Gasperini to speak live tonight on Sky Sport

Gian Piero Gasperini delivered a nuanced assessment of Roma's performance against Inter the day after their direct clash, balancing disappointment at squandered opportunities against satisfaction at competing evenly with the defending champions. "There is some regret, and it is right that there should be," Gasperini said, "but the satisfaction at having played on equal terms with Inter is greater." The turning point came early in the second half when Lautaro Martinez scored after just one minute. Gasperini was critical of Roma's reaction: "The goal conceded at the start of the second half, after barely a minute, created anxiety and made us take a step back. We conceded it in a way that was a bit too superficial, even presumptuous. But we were always in the match, never giving up on playing. It's a shame, because we also had the chance to make it 3-1 with Malen." He also recalled a light moment with the Inter striker after the final whistle, saying: "I embraced him and told him to stop—he always scores against me. But he is a truly great champion." Gasperini praised Leonardo Balerdi's display before cramps forced the defender off: "Until that moment he played a tremendous match, full of recoveries, anticipation and physical battles with Thuram. Unfortunately he cramped up and couldn't move anymore; his substitution meant we lost that extra physical freshness." He was less satisfied with Manu Koné's showing, which he described as natural given the circumstances: "He was clearly tired; at this moment he doesn't yet have the stamina for ninety minutes. He remains a fundamental player for us, but his sharpness is not yet the same as the first half of last season." Despite the draw extending Gasperini's winless run against Inter since November 2018, Roma achieved an unprecedented milestone: for the first time in the club's history, they have scored at least two goals in ten consecutive Serie A matches. With a demanding fixture schedule ahead after the international break, Gasperini stressed the need for rotation: "The calendar will be terrible and we will need to rotate. We must be good at developing the whole squad and have the courage to throw in the new players from the start—we will play with twenty men."

Wesley spoke to Sky Sport after Roma's draw with Inter, reflecting on a performance where his side started well but lost focus after the break. "We knew it would be tough against this Inter side—they're one of Europe's best teams and you can't afford mistakes, which unfortunately happened," the Brazilian left-back said. "We managed to execute our game plan and I'm happy with that. In the second half, though, we came out distracted, conceded two goals, and both we and they had chances to win it. We've shown we deserve to be in this league position. After the break we can't make the same mistakes again—now we need to rest." Roma drew level with Inter's attacking quality but surrendered control after half-time, conceding twice before the match finished level. Wesley stressed the squad's underlying merit despite the lapse in concentration, a concern Gian Piero Gasperini will address during the international break ahead of Roma's next fixture.

Roma held Serie A champions Inter to a 2-2 draw at the Stadio Olimpico, a result head coach Gian Piero Gasperini described as one that should give the club satisfaction and confidence. Manu Koné opened the scoring for the Giallorossi and added a second in the first half after a VAR check, but Lautaro Martinez scored twice for Inter—one early in the second half and another later in the same period—to secure a point for the visitors. Gasperini acknowledged the turning moment came when Inter reduced the deficit early in the second half. "It was a game where both teams could have won at one point, but the goal early in the second half changed things a bit," he told DAZN. "Inter are a great team, they can always score, but we didn't give up. This match should give us satisfaction and confidence." When asked about how far Roma currently stand from Inter, Gasperini stressed the need for consistency and improvement across the squad. "We have to be happy with the path we're taking and the quality we're bringing to these matches. There's a lot of positive energy in this team, we need to continue on this path," he said. He noted that Roma had created space in the first half and threatened on the break, but was forced to make a defensive change when Leonardo Balerdi came off. "I had to make a change at the back because we were struggling. Balerdi had to come off, and it's a shame, but Dybala and Soule held firm until the end." Gasperini emphasised that Roma are focused on their own performance rather than the title race. "We're looking at our own game; we need to be aware that under certain conditions we can be a good team. We need to see consistency in our matches. After the break, we'll have plenty of games to play, and we'll need to improve across the entire squad because the schedule will be truly demanding."

Roma close the opening phase of the 2026-27 season unbeaten after their 2-2 draw with Inter, maintaining four wins and two draws across the opening block of fixtures. Manu Koné scored twice in that Inter match and heads the player ratings across Italian media with an average of 7.9, rewarded for his dominant display. Bryan Cristante and Paulo Dybala both averaged 6.7, Nahuel Molina 6.6 and Leonardo Balerdi 6.5, while Gianluca Mancini registered the lowest average at 5.3 after an error that led to Lautaro Martinez's opening goal; among substitutes, Daniele Ghilardi struggled with 5.5. The international break presents a significant challenge to Gasperini's plans. Roma will have only seven players available during the roughly 20-day break: Mile Svilar, Pierluigi Gollini, Mario Hermoso, Molina, Devyne Rensch, Marten de Roon and Dybala. Even Dybala will leave for several days to attend Lionel Messi's farewell international match. With numbers so thin at the training ground, Roma will have to draw on Primavera players and schedule a couple of friendly matches. Training resumes on Monday afternoon after most of the squad departs to join their respective national teams over the weekend. Roma were 2-0 ahead at half-time against Inter before conceding twice in the second half to settle for the draw.

Roma drew 2–2 with Inter at the Olimpico, maintaining joint top place in Serie A alongside the Nerazzurri and delivering significant proof points in the 2026–27 campaign. Manu Koné scored twice in the opening forty-five minutes—his first career brace—to become the match's dominant figure. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini said afterwards: "We played it on equal terms." Koné's performance carried particular weight given Inter's sustained pursuit of him over two recent transfer windows. In August 2025, Inter lodged a concrete offer to Roma for the midfielder, with Sommer and Thuram—former teammates from Germany—attempting to persuade him to move. Roma rejected those proposals and removed him from the market entirely. On the pitch against the Nerazzurri, Koné demonstrated the finishing ability his manager had long sought him to add to his existing qualities of pressing, dribbling and physical power. His opening goal came after six minutes: Inter lost possession, Paulo Dybala crossed, Nahuel Molina nodded it down, and Koné struck first time past the goalkeeper. In first-half injury time the pattern repeated—Dybala played a set-piece, Gianluca Mancini touched it on, and Koné inserted himself to fire low under the bar, initially ruled out before the VAR review stood the goal.

Manu Koné scored twice but it was not enough for Roma to beat Inter, according to ratings published by five Italian newspapers. Koné earned an 8 from Corriere dello Sport, Corriere della Sera and Il Tempo, with 8 also from Il Messaggero's match assessment, and 7.5 from La Repubblica. He shared best-in-field honours with Bryan Cristante in most outlets' evaluations. The Argentinian defenders Leonardo Balerdi and Nahuel Molina also impressed, as did Paulo Dybala, who received ratings of 7 from Corriere dello Sport and Corriere della Sera, and 6.5 from Il Messaggero and La Repubblica. Gianluca Mancini's defensive error proved decisive, allowing Lautaro to open the scoring for Inter. Mancini was universally marked down across the newspapers, receiving a 5 from Corriere dello Sport and Corriere della Sera, 5.5 from Il Messaggero and La Repubblica, and 5.5 from Il Tempo. He was substituted at the 60-minute mark. Evan N'Dicka replaced him and earned ratings between 5.5 and 6.5. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini received marks of 7, 6.5, 6.5, 6 and 6.5 respectively. Other defenders and midfielders drew mixed assessments. Mile Svilar in goal was rated 6.5 to 7.5, while Mario Hermoso, who also departed early (81 minutes), received 5 to 6. Matías Soulé and Donyell Malen both earned 6 to 6.5 marks. Wesley and Molina's departures at the 60-minute mark saw them replaced by Devyne Rensch and other squad rotation options across the newspapers' 3-4-2-1 formation analysis.

Roma host Inter at the Olimpico in a top-of-the-table clash, both sides arriving unbeaten after four matches and seeking to reach the first international break in first place. Gasperini has a full squad available with no absences. In defence, the established trio of Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso is confirmed, with no surprise inclusion for Balerdi. Molina and Wesley operate on the flanks, Koné and Cristante patrol midfield, and Soulé lines up in the attacking three behind Malen, with Dybala in support. Roma field a 3-4-2-1 formation: Svilar in goal, Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso at the back, Molina and Wesley as wing-backs, Cristante and Koné in central midfield, Soulé and Dybala in the attacking midfield positions, and Malen as the lead forward. On the bench are Gollini, De Marzi, Ghilardi, Rensch, Koulierakis, Lulli, Pisilli, Pellegrini, de Roon, Castro and Mora. Inter deploy a 3-5-2 with Martinez, Bisseck, Akanji and Bastoni in defence, Diouf, Barella, Zielinski, Jones and Dimarco in midfield, and Lautaro Martinez and Thuram in attack.

Santiago Castro has praised the atmosphere at Roma ahead of tomorrow's match against Inter, saying the coach creates an environment where every player feels valued. Speaking to DAZN hours before kick-off, the 21-year-old Argentine highlighted the quality of his teammates and Gasperini's man-management approach. "With him you never feel like a reserve or a starter," Castro said. "You always have to be ready, always at your best, both in training and in matches. That's really important and I think it makes all the players feel good." Castro, who joined Roma from Bologna, drew a contrast between the two clubs' squads. "When you arrive at a team like Roma you find players in front of you like Dybala, Malen, Pellegrini, Soulé and now Rodrigo Mora has also arrived. We have many high-level players," he explained. "At Bologna I found many quality players too, like Bernardeschi, Orsolini, Rowe, Zirkzee and Ndoye. I'm happy because I can take something from every teammate and always learn." He singled out Dybala and Malen for special praise, describing them as players who impress fans every week but reveal far more in daily training. "Paulo has a left foot that few people have. I think he's one of the best left-footed players in Italy's history, even at world level," Castro said. "From Donyell you have to take that meanness to go and score goals, the cunning, the movements he has and then the shot, which is crazy." Gasperini's tactical demands on Castro focus on positioning and team play. "The main thing the manager asks me is to always keep my body facing the goal, not to always play with my back to goal because that way I'm not dangerous," Castro explained. "He asks me to always be in the match, to attack, to play for the team. For him it's important to score goals, but also to give an assist, because that's something that helps the team and gives a great hand to everyone." Castro also reflected on his debut at the Olimpico against Atalanta, calling it "a moment of great pride" and crediting the fans for their support during the match. On Inter's challenge, Castro acknowledged the quality of both squads. "It will always be difficult to face teams with this type of players, because they also, like us, have world-class players and big names," he said. "It will be a beautiful match to watch from outside: a hot stadium, two teams that arrive well, with the same points, many goals scored and few conceded. It will definitely be nice to see." Roma and Inter sit level on points after four matches. Castro also praised Lautaro Martinez as "a very strong player" and captain of one of Italy's biggest teams.

Santiago Castro has given his first substantial interview since joining Roma, speaking to DAZN about his early weeks at the club, his relationship with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, and the quality of his fellow attackers. The 21-year-old Argentine striker, who arrived this summer from Bologna, reflected on the step up in class and the challenge of competing with established forwards in the Giallorossi squad. Castro highlighted the calibre of his new teammates, naming Paulo Dybala, Donyell Malen, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora as examples of the standard he now faces daily. He said: "Sì, certo. Quando arrivi in una squadra come la Roma ti trovi davanti giocatori come Dybala, Malen, Pellegrini, Soulé e adesso è arrivato anche Rodrigo Mora." On training alongside Dybala and Malen, he remarked: "Paulo e Donyell sono giocatori che impressionano i tifosi ogni settimana e noi che li vediamo ogni giorno. Noi che ci alleniamo con loro vediamo cose che sembrano appartenere a un altro sport." He praised Dybala's left foot as among the finest in Italy and the world, and commended Malen's aggression, movement and shooting ability. Gasperini's management style has impressed Castro, who said the coach emphasizes constant readiness over any hierarchy of starting players. "Con lui non ti senti mai una riserva o un titolare: devi sempre essere pronto, sempre al massimo, sia in allenamento sia in partita," Castro explained. The striker also recalled his debut at the Olimpico against Atalanta as a proud moment at age 21, noting the warmth of the crowd as a powerful motivator. He expressed respect for Inter's Lautaro Martinez ahead of the upcoming fixture, describing him as "un grandissimo giocatore, molto forte" and noting his consistency in Serie A and leadership of one of Italy's biggest clubs. Castro also touched on the group atmosphere at Roma, mentioning the presence of several Argentine players and praising the cohesion with staff and international teammates alike. On wearing the number 9 shirt, he said: "È bello pensare a tutti i giocatori che hanno avuto la numero 9 nella Roma. Sono stati tanti e hanno fatto tantissime cose importanti, come Balbo e altri grandi attaccanti. Io spero solamente di riuscire a fare anche solo una piccola parte di quello che hanno fatto loro."