Dybala and Malen lead Roma's attacking firepower against Inter's Lautaro and Thuram

Roma stayed top of Serie A alongside Inter after four matches with a victory away at Turin, extending their perfect record. Donyell Malen scored again, but the standout feature was a third clean sheet of the campaign: Mile Svilar's record in goal has been breached only by Atalanta's Ederson. The addition of Leonardo Balerdi to an already-settled back line of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso has significantly strengthened the defence. Against Turin's forwards, Balerdi posted commanding numbers: 7 duels won, 11 defensive actions, 6 clearances—more than any other player on the pitch—plus 29 completed passes from 32 attempted, a success rate of 91%. He was combative in close defence and brave in pressing opponents into the attacking third. Gasperini benefits from the fact that Balerdi functions as an extra layer rather than a replacement for the established trio, giving Roma a more powerful shield while opponents face added danger in attack. The defence will face a stern examination on Saturday in a title clash against Inter, whose 13 goals make them the league's leading scorers. Last season Inter scored 6 goals against Roma—nearly one-fifth of all the goals Roma conceded in the entire Serie A campaign—a significant test of the giallorossi's defensive resilience.

Roma have conceded just one goal in their opening four league matches, reflecting the defensive solidity Gasperini has built with a central defence of the highest calibre. The additions of Balerdi and Koulierakis have reinforced a department already well-established, creating what Gasperini probably hoped to have available last season but did not. The wealth of options is now reshaping how the side defends. Evan N'Dicka commands the backline with his reading of play; Balerdi has impressed from the bench and in his league debut against Torino, winning over Roma's supporters. Gianluca Mancini has weathered early-season difficulties to deliver a strong performance at Torino. Mario Hermoso, the ever-reliable figure, has anchored the defence through demanding fixtures. Daniele Ghilardi impressed at Lecce, and Koulierakis waits his turn—however the combinations rotate, the defence stands as Roma's most complete department. Behind them, the goalkeeper between the posts no longer makes headlines, his standards now expected rather than celebrated. Roma lead Serie A with a single goal conceded so far. Among Europe's five major leagues, only Arsenal can match that defensive record. This defensive foundation arrives before Roma face Inter, whose forward line of Lautaro Martínez, Thuram, Esposito and Bonny has shown defensive frailty in their early season outings.

Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen have become the focal point of Roma's season, with their partnership producing record-breaking statistics since they began their connection on the pitch on 18 January. At Turin on 15 September, Malen scored his sixth Serie A goal of the campaign, set up by Dybala's through-ball that left him one-on-one with the goalkeeper. The pair have started together nine times and Roma have won eight of those matches and drawn one—the January fixture against Milan when Dybala was managing a meniscus problem. Excluding that Milan game, one or both players have recorded a goal or assist in every other appearance: ten goals for Malen, one for Dybala, and nine assists all provided by the Argentine. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini praised both players after the Turin result. Roma now face Inter at the Olimpico, a fixture that represents a significant challenge for both Gasperini's record against the club and Roma's own history at home in this fixture. The strength of Inter's defence will be tested by the creativity and finishing power of Roma's attacking tandem, who enter the match with considerable momentum and the backing of the Olimpico crowd. According to Lorenzo Pes writing in Il Tempo, the anticipation surrounding the Inter match is matched by the desire of Dybala and Malen to deliver another statement performance. Their partnership has captured the imagination of supporters with the scale of their statistical output—11 goals and nine assists between them across nine shared starts—setting a standard that could define Roma's season.

Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen have become the focal point of Roma's season, with their partnership producing record-breaking statistics since they began their connection on the pitch on 18 January. At Turin on 15 September, Malen scored his sixth Serie A goal of the campaign, set up by Dybala's through-ball that left him one-on-one with the goalkeeper. The pair have started together nine times and Roma have won eight of those matches and drawn one—the January fixture against Milan when Dybala was managing a meniscus problem. Excluding that Milan game, one or both players have recorded a goal or assist in every other appearance: ten goals for Malen, one for Dybala, and nine assists all provided by the Argentine. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini praised both players after the Turin result. Roma now face Inter at the Olimpico, a fixture that represents a significant challenge for both Gasperini's record against the club and Roma's own history at home in this fixture. The strength of Inter's defence will be tested by the creativity and finishing power of Roma's attacking tandem, who enter the match with considerable momentum and the backing of the Olimpico crowd. According to Lorenzo Pes writing in Il Tempo, the anticipation surrounding the Inter match is matched by the desire of Dybala and Malen to deliver another statement performance. Their partnership has captured the imagination of supporters with the scale of their statistical output—11 goals and nine assists between them across nine shared starts—setting a standard that could define Roma's season.

Roma travel to face Inter on Saturday with a perfect Serie A record of 12 points from 12, heading into what the Italian press calls their first genuine direct championship confrontation of the season. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini's squad have maintained their standards despite key absences: without N'Dicka, Wesley and with Koné initially on the bench against Turin, Roma sustained their pressing, intensity, quality and solidity. Leonardo Balerdi exemplified the depth available, delivering a commanding full debut performance at centre-back against Torino after convincing cameos against Atalanta and Fenerbahce, displaying anticipation, speed and physical strength in duels. Marten de Roon, brought on in the second half, immediately conveyed full understanding of Gasperini's midfielder demands. Nahuel Molina continues to develop, Santiago Castro offers encouraging signs, and Rodrigo Mora has already shown flashes of talent. The "Dybalen" partnership of Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen has become the team's attacking heart: in nine matches started together from the opening whistle, Roma have never lost—eight victories and one draw. Gasperini considers them complementary, and the pitch has repeatedly validated his assessment. Roma won all four opening league matches, a feat not achieved since 2014–15, and arrive at the Inter clash level on points with the Nerazzurri. Inter remain the league's benchmark for quality, depth and big-match experience, but also represent a genuine curse: they have not lost at the Olimpico to Roma since 2016 and have won their last five meetings in the capital. Gasperini himself has not beaten Inter in seventeen matches, with ten consecutive defeats. However, Roma now possess the tools to potentially rewrite that history. The article notes that Saturday will not settle the title race or hand down final verdicts, but it will offer the first genuine chance to measure how high Roma's ceiling truly sits this season. Roma do not start as favourites, but for the first time in considerable time can approach such a fixture with a conviction beyond mere resistance—the belief they can play as equals and aim to win.

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has named his squad for the national team's upcoming fixtures, which will include Lionel Messi's final chapter in the Albiceleste shirt. Three Roma players have been called up: Leonardo Balerdi, Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro, who will travel to represent Argentina. Paulo Dybala has been left out and will remain available to Roma during the international break. Nahuel Molina is also absent, suspended following an appeal by Argentina that allows him to serve his ban in non-competitive matches as well as official games. Roma will have strong representation in Scaloni's squad despite the absences, with the three named players departing to join their national team.

Roma stayed top of Serie A alongside Inter after four matches with a victory away at Turin, extending their perfect record. Donyell Malen scored again, but the standout feature was a third clean sheet of the campaign: Mile Svilar's record in goal has been breached only by Atalanta's Ederson. The addition of Leonardo Balerdi to an already-settled back line of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso has significantly strengthened the defence. Against Turin's forwards, Balerdi posted commanding numbers: 7 duels won, 11 defensive actions, 6 clearances—more than any other player on the pitch—plus 29 completed passes from 32 attempted, a success rate of 91%. He was combative in close defence and brave in pressing opponents into the attacking third. Gasperini benefits from the fact that Balerdi functions as an extra layer rather than a replacement for the established trio, giving Roma a more powerful shield while opponents face added danger in attack. The defence will face a stern examination on Saturday in a title clash against Inter, whose 13 goals make them the league's leading scorers. Last season Inter scored 6 goals against Roma—nearly one-fifth of all the goals Roma conceded in the entire Serie A campaign—a significant test of the giallorossi's defensive resilience.

Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen have become the focal point of Roma's season, with their partnership producing record-breaking statistics since they began their connection on the pitch on 18 January. At Turin on 15 September, Malen scored his sixth Serie A goal of the campaign, set up by Dybala's through-ball that left him one-on-one with the goalkeeper. The pair have started together nine times and Roma have won eight of those matches and drawn one—the January fixture against Milan when Dybala was managing a meniscus problem. Excluding that Milan game, one or both players have recorded a goal or assist in every other appearance: ten goals for Malen, one for Dybala, and nine assists all provided by the Argentine. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini praised both players after the Turin result. Roma now face Inter at the Olimpico, a fixture that represents a significant challenge for both Gasperini's record against the club and Roma's own history at home in this fixture. The strength of Inter's defence will be tested by the creativity and finishing power of Roma's attacking tandem, who enter the match with considerable momentum and the backing of the Olimpico crowd. According to Lorenzo Pes writing in Il Tempo, the anticipation surrounding the Inter match is matched by the desire of Dybala and Malen to deliver another statement performance. Their partnership has captured the imagination of supporters with the scale of their statistical output—11 goals and nine assists between them across nine shared starts—setting a standard that could define Roma's season.

Roma and Inter meet on Saturday afternoon as the only two sides with a perfect record this season, and both appear structurally ready to sustain a title challenge. The fixture carries historical weight: in a century of competition, the two clubs have contested the Serie A title for real only three times. Roma have scored 12 goals and conceded just one, with Donyell Malen as the league's leading scorer on six. Inter have rested key forward Lautaro—their top scorer in the previous campaign—but four players have already found the net twice: Lautaro, Çalhanoglu, Thuram and Esposito. The narrative between the capital's two poles—Rome as Italy's political and institutional heart, Milan as its economic and financial centre—has rarely played out as a direct contest for the Scudetto. The shared history of managers across both clubs spans a remarkable arc: José Mourinho remains the only coach to have won in Europe with both Roma and Inter, while previous managers include Helenio Herrera, Ottavio Bianchi, Claudio Ranieri and Luciano Spalletti. Several legendary players also belong to the pantheon of both clubs, among them Gabriel Batistuta, Antonio Cassano, Samuel, Radja Nainggolan, Alberto Pizarro, Maicon, Romelu Lukaku, Edin Dzeko, Giancarlo Delvecchio, Gianluca Di Biagio, and Roberto Pruzzo—who developed through Inter's youth academy before becoming one of Roma's greatest strikers. Nicolò Zaniolo, who brought Roma the UEFA Europa Conference League trophy, also bridges both institutions.

Roma travel to face Inter on Saturday with a perfect Serie A record of 12 points from 12, heading into what the Italian press calls their first genuine direct championship confrontation of the season. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini's squad have maintained their standards despite key absences: without N'Dicka, Wesley and with Koné initially on the bench against Turin, Roma sustained their pressing, intensity, quality and solidity. Leonardo Balerdi exemplified the depth available, delivering a commanding full debut performance at centre-back against Torino after convincing cameos against Atalanta and Fenerbahce, displaying anticipation, speed and physical strength in duels. Marten de Roon, brought on in the second half, immediately conveyed full understanding of Gasperini's midfielder demands. Nahuel Molina continues to develop, Santiago Castro offers encouraging signs, and Rodrigo Mora has already shown flashes of talent. The "Dybalen" partnership of Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen has become the team's attacking heart: in nine matches started together from the opening whistle, Roma have never lost—eight victories and one draw. Gasperini considers them complementary, and the pitch has repeatedly validated his assessment. Roma won all four opening league matches, a feat not achieved since 2014–15, and arrive at the Inter clash level on points with the Nerazzurri. Inter remain the league's benchmark for quality, depth and big-match experience, but also represent a genuine curse: they have not lost at the Olimpico to Roma since 2016 and have won their last five meetings in the capital. Gasperini himself has not beaten Inter in seventeen matches, with ten consecutive defeats. However, Roma now possess the tools to potentially rewrite that history. The article notes that Saturday will not settle the title race or hand down final verdicts, but it will offer the first genuine chance to measure how high Roma's ceiling truly sits this season. Roma do not start as favourites, but for the first time in considerable time can approach such a fixture with a conviction beyond mere resistance—the belief they can play as equals and aim to win.

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has named his squad for the national team's upcoming fixtures, which will include Lionel Messi's final chapter in the Albiceleste shirt. Three Roma players have been called up: Leonardo Balerdi, Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro, who will travel to represent Argentina. Paulo Dybala has been left out and will remain available to Roma during the international break. Nahuel Molina is also absent, suspended following an appeal by Argentina that allows him to serve his ban in non-competitive matches as well as official games. Roma will have strong representation in Scaloni's squad despite the absences, with the three named players departing to join their national team.

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has named three AS Roma players in his squad for friendlies against Bolivia on 30 September, Burkina Faso on 3 October and Benin on 6 October. The trio are defender Leonardo Balerdi, and forwards Santiago Castro and Matías Soulé. Balerdi has already earned 11 caps for Argentina, while Castro and Soulé are both awaiting their debuts for the national team and will be hoping to feature for the first time. The friendlies hold particular significance as they will include Lionel Messi's final match for Argentina. The legendary forward will play his farewell game against Benin at the Monumental in Buenos Aires, providing a fitting conclusion to his international career.