Dybala scores twice in Roma's 6–0 friendly romp; Wesley impresses, Angeliño struggles

Roma will open their 2026-27 Serie A campaign against Fiorentina on Monday at 20:45 in the late fixture of matchday one at the Olimpico. The fixture is far from a new one: the two clubs have met in Serie A's opening match on 11 previous occasions, a record that stretches back to the 1934-35 season. Roma lost 4-1 away at Firenze in that first meeting, but won 4-0 at home three years later. The Giallorossi took a narrow home win in 1942-43, while Fiorentina levelled the score with a Tuscan victory in 1947-48. Two meetings between the late 1960s and early 1970s both went to Fiorentina, 2-1 at Rome in 1968-69 and 1-0 in 1970-71. After a 20-year gap, Roma won 4-0 at the Olimpico in 1990-91, and then 3-0 at home in 2004-05. The most recent openers between the sides came in 2014-15 and 2021-22, both won by Roma at the Olimpico. The first saw goals from Nainggolan and Gervinho in a 2-0 victory, while under Mourinho in 2021-22 Roma won 3-1, with Veretout scoring twice after early goals from Mkhitaryan and Milenkovic. The upcoming match will give Gasperini's squad their first competitive outing of the season.

Rodrigo Mora has made an immediate impact at Roma since arriving at the Fulvio Bernardini training centre on Wednesday, impressing head coach Gian Piero Gasperini enough to earn consideration for a starting place in Monday's season opener against Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico. Gasperini is expected to deploy his customary 3-4-1-2 formation for the league debut, with three attacking midfielders operating behind the front pairing of Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. Matías Soulé remains the favourite for the trequartista role, but Mora has risen sharply in the pecking order after impressing in initial training sessions. Bryan Cristante offers an alternative and defensive balance, though the ongoing fitness concerns surrounding Manu Koné and Neil El Aynaoui, combined with Niccolò Pisilli's gradual return, may push Cristante back into midfield proper. The match is expected to draw a large crowd, with the visiting supporters' section now open to Fiorentina fans.

Paulo Dybala has stoked Roma's anticipation for the 2026–27 season with a message on Instagram ahead of the home fixture against Fiorentina on Monday 24 August at 20:45. The Argentine forward posted images from the 2–0 derby win on 17 May, writing: "The last home match, with desire to begin the same way." That victory saw Dybala play a starring role before Roma sealed Champions League qualification days later at Verona. The Olimpico is expected to be at full capacity as the giallorossi prepare for their season opener. Dybala enters his fifth season at the club in sharp condition following a high-level pre-season. Wearing number 21, he will be central to Roma's ambitions under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini as the campaign begins. The forward's public enthusiasm reflects the mood in the dressing room, where desire to replicate last season's closing surge is running high.

Wesley has returned to full training and will occupy the left flank in Monday's season opener against Fiorentina at the Olimpico, with an ankle problem now resolved. The Brazilian, who missed a friendly against Borussia Dortmund, scored against the Viola at the same venue last season and is ready to feature. Molina will make his debut on the opposite flank. In midfield, Gasperini will deploy the Cristante–Koné pairing, while the main uncertainty centres on the attacking midfield role behind Dybala and Malen, where Mora and Soulé are competing. The defence will be anchored by Svilar in goal, with Mancini, N'Dicka, and Hermoso forming the back three. Pisilli is also available, though Pellegrini will need more time to recover. Roma are primed for their 2026–27 campaign.

Sebino Nela, the legendary Roma defender and 1982–83 Scudetto winner, has assessed Gian Piero Gasperini's squad ahead of the transfer deadline, which falls in less than two weeks. Nela believes Roma has improved but still requires reinforcements in two areas: a wide midfielder and a winger striker. "The Roma has still need of a wide midfielder and of a winger striker," Nela told Il Tempo. "The season is long, there are three competitions and it is important to have a deep squad. In the football of five substitutions, having a bench of level can make the difference." On the summer arrivals, Nela praised Castro and Molina but urged patience with Koulierakis, who is adapting to Italian football. He remains cautious about Rodrigo Mora as an attacking option, questioning whether his profile matches what the team needs despite Gasperini's backing. However, Nela acknowledged that if Mora flourishes under the coach's guidance, "a day, maybe, he will become a new Dybala, especially if he follows the coach's indications." He suggested a strong one-on-one player capable of scoring goals would complete an attack already bolstered by Soulé, Dybala, Mora, and Pellegrini.

Roma's transfer activity is entering its most intense phase with 11 days remaining in the summer window. The club is prioritising the signing of a left-back and left winger, with the attacking department potentially reinforced only by a loan deal, possibly with a purchase option. The American ownership's strategy is taking shape through over €100 million invested to strengthen Gasperini's squad while lowering both wage bill and average age. The green line of investment—acquisitions targeting both immediate impact and long-term development—is evident across the squad. Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini have agreed wage cuts on their renewals. Among the notable signings are two strikers and a Greek defender, contributing to an squad now containing 11 players under 25: Ziolkowski (21), Koulierakis (22), Ghilardi (23), Rensch (23), Pisilli (21), Koné and El Aynaoui (25), Mora and Vaz (19), Castro (21) and Soulé (22). These are players ready to perform now and into the future under a manager like Gasperini, who has consistently developed and promoted emerging talent. Potential arrivals of Fofana and Luis Henrique—or even just one of them—would further increase the number of young players in the squad. The possibility of selling academy product Ziolkowski and Matías Soulé remains under consideration as part of the squad restructuring.

Robinio Vaz will remain at Roma through the closing of the transfer window, with the club rejecting any sale of the French striker acquired eight months ago from Olympique Marseille for €25 million. A proposed move to Bologna fell through during negotiations involving Castro and Dovbyk. Vaz has used recent friendlies to impress new head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and demonstrate his value to the squad. With the centre-forward role occupied by Malen and Castro, Vaz is being positioned as a creative attacking midfielder, a role that could leverage his distinctive qualities. Gasperini's tactical system offers intriguing prospects for the French talent, who possesses pace and physical strength unmatched by other options in that position—Dybala, Pellegrini, Mora and Soulé. Last season, his intervention proved decisive in a closely fought match against Lecce after an initial adaptation period in Italian football. Vaz suffered a first-degree medial collateral ligament injury to his right knee while training, an injury sustained in unusual circumstances: he explained to the club he was injured while skiing in summer. After overcoming the setback within just over a week, he has recovered fully and is ready to compete for Gasperini's confidence.

AS Roma close their pre-season programme against Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park on 15 August, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini using the fixture as a final dress rehearsal before the league campaign begins. The international-standard test comes just days before Roma's competitive debut and offers Gasperini a last chance to assess squad fitness, run through tactical ideas, and resolve outstanding questions ahead of the official start. Roma line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Mile Svilar in goal, a back three of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, and Mario Hermoso, and Neil El Aynaoui, Bryan Cristante, Devyne Rensch, and Matías Soulé across midfield and wing positions. Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen support Artem Dovbyk in attack. After weeks of preparation at Trigoria and at the summer training base, the clash against the Germans represents a significant opportunity to measure the team's progress and condition. Borussia Dortmund start in a 3-4-1-2 shape under manager Niko Kovac. Following this encounter, Roma's focus shifts entirely to the start of Serie A.

Roma take on Borussia Dortmund in a pre-season friendly at 17:30 today, but the clash is overshadowed by an injury crisis that has left Gian Piero Gasperini with just 23 players available — only 16 outfield players and three goalkeepers. Wesley suffered a right ankle sprain yesterday, joining Niccolò Pisilli (soleus injury) and Lorenzo Pellegrini (returning to group training in mid-September) on the sidelines. The Brazilian's injury mirrors problems sustained during the Welsh training camp. With 15 days remaining in the summer transfer window, Roma's squad position has deteriorated markedly. Eight players have departed — Dovbyk, Ferguson, Angeliño, Tsimikas, Celik, Zaragoza, Venturino and El Shaarawy — while only three signings have arrived: Molina, Castro and Koulierakis. Gasperini highlighted the shortage with a pointed response on competitiveness versus last season: "According to you?", underlining particular weaknesses on the flanks, in attack and midfield, where only three players are currently available. The Dortmund match will provide minutes for Molina while also testing Roma's defensive resilience; the rearguard conceded 11 goals across four pre-season matches against Cannes, Brighton, Cardiff and Newport without a clean sheet.

Wesley has returned to full training and will occupy the left flank in Monday's season opener against Fiorentina at the Olimpico, with an ankle problem now resolved. The Brazilian, who missed a friendly against Borussia Dortmund, scored against the Viola at the same venue last season and is ready to feature. Molina will make his debut on the opposite flank. In midfield, Gasperini will deploy the Cristante–Koné pairing, while the main uncertainty centres on the attacking midfield role behind Dybala and Malen, where Mora and Soulé are competing. The defence will be anchored by Svilar in goal, with Mancini, N'Dicka, and Hermoso forming the back three. Pisilli is also available, though Pellegrini will need more time to recover. Roma are primed for their 2026–27 campaign.

Rodrigo Mora has made an immediate impact at Roma since arriving at the Fulvio Bernardini training centre on Wednesday, impressing head coach Gian Piero Gasperini enough to earn consideration for a starting place in Monday's season opener against Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico. Gasperini is expected to deploy his customary 3-4-1-2 formation for the league debut, with three attacking midfielders operating behind the front pairing of Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. Matías Soulé remains the favourite for the trequartista role, but Mora has risen sharply in the pecking order after impressing in initial training sessions. Bryan Cristante offers an alternative and defensive balance, though the ongoing fitness concerns surrounding Manu Koné and Neil El Aynaoui, combined with Niccolò Pisilli's gradual return, may push Cristante back into midfield proper. The match is expected to draw a large crowd, with the visiting supporters' section now open to Fiorentina fans.

Niccolò Pisilli has cleared medical checks at Trigoria and is on course for selection in Roma's opening Serie A fixture against Fiorentina. The academy product has resumed regular group training after recovering from a calf muscle injury that sidelined him since late July, and is pushing Manu Koné for a starting berth alongside Bryan Cristante in midfield, though Koné currently holds the edge in Gian Piero Gasperini's tactical plans. Pisilli, born in 2004, was unavailable for much of the pre-season campaign but is now building momentum four days before the season opener. Koné, meanwhile, missed most of pre-season preparation owing to post-World Cup rest, yet remains slightly favoured for the midfield role. Wesley, the left-sided Brazilian defender, sustained a minor ankle sprain in recent days that forced him to sit out an August 15th friendly against Borussia Dortmund. The club has implemented precautionary measures with partial training for Wesley, but he is expected to start on the left flank for Roma's debut at Stadio Olimpico.