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Dybala in peak form under Gasperini's guidance at Roma
·12 September 2026·20h ago

Dybala in peak form under Gasperini's guidance at Roma

Source: Forza Roma

Paulo Dybala has delivered a level of consistency at Roma that the club has never seen before, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini praising the Argentine's performance after the Istanbul fixture. Gasperini said of Dybala: "With him on the pitch we are certainly stronger", adding after the match: "He put in an extraordinary performance, for quality and continuity. I struggle to remember a single ball he lost during the match, perhaps one in midfield. Among many strong players, he is probably the strongest." Dybala has now played the full 90 minutes against Atalanta and Fenerbahçe and nearly the full duration against Fiorentina and Lecce in Roma's opening four matches of the 2026-27 season.

The turnaround marks a dramatic shift in Dybala's availability and impact at Roma. Gasperini explained: "He has found continuity both in training and in matches. He has completed preparation without problems, something that hasn't happened to him for years." Across the first four fixtures this season, Dybala has accumulated 343 minutes at an average of 85.75 minutes per match—a figure that eclipses his output in the same span of any recent season. In his first Roma campaign in 2022-23, his average across the opening four matches was 75.5 minutes; it fell to 32.75 in 2023-24, 50.5 in 2024-25, and just 26.5 in the 2025-26 season, when he played only 16 minutes against Bologna, one half against Pisa and Torino, and missed the derby entirely.

To find a comparable start to a campaign, one must look back to the 2016-17 season during his time at Juventus, when he played 345 minutes across his opening matches—84 minutes against Fiorentina, 88 with Lazio and 87 with Sassuolo in Serie A, plus 88 minutes against Seville in the Champions League. The current campaign represents a transformation in his Roma career.

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Paulo Dybala has rediscovered consistency under Gian Piero Gasperini this season, marking a significant turning point in his Roma career. In Roma's opening four matches, Dybala has averaged over 85 minutes per game—a figure unseen since his first season at the club and reminiscent of his Juventus days. Gasperini has placed him at the centre of Roma's project and stated plainly that the team is stronger with him on the pitch. The Argentine has overcome muscular injuries and last season's meniscus problem through targeted preparation, and Gasperini has treated him differently from his predecessors, avoiding the cautious approach that characterised Mourinho and Ranieri's handling of the player.

However, both Dybala and midfielder Manu Koné face assessment ahead of Roma's fixture against Torino. According to Corriere della Sera reporting cited by Forza Roma, Dybala finished Wednesday's Champions League draw with Fenerbahce suffering from cramps that severely hampered his mobility by the final whistle. Koné requested substitution during the same match due to knee discomfort. Roma News reports that Gasperini will decide whether to rest Dybala or bring him on only late in the match, with consideration given to cramping issues and the significance of the Inter fixture that follows immediately after. The medical staff reported no particular concern over Koné's knee issue, but his status will become clearer after the club's training assessment.

AI synthesis of all sources below — always check the originals.

Testo Originale / Source Text

"Con lui in campo siamo sicuramente più forti". L'investitura era arrivata prima della sfida di Istanbul, quando Gian Piero Gasperini ha parlato così di Paulo Dybala, il gioiello della sua Roma. Rincarando poi la dose anche subito dopo la gara, quando la Joya ha giocato ancora una volta per tutti e…

Read the full article in Italian at Forza Roma.

Read original on Forza Roma

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