Gasperini plans full-back revolution to break Inter hoodoo, eyes Wesley at right-back

Roma face Inter at the Olimpico tonight (18:00 kickoff) in front of over 60,000 supporters in what promises to be a season-defining fixture before the three-week international break. Both sides arrive unbeaten after four matches, and victory will guarantee top spot for the next three weeks. Gasperini has spoken repeatedly of the need to dream since his arrival at Roma, but tonight the words carry particular weight as the Giallorossi look to end a troubling run against his former club. The manager has not beaten Inter in ten consecutive meetings, a streak he is desperate to break. Roma have also not won at the Olimpico against Inter in ten years, another unwanted record hanging over the fixture. Roma's trajectory this season has been marked by steady improvement in both personnel and confidence on the pitch. The club is now considered the most credible challenger to the Serie A champions alongside Como. Gasperini will be targeting a win not just for form but to overturn the tactical disadvantage he has suffered repeatedly against his old team. The clash will feature individual battles across the pitch—between strikers Malen and Lautaro, wingers Wesley and Dimarco battling for control of the flanks, and contrasting approaches from the benches. Inter's Chivu has beaten Gasperini twice already, but circumstances may yet favour Roma this time in what the Italian media describes as a serene and conscious approach to an early-season heavyweight contest.

Roma face Inter at the Stadio Olimpico on 19 September 2026 with the chance to reach the international break unbeaten and extend their sequence of victories in Serie A. A win would cap what Gasperini's side could describe as a perfect start to the season, and would also represent a tenth consecutive league victory when counted across the final five matches of last season and the opening fixtures of 2026-27. The clash comes with Roma's squad now at full strength for what the club considers a genuine examination of their title credentials. Evan N'Dicka has recovered from the intestinal influenza that ruled him out of last week's fixture in Turin. Mario Hermoso sustained a contusion during the week but will still be available for selection. Leonardo Balerdi, who impressed in Piedmont, is pushing for a starting role. Emanuele Lulli holds the advantage in the left-back battle with Nahuel Molina, while Wesley will continue on the left flank. Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné form the midfield pair. Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are automatic selections, and Niccolò Pisilli is competing with Matías Soulé for the role of left-sided attacking midfielder.

Gian Piero Gasperini plans to field Niccolò Pisilli in midfield for Roma's match against Inter at the Olimpico, continuing his stated philosophy of selecting players based on individual condition rather than preset hierarchies. Pisilli, who has scored twice this season, will compete with Matías Soulé for a starting place on the attacking midfield line alongside Paulo Dybala. Manu Koné is set to return to the starting XI after being benched on Monday, pairing with Bryan Cristante in the centre of the pitch. On the flanks, Wesley is expected to operate on the left wing despite Gasperini's earlier consideration of deploying him on the right to face Dimarco directly; Emanuele Lulli will occupy the right side instead. The defence faces uncertainty over Mario Hermoso's availability. The Spanish defender's ankle pain has subsided and he trained with the squad the previous day, but Roma's medical staff may opt for precaution and keep him on the bench initially. Leonardo Balerdi, among Roma's standout performers so far this season, is ready to deputise and can play either as a central defender or on the left of the back line. Mile Svilar will start in goal, with Gianluca Mancini and Evan N'Dicka completing the defensive unit.

Roma face Inter at the Olimpico tonight (18:00 kickoff) in front of over 60,000 supporters in what promises to be a season-defining fixture before the three-week international break. Both sides arrive unbeaten after four matches, and victory will guarantee top spot for the next three weeks. Gasperini has spoken repeatedly of the need to dream since his arrival at Roma, but tonight the words carry particular weight as the Giallorossi look to end a troubling run against his former club. The manager has not beaten Inter in ten consecutive meetings, a streak he is desperate to break. Roma have also not won at the Olimpico against Inter in ten years, another unwanted record hanging over the fixture. Roma's trajectory this season has been marked by steady improvement in both personnel and confidence on the pitch. The club is now considered the most credible challenger to the Serie A champions alongside Como. Gasperini will be targeting a win not just for form but to overturn the tactical disadvantage he has suffered repeatedly against his old team. The clash will feature individual battles across the pitch—between strikers Malen and Lautaro, wingers Wesley and Dimarco battling for control of the flanks, and contrasting approaches from the benches. Inter's Chivu has beaten Gasperini twice already, but circumstances may yet favour Roma this time in what the Italian media describes as a serene and conscious approach to an early-season heavyweight contest.

Roma face Inter at the Stadio Olimpico on 19 September 2026 with the chance to reach the international break unbeaten and extend their sequence of victories in Serie A. A win would cap what Gasperini's side could describe as a perfect start to the season, and would also represent a tenth consecutive league victory when counted across the final five matches of last season and the opening fixtures of 2026-27. The clash comes with Roma's squad now at full strength for what the club considers a genuine examination of their title credentials. Evan N'Dicka has recovered from the intestinal influenza that ruled him out of last week's fixture in Turin. Mario Hermoso sustained a contusion during the week but will still be available for selection. Leonardo Balerdi, who impressed in Piedmont, is pushing for a starting role. Emanuele Lulli holds the advantage in the left-back battle with Nahuel Molina, while Wesley will continue on the left flank. Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné form the midfield pair. Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are automatic selections, and Niccolò Pisilli is competing with Matías Soulé for the role of left-sided attacking midfielder.

Gian Piero Gasperini plans to field Niccolò Pisilli in midfield for Roma's match against Inter at the Olimpico, continuing his stated philosophy of selecting players based on individual condition rather than preset hierarchies. Pisilli, who has scored twice this season, will compete with Matías Soulé for a starting place on the attacking midfield line alongside Paulo Dybala. Manu Koné is set to return to the starting XI after being benched on Monday, pairing with Bryan Cristante in the centre of the pitch. On the flanks, Wesley is expected to operate on the left wing despite Gasperini's earlier consideration of deploying him on the right to face Dimarco directly; Emanuele Lulli will occupy the right side instead. The defence faces uncertainty over Mario Hermoso's availability. The Spanish defender's ankle pain has subsided and he trained with the squad the previous day, but Roma's medical staff may opt for precaution and keep him on the bench initially. Leonardo Balerdi, among Roma's standout performers so far this season, is ready to deputise and can play either as a central defender or on the left of the back line. Mile Svilar will start in goal, with Gianluca Mancini and Evan N'Dicka completing the defensive unit.

Roma face Inter at the Stadio Olimpico on 19 September 2026 with the chance to reach the international break unbeaten and extend their sequence of victories in Serie A. A win would cap what Gasperini's side could describe as a perfect start to the season, and would also represent a tenth consecutive league victory when counted across the final five matches of last season and the opening fixtures of 2026-27. The clash comes with Roma's squad now at full strength for what the club considers a genuine examination of their title credentials. Evan N'Dicka has recovered from the intestinal influenza that ruled him out of last week's fixture in Turin. Mario Hermoso sustained a contusion during the week but will still be available for selection. Leonardo Balerdi, who impressed in Piedmont, is pushing for a starting role. Emanuele Lulli holds the advantage in the left-back battle with Nahuel Molina, while Wesley will continue on the left flank. Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné form the midfield pair. Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are automatic selections, and Niccolò Pisilli is competing with Matías Soulé for the role of left-sided attacking midfielder.

Gian Piero Gasperini has settled his starting XI for the clash against Inter after a training session and an overnight stay by the squad at the Fulvio Bernardini centre in Trigoria. The Roma head coach is building the team around tactical certainties and the recovery of key players to full fitness. In defence, Evan N'Dicka has made a full recovery and will return to the starting lineup alongside Gianluca Mancini and Mario Hermoso, who is completely recovered from an ankle knock suffered mid-week. Leonardo Balerdi remains available as a substitute option, with Gasperini having outlined his philosophy on defensive changes: "We need to get used to making substitutions with defenders — a strong centre-back can be a weapon even during the game." On the flanks, Emanuele Lulli will continue at right-back, his form outweighing the candidacy of Nahuel Molina, while Wesley returns to the starting XI at left-back after missing the previous match in Turin. In midfield, Manu Koné and Bryan Cristante form the established pairing despite strong performances from Niccolò Pisilli and Marten De Roon. On the attacking midfield, Matías Soulé holds a clear advantage over Rodrigo Mora to complete the offensive unit alongside Paulo Dybala — set for his sixth consecutive start in less than a month — in support of striker Donyell Malen.

Roma host Inter at the Olimpico in a direct battle for Serie A's top spot, with Gian Piero Gasperini's side seeking to extend their perfect record against Cristian Chivu's team. The fixture pits the league's two most potent attacking units against each other: Roma have scored 12 goals in their first four matches this season, up from 3 in the same period last season, while Inter have netted 13, a gain of two from 2025. Roma operate at a high tempo with an average midfield line of 55.8 metres and average 21.3 shots per game; Inter rely on directness and quick transitions as their main weapon. Historically, Roma-Inter is Serie A's highest-scoring fixture, with 340 goals across 186 matches at an average of 2.9 per game. For Gasperini, victory offers a chance to reach a significant milestone: a tenth consecutive league win. That feat has been achieved only twice in Roma's history—by Rudi Garcia in 2013–14 and Luciano Spalletti in 2005–06. At the Olimpico across all Serie A meetings, Roma hold a slim advantage: 34 wins to Inter's 33 from 93 encounters, with 26 draws. Roma have scored 139 goals at home in these clashes to Inter's 135. Arbitro Davide Massa will oversee the match. Gasperini is expected to deploy a 3-4-2-1 formation: Svilar in goal; a back three of Mancini, Balerdi and Hermoso; Wesley and Lulli on the flanks with Koné and Cristante in midfield; Dybala and Pellegrini supporting Malen as the single striker. The main pre-match uncertainties concern the defence, where Balerdi is favoured over N'Dicka (60%–40%), and the right flank, where Lulli holds an edge over Molina (65%–35%). Among the standout performers, Paulo Dybala has five career goals against Inter, though only one wearing Roma's shirt, while Inter forward Marcus Thuram has scored four against Roma—among his preferred targets in Italy.

Roma face Inter at the Stadio Olimpico on 19 September 2026 with the chance to reach the international break unbeaten and extend their sequence of victories in Serie A. A win would cap what Gasperini's side could describe as a perfect start to the season, and would also represent a tenth consecutive league victory when counted across the final five matches of last season and the opening fixtures of 2026-27. The clash comes with Roma's squad now at full strength for what the club considers a genuine examination of their title credentials. Evan N'Dicka has recovered from the intestinal influenza that ruled him out of last week's fixture in Turin. Mario Hermoso sustained a contusion during the week but will still be available for selection. Leonardo Balerdi, who impressed in Piedmont, is pushing for a starting role. Emanuele Lulli holds the advantage in the left-back battle with Nahuel Molina, while Wesley will continue on the left flank. Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné form the midfield pair. Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are automatic selections, and Niccolò Pisilli is competing with Matías Soulé for the role of left-sided attacking midfielder.

Gian Piero Gasperini plans to field Niccolò Pisilli in midfield for Roma's match against Inter at the Olimpico, continuing his stated philosophy of selecting players based on individual condition rather than preset hierarchies. Pisilli, who has scored twice this season, will compete with Matías Soulé for a starting place on the attacking midfield line alongside Paulo Dybala. Manu Koné is set to return to the starting XI after being benched on Monday, pairing with Bryan Cristante in the centre of the pitch. On the flanks, Wesley is expected to operate on the left wing despite Gasperini's earlier consideration of deploying him on the right to face Dimarco directly; Emanuele Lulli will occupy the right side instead. The defence faces uncertainty over Mario Hermoso's availability. The Spanish defender's ankle pain has subsided and he trained with the squad the previous day, but Roma's medical staff may opt for precaution and keep him on the bench initially. Leonardo Balerdi, among Roma's standout performers so far this season, is ready to deputise and can play either as a central defender or on the left of the back line. Mile Svilar will start in goal, with Gianluca Mancini and Evan N'Dicka completing the defensive unit.

Gian Piero Gasperini plans to field Niccolò Pisilli ahead of Matías Soulé in tonight's Serie A match against Inter, seeking an unexpected tactical edge against the defending champions. Pisilli, who has already scored two goals in the league this season, is ready to operate alongside Paulo Dybala in an unchanged approach that prioritises form over hierarchy. Bryan Cristante will anchor midfield as usual, with Manu Koné returning to the starting eleven after sitting on the bench on Monday. On the flanks, Gasperini will clarify his final decisions in the hours ahead, with Wesley positioned on the left and Emanuele Lulli deployed on the right, though the head coach is tempted to move Wesley to the right flank to counter Dimarco. Mario Hermoso is at risk of missing the match due to precaution, despite training with the group yesterday and reporting reduced pain in his ankle. Leonardo Balerdi stands ready to replace him and has impressed in the early stages of the season, capable of playing both centre-back and left-centre-back roles. Evan N'Dicka and Gianluca Mancini will partner Balerdi in defence, with Mile Svilar in goal. Gasperini had emphasised days before the Torino–Roma fixture that no established pecking order exists and that form dictates selection. The philosophy remains unchanged for this evening's big match: playing those in best condition to overcome the Italian champions.