0.82 goals per match—the best average of his managerial career. This trend began at Atalanta, where the side finished the 2024–25 campaign with 37 goals conceded. Gasperini now aims to improve that record further.

Roma travel to the Olimpico on Saturday with a perfect record—twelve points from four matches plus a draw in Istanbul—but face one of the season's sternest examinations against Inter and Chivu, a side that has historically troubled Gasperini. The head coach has the full squad available and must resolve three significant lineup decisions. At centre-back, Evan N'Dicka has returned to full fitness but Leonardo Balerdi is in outstanding form; the Ivorian holds a slight edge. On the right flank, Emanuele Lulli and Nahuel Molina are competing for one spot, with Lulli's superior defensive cover making him the favourite alongside Wesley on the left. In attack, Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are guaranteed starts. Matías Soulé leads Rodrigo Mora for the third forward slot, though a surprise could emerge through the possible advancement of either Niccolò Pisilli or Bryan Cristante to bolster midfield cover.

Aldair, Roma's legendary defender, has praised the form of the squad under Gian Piero Gasperini, singling out Donyell Malen for particular acclaim. Speaking to Corriere dello Sport, the former captain said many in Serie A now regard Malen as the strongest player in the league. "They are right—I would have struggled against him too," Aldair said. "When he gets the ball he turns immediately and comes at you. Then he is fast and he sees the goal." Aldair believes Roma have improved substantially from last season and can challenge Inter for the title. "Roma is better than last season, they are well physically and mentally and always arrive first to the ball," he said. "Yes, they can fight all the way to the end with Inter. This year Gasp also has more solutions from the bench." He identified Evan N'Dicka as making a particular difference in the defence, though he praised Gianluca Mancini and Mario Hermoso for their consistency. He also highlighted Leonardo Balerdi, noting that Gasperini's system demands an intense high pressing throughout matches. "The game Gasp plays is very difficult—no one can maintain that type of pressure all over the pitch for the entire match," Aldair explained. When asked whether he would have enjoyed playing under Gasperini, the former Roma icon expressed doubt: "I am not so sure I would have played. When I arrived there was still the libero."

Roma travel to the Olimpico on Saturday with a perfect record—twelve points from four matches plus a draw in Istanbul—but face one of the season's sternest examinations against Inter and Chivu, a side that has historically troubled Gasperini. The head coach has the full squad available and must resolve three significant lineup decisions. At centre-back, Evan N'Dicka has returned to full fitness but Leonardo Balerdi is in outstanding form; the Ivorian holds a slight edge. On the right flank, Emanuele Lulli and Nahuel Molina are competing for one spot, with Lulli's superior defensive cover making him the favourite alongside Wesley on the left. In attack, Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are guaranteed starts. Matías Soulé leads Rodrigo Mora for the third forward slot, though a surprise could emerge through the possible advancement of either Niccolò Pisilli or Bryan Cristante to bolster midfield cover.

Andrea Stramaccioni, a former youth coach at Inter and now a Dazn pundit, has praised Roma's start to the season and believes the gap with the Serie A champions has closed. Speaking to Il Tempo, he highlighted the impact of head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's methods and Roma's improving mentality. "I didn't expect Roma to start at this physical and mental level," Stramaccioni said. "Gasperini grows year on year because he gradually assembles players suited to his football." When asked whether the Scudetto could be a realistic objective, Stramaccioni pointed to the atmosphere at Stadio Olimpico as a catalyst for success. "I was at the Olimpico against Atalanta, and when the environment is in those conditions the squad gets carried along and everything becomes possible," he explained. He acknowledged that Inter remain the team to beat owing to the quality of their squad and their winning habit, but stressed that Roma's mentality has improved significantly in recent weeks. Stramaccioni also compared the attacking partnerships of the two clubs. "Paulo Dybala is the most creative player in Serie A, inventing chances behind a fast player living on the offside line like Malen," he said. "On Inter's side, they have a pairing with two strikers who always play in combination, one for the other, like Lautaro and Thuram."

Paulo Dybala has been invited by the Argentine Football Federation to attend a farewell ceremony for Lionel Messi, despite not being called up by coach Scaloni for the squad. The Joya won a World Cup with Messi and shared many matches with the Argentina national team. The ceremony will take place on 6 October when Argentina face Benin in what will be a farewell celebration for Messi. Dybala's attendance remains uncertain because Como play Roma five days later, on 11 October, which could prevent him from travelling. Other Roma players have clearer availability for the international break. Molina's presence at the farewell is possible, while Castro, Soulé and Balerdi are all confirmed in Scaloni's squad and their attendance is more certain. The timing presents a logistical challenge for the club during the international fixture list, as Dybala would need to balance the honour of attending Messi's farewell with his club commitments.

Roma travel to the Olimpico on Saturday with a perfect record—twelve points from four matches plus a draw in Istanbul—but face one of the season's sternest examinations against Inter and Chivu, a side that has historically troubled Gasperini. The head coach has the full squad available and must resolve three significant lineup decisions. At centre-back, Evan N'Dicka has returned to full fitness but Leonardo Balerdi is in outstanding form; the Ivorian holds a slight edge. On the right flank, Emanuele Lulli and Nahuel Molina are competing for one spot, with Lulli's superior defensive cover making him the favourite alongside Wesley on the left. In attack, Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are guaranteed starts. Matías Soulé leads Rodrigo Mora for the third forward slot, though a surprise could emerge through the possible advancement of either Niccolò Pisilli or Bryan Cristante to bolster midfield cover.

Niccolò Pisilli is putting together a strong start to the season and could make another appearance in Roma's upcoming match against Inter, potentially in a different role. The midfielder has impressed with his work rate, physical commitment and attacking participation—precisely what Gasperini demands from a player capable of executing both phases with intelligence and decisiveness. In midfield, Koné is expected to return to the starting lineup alongside Cristante, with de Roon ready to come off the bench. However, to counter Inter's 3-5-2 formation under Chivu, Gasperini may deploy Pisilli as a trequartista behind Dybala and Malen. At Trigoria today the squad was complete in training, with one notable exception: Mario Hermoso. The Spanish defender is sidelined by a mild ankle contusion but the injury is not considered serious, and he is expected to recover without significant issues. Wesley and Evan N'Dicka both returned positive updates from the session, signalling they are available for selection.

Roma will face Inter at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday, 19 September at 18:00 in a Series A fifth-round fixture that pits two of the season's strongest starts directly against each other. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has reported that nearly his full squad is available for the match after Evan N'Dicka recovered from a gastrointestinal issue and Wesley returned to training following a strong ankle contusion sustained during a European fixture in Istanbul. Both players have been in doubt but are now fit to feature. Roma have won their opening four league matches — beating Fiorentina, Lecce, Atalanta and Torino — to sit on 12 points at the fifth-round stage. Inter arrive at the same points total with an identical record, making the Olimpico clash a direct contest between the Serie A's two unbeaten leaders. The fixture carries significant weight as a first summit meeting in the upper reaches of the table. Historically at the Olimpico, Roma hold the advantage over Inter: in 105 previous meetings there, Roma have won 42, Inter 36, with 27 draws. Roma have also scored more goals at home against Inter, registering 168 to Inter's 152. The last meeting at the stadium came on 10 October 2025, when Inter won 1-0. Gasperini is expected to field a 3-4-2-1 formation with Mile Svilar in goal, a defensive line of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso, and Wesley and Emanuele Lulli as full-backs. Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné will anchor midfield. Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé will operate in attacking midfield roles behind Donyell Malen. Leonardo Balerdi remains a candidate to displace N'Dicka from the starting XI after strong recent performances. Inter, managed by Cristian Chivu, face more pressing fitness concerns: Hakan Calhanoglu missed the last match with an adductor strain and his availability remains uncertain, while John Stones was withdrawn in their previous fixture with a muscular issue. No Roma players are suspended or unavailable. The match will be broadcast live on DAZN and Sky. Official team sheets will be released approximately one hour before the scheduled 18:00 kickoff on Saturday, 19 September.