El Shaarawy confident ahead of final Roma match at Verona

AS Roma marked a double celebration on 20 August as the club honoured the birthdays of two figures from vastly different eras: Giuseppe Giannini and Evan N'Dicka. Giannini, the historic captain and one-club legend who spent over 15 years in giallorossi colours, turned 62. N'Dicka, the Ivorian centre-back, celebrated his 27th birthday as he prepares to begin his fourth season at the club. Roma acknowledged both occasions with birthday messages shared across its official social media channels. The contrast between the two reflects different chapters of the club's history. Giannini remains a symbol of Roma's golden era as one of the great one-club captains, while N'Dicka has established himself as a key defensive figure during the modern era. The dual celebration underlined the continuity of commitment to Roma, spanning generations and roles.

Roma will begin their 2026-27 season on Monday evening at the Olimpico against Fiorentina. In Friday's training session at Trigoria, centre-back Niccolò Pisilli and forward Wesley both returned to full availability. Pisilli trained regularly with the squad after a recent knock, while Wesley, who had been working partially with the group, is targeting full fitness to start against Fiorentina. The club continues preparations as it pursues final transfer targets to complete the roster. Gasperini will hold his first pre-match press conference of the new season on Saturday at 13:30, where he is expected to discuss team selection and tactical plans ahead of the Fiorentina fixture.

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will address the media on Saturday 23 August at 13:30 from the Fulvio Bernardini press room to preview Monday's Serie A opener against Fiorentina. The match kicks off at 20:45 on 26 August in the first fixture of the 2026–27 season. Gasperini is expected to discuss several topics including the potential involvement of Rodrigo Mora, the club's ongoing transfer activity in the final days of the window, and Roma's campaign launch. Starting the season well is crucial, though August presents challenges with numerous clubs navigating squad changes as the transfer market remains open.

Rodrigo Mora's arrival at Roma is a calculated strategic addition that aligns with Gasperini's established attacking philosophy rather than a departure from it, according to tactical analysis. The Portuguese playmaker, who has generated discussion outside the club's training ground since June, complements rather than overturns the head coach's original plan. Gasperini has consistently sought two different profiles on the left wing in a 3-4-2-1 formation: a more technical player like Mora, and a dynamic runner such as Fofana, who remains a candidate to complete the attack overhaul. Gasperini deployed the 3-4-2-1 throughout the 2025–26 season, using Lorenzo Pellegrini as an attacking midfielder and playmaker rather than a winger. When he needed different characteristics, he rotated players including Venturino, Zaragoza, Baldanzi, Pisilli and El Shaarawy. The trequartista role is integral to his system regardless of Mora's signing, confirming that Roma's attacking architecture has not shifted. Roma's first three league fixtures—against Fiorentina, Lecce and Atalanta—all deploy a back four, matches in which Mora's profile will prove immediately useful behind the striker pairing. Gasperini used the 3-4-1-2 formation in four of five recent pre-season friendlies, fielding Soulé as trequartista three times and Cristante once. Roma's opening match comes Monday evening against Fiorentina at the Olimpico.

Roma will discover their eight group-stage opponents on 27 August 2026, with their first Champions League match scheduled for 8 September. The club returns to European football's premier competition for the first time in seven years, a milestone marked by the famous UEFA Champions League anthem composed by Tony Britten, adapted from Georg Friedrich Händel's Zadok the Priest. The 2026–27 campaign will feature a new league-phase format across 36 clubs, with all final matchday fixtures played simultaneously on 27 January 2027. Under the restructured format, the top eight finishers in the league phase advance directly to the knockout rounds. Teams finishing 9th to 24th must contest a playoff stage, while positions 25 to 36 are eliminated. Roma's captain Stephan El Shaarawy scored the decisive goal that secured the club's qualification for this season, a moment recalled as a turning point after years away from the competition. The Champions League final was initially assigned to San Siro but has been moved to Madrid due to stadium construction work. From 2027 onwards, the defending champions will open each season with a standalone Tuesday evening fixture.

Roma will learn their eight group-stage opponents for the 2026–27 Champions League on 27 August 2026, with their first match scheduled for 8 September. The club will compete in the new 36-team league phase format, where the top eight finishers advance directly to the knockout stages, sides finishing ninth to 24th enter a playoff round, and teams ranked 25th to 36th are eliminated. The campaign concludes on 27 January 2027, when all final matchday fixtures kick off simultaneously. Roma's return to Europe's premier competition marks an end to a seven-year absence from the Champions League. The announcement has sparked anticipation among supporters, with references to Stephan El Shaarawy's goal that secured the club's qualification. The iconic Champions League anthem, composed by Tony Britten and adapted from Georg Friedrich Händel's Zadok the Priest, will herald the giallorossi's participation in the tournament once more. From 2027 onwards, the defending champions will open their season with a standalone Tuesday evening fixture. The 2027 final was initially assigned to San Siro but has been relocated to Madrid due to stadium renovation work.