Gasperini's Roma in rhythm: nine more goals and 33 extra shots than last season

Roma have scored 14 goals in their opening five Serie A matches of the 2026–27 season, a dramatic improvement on last season's pace. The club sits joint top of the table after four wins and a draw—the draw coming against Inter—and the attacking output tells the real story of Gian Piero Gasperini's arrival taking hold. In the equivalent five-game stretch of 2025–26, Roma managed only 5 goals. Now, led by Donyell Malen, who was named Serie A's best player for September, the team scores nearly three times as much and has increased the volume of shots on goal by more than 50%. Both seasons saw Roma accumulate 12 points after five matches in 2025–26 and 13 points this year—a single-point gain—but the underlying performance has shifted fundamentally. Last season Roma scraped results with minimal effort, distributing goals sparingly across their opening run. This season the squad produces far more, applying Gasperini's principles with growing confidence. The club kept its core group and added pieces in the summer transfer window, and the combination is now delivering the high-intensity football the coach demands, featuring man-to-man marking and high pressing from the start.

Roma are performing at a new level under Gian Piero Gasperini after a year of bedding in his methods. The club topped Serie A after five matches—four wins and a draw against Inter—level on points with Inter and Lazio. The most striking measure is attacking output: in the opening five matches of the 2025–26 season, Roma scored 5 goals; in the equivalent stretch this season, they have already scored 14, demonstrating a dramatic shift in how the team functions. Roma collected 12 points across the first five games last season and have now reached 13 points at the same stage this term, a modest gain—but the attacking numbers tell a different story entirely. The improvement reflects Gasperini's tactical blueprint taking hold at Trigoria. Roma's shot count has increased by over 50% in this opening run, and the team is now producing at a far greater volume than the measured approach of a year ago. The squad has been retained largely intact with reinforcements added in the transfer market, and is now executing Gasperini's core principles: man-to-man marking and aggressive high pressing. The attacking unit, led by Donyell Malen, is operating with precision and rhythm. Malen was named Serie A's player of the month for September, recognition of his contribution to Roma's early momentum. Simone Valdarchi's analysis in Il Corriere della Sera highlights that last season Roma relied on doing more with less—extracting maximum points from minimal attacking threat. Now, with the same points tally at the same stage, the underlying metrics show a team that has fundamentally upgraded its offensive threat and intensity, establishing the template Gasperini has built across his managerial career.

Bryan Cristante has been ruled out for two to three weeks after sustaining a knee injury during the international break. The midfielder initially appeared set for a straightforward rest during the fixture pause, but developed the problem in recent days. Cristante had already withdrawn from the Italy national team squad due to lower back pain; the knee issue is more serious than first thought and rules him out of Roma's Serie A visit to Como on Sunday when the season resumes. The 29-year-old is a cornerstone of Gasperini's midfield and his absence will be felt at a crucial point of the campaign. The injury was initially assessed as a minor inflammation but subsequent examination revealed greater concern. Cristante's three-week absence means he will miss at least the immediate fixtures as Roma resume their Serie A fixtures.

Roma have scored 14 goals in their opening five Serie A matches of the 2026–27 season, a dramatic improvement on last season's pace. The club sits joint top of the table after four wins and a draw—the draw coming against Inter—and the attacking output tells the real story of Gian Piero Gasperini's arrival taking hold. In the equivalent five-game stretch of 2025–26, Roma managed only 5 goals. Now, led by Donyell Malen, who was named Serie A's best player for September, the team scores nearly three times as much and has increased the volume of shots on goal by more than 50%. Both seasons saw Roma accumulate 12 points after five matches in 2025–26 and 13 points this year—a single-point gain—but the underlying performance has shifted fundamentally. Last season Roma scraped results with minimal effort, distributing goals sparingly across their opening run. This season the squad produces far more, applying Gasperini's principles with growing confidence. The club kept its core group and added pieces in the summer transfer window, and the combination is now delivering the high-intensity football the coach demands, featuring man-to-man marking and high pressing from the start.

Roma are performing at a new level under Gian Piero Gasperini after a year of bedding in his methods. The club topped Serie A after five matches—four wins and a draw against Inter—level on points with Inter and Lazio. The most striking measure is attacking output: in the opening five matches of the 2025–26 season, Roma scored 5 goals; in the equivalent stretch this season, they have already scored 14, demonstrating a dramatic shift in how the team functions. Roma collected 12 points across the first five games last season and have now reached 13 points at the same stage this term, a modest gain—but the attacking numbers tell a different story entirely. The improvement reflects Gasperini's tactical blueprint taking hold at Trigoria. Roma's shot count has increased by over 50% in this opening run, and the team is now producing at a far greater volume than the measured approach of a year ago. The squad has been retained largely intact with reinforcements added in the transfer market, and is now executing Gasperini's core principles: man-to-man marking and aggressive high pressing. The attacking unit, led by Donyell Malen, is operating with precision and rhythm. Malen was named Serie A's player of the month for September, recognition of his contribution to Roma's early momentum. Simone Valdarchi's analysis in Il Corriere della Sera highlights that last season Roma relied on doing more with less—extracting maximum points from minimal attacking threat. Now, with the same points tally at the same stage, the underlying metrics show a team that has fundamentally upgraded its offensive threat and intensity, establishing the template Gasperini has built across his managerial career.

Bryan Cristante is a doubt for Roma's trip to Como on 11 October after suffering a slight knee inflammation. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini must plan for the midfielder's potential absence from the Serie A fixture. Cristante has been sidelined by the injury and will be assessed by the medical staff in the coming days. The midfielder remains Roma's most-used player under Gasperini this season but faces an uncertain path to the Como clash, though there is optimism over his chances. A back problem had already kept Cristante out of international duty during the recent break. If he cannot recover in time, Marten de Roon is ready to partner Manu Koné in midfield. De Roon has not yet started a match but has been working at Trigoria throughout the international window and has delivered strong athletic responses in training. In attack, three players are competing for a starting place alongside Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala. Rodrigo Mora has just scored an excellent overhead kick for Portugal's under-21 side, Matías Soulé is preparing for his Argentina debut, and Lorenzo Pellegrini has returned to full fitness after a brief training programme.