Dybala shines in Champions form as Roma draw with Dortmund; Malen behind schedule

Argentina defeated Bolivia 4-0 in a friendly on 1 October 2026, with Leonardo Balerdi (Argentina) the only AS Roma player to take the field. Balerdi came on at the start of the second half, replacing Cristian Romero at the 45-minute mark. Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro remained unused on the bench throughout the 90 minutes, contrary to pre-match indications that Soulé might start. Argentina's next fixture is against Burkina Faso on Sunday at 02:00 Italian time. The Argentina squad will then prepare for a forthcoming match against Benin, which will serve as the backdrop to Lionel Messi's farewell celebration. Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina will not be available for that encounter.

Rodrigo Mora scored a spectacular overhead kick in the 21st minute as Portugal U21 defeated Gibraltar 4–0 to secure direct qualification to the European Under-21 Championship. Mora, wearing the number 10, was in the starting lineup and played 61 minutes, adding a decisive moment to Portugal's dominant performance. The goal extended Portugal's campaign record to 22 points, four clear of second-placed Czech Republic with one qualifying round remaining. As group B leaders, Portugal confirmed their place at the finals immediately after the match.

Italy bounced back from their defeat to Belgium with a 4-1 away victory over Turkey in the Nations League on 28 September, claiming their opening three points of the competition. Bastoni, Frattesi and Kayode scored three goals in the opening thirty minutes before Yilmaz halved the deficit early in the second half. Pio Esposito restored Italy's three-goal lead to seal the win. Daniele Ghilardi spent all 90 minutes on the bench, while Gianluca Mancini was not included in the squad at all. France beat Belgium 1-0 on the same day with Oliver Olise scoring in the 88th minute. Manu Koné came off the bench in the closing moments as a replacement for Da Cunha in that fixture. Italy's next Nations League fixture is scheduled for Friday against France.

Argentina defeated Bolivia 4-0 in a friendly on 1 October 2026, with Leonardo Balerdi (Argentina) the only AS Roma player to take the field. Balerdi came on at the start of the second half, replacing Cristian Romero at the 45-minute mark. Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro remained unused on the bench throughout the 90 minutes, contrary to pre-match indications that Soulé might start. Argentina's next fixture is against Burkina Faso on Sunday at 02:00 Italian time. The Argentina squad will then prepare for a forthcoming match against Benin, which will serve as the backdrop to Lionel Messi's farewell celebration. Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina will not be available for that encounter.

Argentina defeated Bolivia 4–0 in a friendly, with Nico Paz of Como stealing the spotlight by scoring and assisting. The standout performance came from Paz, who has now positioned himself as a new face in the Argentina national team's future. Two Roma players remained unused: Matías Soulé, listed as a possible starter in pre-match reports, was benched throughout by manager Scaloni, though the coach signalled he would give the forward greater playing time in upcoming fixtures. Santiago Castro also saw no action across the full 90 minutes. Leonardo Balerdi was the sole Roma representative to feature, entering the pitch in the second half and helping to secure the clean sheet. His appearance capped a positive run in form that has also defined his performances with Roma in this early part of the season. Balerdi's contribution on the night reinforces the improvement he has shown since the campaign began. Argentina will face Burkina Faso next in another friendly fixture. The fixture will precede the eagerly anticipated clash against Benin, which will serve as the backdrop to Lionel Messi's farewell celebration. Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina will not participate in that match, though both will be present in spirit for what is set to become a historic evening in Argentine football.

Roma's three-week international break offers Gian Piero Gasperini time to recover Wesley and resolve a tactical question about how to deploy him when Serie A resumes. Wesley arrives at the break after an intense campaign last season, during which he made 69 appearances and played effectively on the left wing alongside his natural right-flank position. His progress was interrupted by a serious injury against Egypt ahead of the World Cup, and more recently a right-thigh strain cost him a Brazil call-up. Despite the setback, Wesley showed promise in the first half against Inter, operating on his natural right side in sync with Dybala and causing problems for Dimarco. Roma, sitting top of the league and relying on the consistency of players like Dybala, Malen, Svilar and Koné, recognise that Wesley's full recovery is essential to achieving the next level. The break comes at a critical moment: after months without a pause, his body has demanded rest and restoration to full fitness. Upon the resumption of the season, Gasperini faces a key tactical decision. Wesley may remain on the right with Molina shifted to the left, or he could return to the left wing to open up rotations with other wide options. Gasperini is taking time to reflect on the choice during the international break.

Roma's three-week international break offers Gian Piero Gasperini time to recover Wesley and resolve a tactical question about how to deploy him when Serie A resumes. Wesley arrives at the break after an intense campaign last season, during which he made 69 appearances and played effectively on the left wing alongside his natural right-flank position. His progress was interrupted by a serious injury against Egypt ahead of the World Cup, and more recently a right-thigh strain cost him a Brazil call-up. Despite the setback, Wesley showed promise in the first half against Inter, operating on his natural right side in sync with Dybala and causing problems for Dimarco. Roma, sitting top of the league and relying on the consistency of players like Dybala, Malen, Svilar and Koné, recognise that Wesley's full recovery is essential to achieving the next level. The break comes at a critical moment: after months without a pause, his body has demanded rest and restoration to full fitness. Upon the resumption of the season, Gasperini faces a key tactical decision. Wesley may remain on the right with Molina shifted to the left, or he could return to the left wing to open up rotations with other wide options. Gasperini is taking time to reflect on the choice during the international break.

Wesley holds the key to Roma's next leap forward. The Brazilian left-back, already one of Serie A's standout performers last season alongside Dimarco and Palestra despite playing out of position, has been sidelined by injury setbacks that have disrupted his momentum. In a pre-World Cup friendly against Egypt, Wesley suffered an injury that derailed his plans heading into September. Just as he returned to action with Roma, a right thigh muscle strain forced him back to the sidelines when called up by Brazil again. Last season Wesley played in a role not naturally his own, yet his performances were so effective that he climbed the hierarchy of the Brazilian national team. His durability was remarkable—he reached 69 appearances in a single season before the injury against Egypt halted his run. His absence has been felt as Roma, currently top of the league with Paulo Dybala in fine form and Donyell Malen consistently finding the net, have otherwise tightened their defence with Mile Svilar's assured keeping and the emerging quality of Manu Koné, who is now earning recognition at international level with France. Wesley finally stopped after an exhausting campaign of constant availability. He now has three weeks to recover fully, reconnect his physical condition and rediscover his best self. The timing of his return could be crucial: Roma remain just one player away from their ideal setup, and Wesley represents that final piece of the puzzle.

Donyell Malen has made a stronger start than Gonzalo Higuaín or Ciro Immobile at the same stage of their seasons, raising the prospect of a historic scoring run. After Roma's victory in Turin two weeks ago, Malen said: "I want to score many goals. I am focused on this, to help the team reach its objectives." He also acknowledged his interest in setting records, adding: "Totti's 6 goals in 4 games? I enjoy these records too." The benchmark in his sights is the 36 goals Higuaín scored in 2015–16 with Napoli and Immobile scored in 2019–20 with Lazio—the Serie A all-time record. Through the first five league matches, both Higuaín and Immobile had scored 4 goals each. Malen has bettered that tally, operating at a higher level than either of his predecessors at the same juncture. Malen remained at Trigoria during the international break, allowing him to manage a knock to his knee without risking unexpected injury or setback. He is expected to be available for Roma's next fixture at Como, a match that amounts to a direct contest for the league lead given Roma's current position at the summit of the table.

Como's squad has accumulated more minutes in international duty during the current break than Roma's, a factor that could influence the upcoming league fixture between the two sides. Cesc Fabregas's Como squad saw 15 players called up across various national teams and age groups, while Gian Piero Gasperini's Roma contingent numbered 12. Como's representatives included Kean and Ricci (Italy), Da Cunha and Butez (France), Baturina and Smolcic (Croatia), Douvikas (Greece), Chalobah (England), Diao (Senegal), Paz (Argentina), Kambwala (Congo), Liberali (Italy Under 21), Ramon, Valle and Rodriguez (Spain Under 21). Roma's included Mancini and Ghilardi (Italy), Koné (France), Balerdi, Soulé and Castro (Argentina), N'Dicka (Ivory Coast), Koulierakis (Greece), Lulli and Pisilli (Italy Under 21), Mora (Portugal U21), and De Marzi (USA Under 19). As of yesterday evening, Como's 15 players had accumulated 770 minutes of international action, while Roma's 12 had totalled 450 minutes. Further matches remain to be played in the international window, meaning the figures will change.

Roman radio stations aired opinions on three key Roma stories on 28 September 2026. Piero Torri of Manà Manà Sport (90.9) predicted that a new stadium would transform the club's finances. 'Today could be an important day for Roma's stadium,' Torri said. 'There should be final approval, then it will be up to Roma to build it and deliver it quickly. It would be a guarantee of revenue growth that would bring you closer to the elite of European football. There is an absolute need for the stadium, otherwise everything becomes complicated. For starters, you would no longer pay the rent on the stadium, which is several million euros. Plus there will be around a hundred suites that cost a lot of money to purchase for a year, and those can guarantee you 10–20 million euros a year. You could increase revenue by 30–40%.' Other commentators assessed Roma's recent decisions. Lorenzo Pes of Tele Radio Stereo (92.7) discussed the transfer of Gianluca Romano and a potential return for Francesco Totti at the 2027 centenary. 'On Romano, things have turned around: from a phenomenon he has become a flop,' Pes said. 'I hope the policy of rejuvenation continues, even if it means tough evenings like the one the other night. The road is long and uphill, but at least it is a road to travel. Totti? There is certainly coolness in relations with Roma, but I will leave a small door open for the centenary.' Francesca Ferrazza of Tele Radio Stereo (92.7) addressed a report about Francesco Totti's image rights and Roma's sale of shirts bearing his number 10. 'Roma has put the proceeds of shirts sold with the 10 in the accounts,' Ferrazza explained, 'and at that point Totti's legal team contacted Roma to discuss it. That is a different issue, because presented that way it looks as though Totti is obsessed with money.' Roberto Pruzzo of Radio Radio (104.5) praised Emanuele Lulli's display in a friendly match in England, saying the defender 'seems like a lad who deserves it' in Roma's context. Nando Orsi of Radio Radio (104.5) defended the loan of Romano to Spezia, noting that player development often takes time and that scouting errors must be minimised.

Roma and Emanuele Lulli's representatives are working on a contract renewal, with his current deal set to expire on 30 June. The update came as part of a roundup of commentary from Rome radio stations on club matters. Lulli, a young squad member, impressed in a recent friendly in England, prompting radio commentator Roberto Pruzzo to note: "He made a good showing in that friendly in England. It was a pleasant surprise. For Roma, where you need alternatives, he seems like a lad who deserves his chance." The defender's extension reflects the club's confidence in his development as a long-term option at the Stadio Olimpico. Separately, radio analyst Andrea Verdenelli criticised Italy's national team selection, saying: "It is unacceptable not to see Pisilli in the senior national team." Niccolò Pisilli remains a Roma academy product and has established himself in the club's midfield setup this season. His absence from the latest Italy squad drew public frustration from the broadcaster, underlining the belief among some observers that he merits a higher level of international recognition. The radio coverage also touched on broader club developments. Commentators discussed the stadium project as a critical priority for Roma's future revenue and competitiveness in European football, with several noting stadium income through match-day operations, corporate suites and the elimination of rental costs as key drivers of financial growth. Francesco Totti's relationship with the club also featured in discussion, with one analyst noting lingering distance in relations but suggesting a potential opening for involvement in Roma's centenary celebrations in 2027.