Ghilardi on competition and Pellegrini: 'It would be special to have him back'

Roma Primavera won 1–0 away at Milan's PUMA House of Football, with Mattia Guaglianone scoring the decisive goal. The visitors, managed by Mattia Scala, ended a run of two consecutive draws against Lecce and Como and returned to winning ways in the league. The match remained competitive and balanced through the first half, with Roma able to match Milan's intensity. The contest shifted decisively after the interval when Milan was reduced to ten men early in the second half, allowing the giallorossi to progressively assert control. Guaglianone, a class of 2010 player and one of the most promising talents in Roma's academy, delivered the moment that secured three crucial points. Playing at an age bracket below his own, he has already demonstrated his capacity to influence matches at senior youth level—he had previously scored in Youth League against Fenerbahce—and this performance adds further evidence of his development. Roma did not manage to extend their lead but managed the advantage competently and weathered Milan's attempts to draw level. Milan's situation deteriorated when Nolli received a second red card in added time, leaving the Rossoneri to finish the encounter with only nine players on the pitch. Roma secured another important milestone: their first clean sheet of the campaign, having conceded at least one goal in each of their opening four matches. The result lifted the giallorossi to 11 points after five rounds of Primavera 1, maintaining their unbeaten record in the division. The victory came on a difficult away ground against a direct rival, and Scala's squad demonstrated maturity as well as technical quality in their performance.

Konstantinos Koulierakis has been called up by Greece coach Ivan Jovanovic for the start of the national team's Nations League A campaign, following his appearance against Inter yesterday when he came on in the second half. The Roma defender will feature in four upcoming matches against Serbia, Germany (twice) and the Netherlands as Greece enters a significant test of their progress. With Wesley reportedly unavailable due to a muscle complaint and unable to answer Brazil's call, Koulierakis will start for Roma in the coming period. The former Wolfsburg player is now a regular starter for the Giallorossi, making the Nations League fixtures an important opportunity to demonstrate his form at international level.

Wesley will miss Brazil's upcoming fixtures after sustaining a right thigh muscle strain in recent days. The Brazilian Football Federation confirmed his exclusion from Carlo Ancelotti's squad, with Monaco's Vanderson called up as his replacement. The Roma defender will remain in Rome during the international break, where the club's medical staff can monitor his condition and assess his recovery. The coming days will clarify the severity of the strain and the timeline for full recovery. This marks Wesley's second muscle injury with Brazil in recent months. He previously suffered a left thigh strain in June that forced him to leave the squad during the World Cup. This time the problem affects his right thigh instead. He will stay with Roma's medical team rather than join the Seleçao at their training camp.

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 produced a commanding first-half display against Serie A champions Inter at the Olimpico but surrendered a two-goal advantage to draw as the visitors restored parity in the second half. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini set up in a 3-4-2-1 formation against Inter's 5-3-2, and Roma's defensive structure and individual duels gave them an early edge. Manu Koné scored twice, profiting from defensive lapses by Inter's Barella, to give Roma a commanding position at the interval. Roma's attacking play was orchestrated through a mid-to-mid-high defensive block designed to limit Inter's ability to exploit depth—a concern from their first meeting last season. The left-side chain of Nahuel Molina, Matías Soulé and Mario Hermoso combined effectively in rotations and interplay to create attacking opportunities and penetrations. Leonardo Balerdi proved decisive in covering Roma's depth defensively, sliding across to manage Inter's two main attacking threats while Gianluca Mancini and Hermoso remained engaged in Roma's forward play. Paulo Dybala, who lacked a goal, stood out defensively with three crucial covering runs and diagonal defensive interventions that exemplified Gasperini's tactical instruction. Mile Svilar made a significant early save from Yacine Diouf's run. Inter emerged with renewed intensity after the interval, immediately narrowing the gap when Lautaro Martínez found space unmarked in the box. Roma's concentration wavered fatally: Mancini lost possession carelessly on the offensive third, triggering a transition that ended with Lautaro free in the area with minimal marking. Though Roma had five defenders in a compact shape and only two Inter players were in the box, the individual mistakes proved costly. Chivu's substitutions—introducing Carlos Augusto and Luis Enrique—made Inter's left-side play more fluid and forced Wesley into heavier defensive duties. Roma's outfield players—Koné, Molina, Balerdi and Mancini—visibly tired, leading Gasperini to replace them with Niccolò Pisilli, Evan N'Dicka, Devyne Rensch and Daniele Ghilardi. Lautaro went unmarked a second time in the box, gifting Inter a drawn result that left Roma with regret over the squandered advantage. The analysis underscores Roma's quality and capacity to compete at the highest level, yet reveals the consistency demanded to sustain title challenges. The current top three league leaders and an emerging Lazio surprise package suggest the Serie A title race will require at least 90 points to prevail.

Roma drew 2–2 with Inter at the Olimpico in a match shaped by a stark contrast between the sides' first and second halves. Manu Koné scored twice for Roma—once to open the scoring early and again to double the lead—but Lautaro Martínez levelled before the interval ended and added a second in the second half, when Roma's resistance crumbled. The hosts began with intensity and control under Gasperini, but a pattern of conceding goals immediately after the restart proved decisive once more. Several Roma players arrived for the match with depleted energy; the upcoming international break will offer a chance to recharge. Mancini had a difficult afternoon and took responsibility for Roma's defensive lapses, notably on Martínez's first goal. Balerdi was composed and physical against Thuram, lasting just over an hour before withdrawal. Hermoso maintained positional discipline but lacked sharpness in execution. Wesley patrolled the flank tirelessly, shutting down Dimarco's advances repeatedly. Cristante operated as the engine room, covering more ground than any other Roma player. Koné's two-goal display was the bright spark—a particularly sharp irony given he could have joined Inter instead—though his early withdrawal raised questions about fatigue management. Dybala orchestrated Roma's attacking play in the first half with incisive passes that set up Koné's goals and fulfilled defensive duties, though he too faded after the break. Soulé provided quality when he found space, running the full 90 minutes with consistency. Malen troubled Bastoni with his movement and nearly broke through. Molina crafted the assist for Koné's opener with an impeccable header after reading the play perfectly. N'Dicka entered at the hour mark and worked to hold the defensive line steady, earning a yellow card for a necessary foul on Thuram. Pisilli came on at 59 minutes but lacked Koné's substance and appeared tentative. Rensch struggled to impose himself when Inter pressed hard. Ghilardi joined the proceedings at 65 minutes and quickly picked up a yellow card; his challenge on Thuram was insufficient. Koulierakis received a caution immediately upon entering late on. Svilar made a miraculous save from a corner and could not be faulted for the two Martínez finishes, maintaining his high standards throughout. Gasperini had urged the team to tighten up after the interval, yet Roma conceded again in the second half and allowed Inter back into the contest. The manager salvaged a point against a strong opponent, though the manner of the collapse—defensive errors and fatigue after 59 minutes of substitutions—left room for frustration. The international break arrives at a timely moment to restore freshness across the squad.

Konstantinos Koulierakis has been called up by Greece coach Ivan Jovanovic for the start of the national team's Nations League A campaign, following his appearance against Inter yesterday when he came on in the second half. The Roma defender will feature in four upcoming matches against Serbia, Germany (twice) and the Netherlands as Greece enters a significant test of their progress. With Wesley reportedly unavailable due to a muscle complaint and unable to answer Brazil's call, Koulierakis will start for Roma in the coming period. The former Wolfsburg player is now a regular starter for the Giallorossi, making the Nations League fixtures an important opportunity to demonstrate his form at international level.

Roma drew 2–2 with Inter at the Olimpico in a match shaped by a stark contrast between the sides' first and second halves. Manu Koné scored twice for Roma—once to open the scoring early and again to double the lead—but Lautaro Martínez levelled before the interval ended and added a second in the second half, when Roma's resistance crumbled. The hosts began with intensity and control under Gasperini, but a pattern of conceding goals immediately after the restart proved decisive once more. Several Roma players arrived for the match with depleted energy; the upcoming international break will offer a chance to recharge. Mancini had a difficult afternoon and took responsibility for Roma's defensive lapses, notably on Martínez's first goal. Balerdi was composed and physical against Thuram, lasting just over an hour before withdrawal. Hermoso maintained positional discipline but lacked sharpness in execution. Wesley patrolled the flank tirelessly, shutting down Dimarco's advances repeatedly. Cristante operated as the engine room, covering more ground than any other Roma player. Koné's two-goal display was the bright spark—a particularly sharp irony given he could have joined Inter instead—though his early withdrawal raised questions about fatigue management. Dybala orchestrated Roma's attacking play in the first half with incisive passes that set up Koné's goals and fulfilled defensive duties, though he too faded after the break. Soulé provided quality when he found space, running the full 90 minutes with consistency. Malen troubled Bastoni with his movement and nearly broke through. Molina crafted the assist for Koné's opener with an impeccable header after reading the play perfectly. N'Dicka entered at the hour mark and worked to hold the defensive line steady, earning a yellow card for a necessary foul on Thuram. Pisilli came on at 59 minutes but lacked Koné's substance and appeared tentative. Rensch struggled to impose himself when Inter pressed hard. Ghilardi joined the proceedings at 65 minutes and quickly picked up a yellow card; his challenge on Thuram was insufficient. Koulierakis received a caution immediately upon entering late on. Svilar made a miraculous save from a corner and could not be faulted for the two Martínez finishes, maintaining his high standards throughout. Gasperini had urged the team to tighten up after the interval, yet Roma conceded again in the second half and allowed Inter back into the contest. The manager salvaged a point against a strong opponent, though the manner of the collapse—defensive errors and fatigue after 59 minutes of substitutions—left room for frustration. The international break arrives at a timely moment to restore freshness across the squad.

Roma drew 2–2 with Inter in a match that saw strong performances from several squad members despite a difficult second half. The ratings reflected a team that dominated stretches of the first half but struggled to maintain that intensity after the interval, with errors at both ends of the pitch proving costly. Mile Svilar made an assured start with a crucial save on Bisseck after 23 minutes, using his body and positioning to deny the Inter forward. His handling remained sharp throughout the first period, though he could not prevent Lautaro's angled finish early in the second half or Inter's second goal. Bryan Cristante put in a leader's performance across midfield, covering ground, assisting, and driving Roma forward with the awareness of someone reading every moment of the match; Roberto Mancini, watching from the stands, took notes on his commanding first-half display. However, the second half saw Cristante unable to maintain that tempo alongside others. Manu Koné emerged as the standout performer with a rating of 8, entering the match with gladiatorial intensity. He silenced doubts about his finishing within five minutes and then scored or assisted twice more—once after the ball was initially ruled out before being overturned, and again dominating centrefield against Barella and Zielinski. Leonardo Balerdi received 7.5 for seemingly impossible recoveries and his ability to retrieve situations with Superman-like intervention. Gianluca Mancini, however, struggled at 5.5, losing a crucial ball early in the second half that led to Lautaro's opening goal and contributing to the confusion on Inter's second. Nahuel Molina impressed with 6.5, winning possession forcefully before delivering a perfect header to Koné. Donyell Malen offered defensive support and communication from the forward line, while Matías Soulé entered the game with growing intensity and Donyell Malen disrupted Inter's shape. Mario Hermoso brought temperament and positional discipline. Substitutes Evan N'Dicka, Niccolò Pisilli and Devyne Rensch struggled to settle into the match's demands, while Konstantinos Koulierakis appeared briefly without decisive impact. The article offers no forward-looking statement or indication of what comes next for Roma.

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."