Gasperini set for first real rotation against Torino

Donyell Malen knows the way to the net against Torino. The Dutch forward scored twice on his Roma debut against Torino on 18 January at the Stadio Olimpico–Grande Torino, though one was ruled out for a marginal offside by VAR. After opening the season with a hat-trick against Fiorentina and a double against Lecce, Malen has gone without a goal in his last two matches against Atalanta and Fenerbahce but will have a chance to rediscover his scoring touch tomorrow evening. A goal in that fixture would make him the third player in Roma's history to score more than five goals after the first four league matches of a season. The other two are club legends: Pedro Manfredini, who scored 7 in 1960-61, and Francesco Totti, who scored 6 in 2001-02. Malen wears number 14 and will be looking to add his name to that elite list at the Olimpico tomorrow.

Emanuele Lulli will face Torino's Nicolò Cacciamani on Sunday 13 September in what shapes as a duel between two 2007-born Italians, with incoming national team coach Roberto Mancini expected in the stands to observe them both. Roma had targeted Cacciamani during the summer transfer window, offering up to €12 million, but Torino demanded at least €20 million. Lulli remained at Trigoria after Gasperini blocked a potential loan departure and deployed him immediately as a starter. In a separate development, the Salah-Eddine saga has concluded. The Moroccan defender has accepted a transfer to Panathinaikos on a loan deal with a €5 million buy option plus bonuses, with no conditions that would trigger an automatic obligation. His exit follows exclusion from the club's UEFA list and Gasperini's comments ahead of the Atalanta fixture. Roma's women's team will contest the Serie A Women's Cup semi-final against Sassuolo at Stadio Ricci at 12:00, live on Sky Sport. The Giallorosse seek revenge after losing 0–1 to Sassuolo at Tre Fontane in late August. Baldi returns in goal and Oladipo has been called up; Lukasova and Pilgrim are absent, the latter sidelined by knee inflammation.

Santiago Castro is aiming to open his Roma account in Saturday's fixture at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino, using the same stage where Donyell Malen made his opening contribution in giallorosso. The Argentine forward, nicknamed the "Torito", has been building match fitness and tactical understanding under Gian Piero Gasperini after remaining unused in Roma's Champions League trip to Istanbul against Fenerbahçe. Castro is expected to feature in a rotation partnership with Malen, who has been Roma's central attacking reference in the early season. The two forwards have already shown promising signs in their on-pitch alternation during the recent match against Atalanta, where Castro's introduction brought renewed energy and effectiveness to Roma's play. Though opportunities came his way in that fixture—striking both a post and the crossbar—he was denied by fortune rather than finishing. Gasperini's system appears to be building a rhythm with the pair sharing attacking duties as the season develops. Castro's return to the Torino stadium carries symbolic weight, as it was there that Malen began his Roma journey. The Argentine will be hoping to convert the positive momentum and increased game time into a concrete goal in Saturday's encounter.

Niccolò Pisilli is set to make his first Serie A start of the season in Roma's trip to Torino, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini moving to deploy the midfielder alongside Bryan Cristante. The decision comes with Manu Koné sidelined by knee inflammation and training separately; Gasperini has chosen to preserve the French midfielder ahead of the Inter fixture. Pisilli, born in 2004 and a Roma academy product, has made 81 appearances for the club and has already contributed 71 minutes and a goal against Fiorentina this season. Gasperini's faith in the young midfielder reflects a wider commitment: in the summer transfer window, the coach blocked a potential sale to Porto worth approximately €25 million, convinced Pisilli could become an important rotation option. That conviction was reinforced during the Istanbul fixture when Koné was injured and Gasperini again chose Pisilli over Marten de Roon. Emanuele Lulli, born in 2007, offers a parallel story of academy development. The defender has started Roma's first three league matches and impressed against Fiorentina, Lecce, and Atalanta before being rested during the Champions League match against Fenerbahce. His availability for the Torino trip remains uncertain after a bout of influenza forced him to miss the latest training session. Should he recover, he will compete for the right-back spot where Nahuel Molina has not yet reached peak fitness and Devyne Rensch did not convince in Istanbul. Both players embody Roma's strategy of developing talent within the academy system. With a long season ahead across both Serie A and the Champions League, having two Trigoria-raised players capable of earning genuine first-team rotation represents far more than a feel-good story for the club.

Niccolò Pisilli is set to start for Roma against Torino on 13 September, filling the midfield slot alongside Bryan Cristante after Manu Koné suffered a slight knee injury during the Champions League visit to Fenerbahçe. The class of 2004 midfielder will make his first Serie A start of the season after three substitute appearances, stepping in as head coach Gian Piero Gasperini manages the squad across a packed fixture schedule. Gasperini opted to deploy Pisilli over Marten de Roon in Turkey, a signal of the hierarchy in midfield. Koné is likely to be rested to avoid compounding the injury ahead of the Inter fixture. Gasperini trusts Pisilli and values his offensive contribution and application without the ball, according to reports in Il Tempo. The coach is expected to make other changes across the defence and attack but will not drastically overhaul the team despite the rapid fixture congestion. Elsewhere, Leonardo Balerdi is pressing for minutes after two decent cameos in earlier games. Devyne Rensch struggled in Istanbul, leaving the right-back position uncertain, with Nahuel Molina still without a league start this season and Emanuele Lulli dealing with flu that prevented him training on 12 September, though he hopes to travel with the squad. Donyell Malen holds a clear advantage over Santiago Castro in attack. The choice among Paulo Dybala, Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora remains fluid; Gasperini has difficulty leaving any of them out and may ask for an effort from one until the international break.

Roma are preparing for their match against Torino on 14 September with several changes across midfield, defence and attack as head coach Gian Piero Gasperini manages the squad's physical demands. Manu Koné will miss the opening in favour of Niccolò Pisilli, who is set to make his first league start of the 2026-27 season after the French midfielder completed a separate training session on 12 September as a precautionary measure. Lorenzo Pellegrini is available again after his absence and will be included in the squad. The defensive line will see Leonardo Balerdi come into contention to replace Gianluca Mancini, who has appeared below his best in recent outings, with Ghilardi also in the frame. Emanuele Lulli is expected to return to the starting XI on the right flank. In attack, Gasperini plans a managed rotation between Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé to control the demands on his forward resources as Roma push forward in their league campaign.

Niccolò Pisilli is set to start for Roma against Torino on 13 September, filling the midfield slot alongside Bryan Cristante after Manu Koné suffered a slight knee injury during the Champions League visit to Fenerbahçe. The class of 2004 midfielder will make his first Serie A start of the season after three substitute appearances, stepping in as head coach Gian Piero Gasperini manages the squad across a packed fixture schedule. Gasperini opted to deploy Pisilli over Marten de Roon in Turkey, a signal of the hierarchy in midfield. Koné is likely to be rested to avoid compounding the injury ahead of the Inter fixture. Gasperini trusts Pisilli and values his offensive contribution and application without the ball, according to reports in Il Tempo. The coach is expected to make other changes across the defence and attack but will not drastically overhaul the team despite the rapid fixture congestion. Elsewhere, Leonardo Balerdi is pressing for minutes after two decent cameos in earlier games. Devyne Rensch struggled in Istanbul, leaving the right-back position uncertain, with Nahuel Molina still without a league start this season and Emanuele Lulli dealing with flu that prevented him training on 12 September, though he hopes to travel with the squad. Donyell Malen holds a clear advantage over Santiago Castro in attack. The choice among Paulo Dybala, Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora remains fluid; Gasperini has difficulty leaving any of them out and may ask for an effort from one until the international break.

Roma are preparing for their match against Torino on 14 September with several changes across midfield, defence and attack as head coach Gian Piero Gasperini manages the squad's physical demands. Manu Koné will miss the opening in favour of Niccolò Pisilli, who is set to make his first league start of the 2026-27 season after the French midfielder completed a separate training session on 12 September as a precautionary measure. Lorenzo Pellegrini is available again after his absence and will be included in the squad. The defensive line will see Leonardo Balerdi come into contention to replace Gianluca Mancini, who has appeared below his best in recent outings, with Ghilardi also in the frame. Emanuele Lulli is expected to return to the starting XI on the right flank. In attack, Gasperini plans a managed rotation between Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé to control the demands on his forward resources as Roma push forward in their league campaign.

Roma travel to Torino on 14 September seeking three points to reclaim top spot in Serie A after their Champions League fixture against Fenerbahce in Istanbul. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is preparing several squad changes before the international break, with the midfield set for significant rotation. Manu Koné will rest despite no structural damage to his knee; he underwent differentiated training on 12 September as a precaution ahead of the coming fixtures. Niccolò Pisilli is primed to start alongside Bryan Cristante in the league match, earning Gasperini's complete confidence for his qualities in pressing and defensive work. Rotation is being assessed across other areas without dismantling the team's core shape. In defence, Leonardo Balerdi is pushing the regular three, though the established back line remains favoured. On the right flank, a battle between Devyne Rensch (fatigued after Champions League action) and Nahuel Molina is underway, with Emanuele Lulli returning from recent flu symptoms. Upfront against Torino's three-at-the-back system, Donyell Malen holds a substantial advantage over Santiago Castro for the centre-forward role. Paulo Dybala, who left the field with cramps in Istanbul, is being managed carefully; the coaching staff will decide whether to start him or deploy a rotation with Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora, using the international break to allow the Argentine to fully recover his fitness.

Emanuele Lulli will face Torino's Nicolò Cacciamani on Sunday 13 September in what shapes as a duel between two 2007-born Italians, with incoming national team coach Roberto Mancini expected in the stands to observe them both. Roma had targeted Cacciamani during the summer transfer window, offering up to €12 million, but Torino demanded at least €20 million. Lulli remained at Trigoria after Gasperini blocked a potential loan departure and deployed him immediately as a starter. In a separate development, the Salah-Eddine saga has concluded. The Moroccan defender has accepted a transfer to Panathinaikos on a loan deal with a €5 million buy option plus bonuses, with no conditions that would trigger an automatic obligation. His exit follows exclusion from the club's UEFA list and Gasperini's comments ahead of the Atalanta fixture. Roma's women's team will contest the Serie A Women's Cup semi-final against Sassuolo at Stadio Ricci at 12:00, live on Sky Sport. The Giallorosse seek revenge after losing 0–1 to Sassuolo at Tre Fontane in late August. Baldi returns in goal and Oladipo has been called up; Lukasova and Pilgrim are absent, the latter sidelined by knee inflammation.

Roma are preparing for their match against Torino on 14 September with several changes across midfield, defence and attack as head coach Gian Piero Gasperini manages the squad's physical demands. Manu Koné will miss the opening in favour of Niccolò Pisilli, who is set to make his first league start of the 2026-27 season after the French midfielder completed a separate training session on 12 September as a precautionary measure. Lorenzo Pellegrini is available again after his absence and will be included in the squad. The defensive line will see Leonardo Balerdi come into contention to replace Gianluca Mancini, who has appeared below his best in recent outings, with Ghilardi also in the frame. Emanuele Lulli is expected to return to the starting XI on the right flank. In attack, Gasperini plans a managed rotation between Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé to control the demands on his forward resources as Roma push forward in their league campaign.

Niccolò Pisilli and Emanuele Lulli embody Roma's academy excellence — both young, Roman-born romanisti developed through the club's youth system. Pisilli, born in 2004, has amassed 81 appearances in a Roma shirt and will make his 82nd against Torino tomorrow, starting in midfield alongside Bryan Cristante for the first time this season. Lulli, 19 and born in 2007, was rested during Roma's Champions League fixture at Fenerbahce to protect him, and will face Torino with Cacciamani — another Roma summer target of identical age — opposing him. The pair represent the calibre of talent being developed within the club. Marten de Roon, among the recent arrivals, is gradually being integrated into the squad rotation, while Nahuel Molina — not yet at full condition — is expected to feature more regularly in the starting eleven after the international break. The Stadio Olimpico will host the clash against Atalanta, where national team coach Mancini was present to observe Roma's players. On the transfer front, Salah-Eddine has left Roma to join Panathinaikos on loan with a purchase option set at 7 million euros plus 1 million in add-ons, completing the final operation of the summer window.