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Giannini backs Roma to challenge Inter and reach the break unbeaten
·19 September 2026·45d ago

Giannini backs Roma to challenge Inter and reach the break unbeaten

Source: Roma News

Roma legend Giuseppe Giannini has urged the side to embrace the challenge of facing Inter at the top of the table, believing they can rise to the occasion. Speaking to Corriere della Sera, Giannini acknowledged the difficulty of the fixture but called for Roma to play with enthusiasm and without hesitation at this early stage of the season. "A defeat wouldn't compromise anything and a draw would be positive," he said. "But I expect the usual Roma, with the structure the coach has given them."

Asked whether a win against Inter would justify talk of a title dream, Giannini cautioned against premature optimism but stressed the symbolic importance of three points. He noted the progress Roma have made following last season, which he described as a bedding-in year that ended with third place. "All have noticed Roma's growth," Giannini explained. "Three points would be a further confirmation and would also help external perception: reaching the break on a perfect record would be exhilarating."

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Story Coverage9 sources on this story

Roma and Inter meet at the Olimpico on 19 September in a title-race showdown, both teams unbeaten and level on maximum points after four matches. The fixture kicks off at 18:00 and will be shown exclusively on DAZN, marking the final league game before the first international break. Both sides will pay tribute before kickoff to Sandro Mazzola, the Inter legend who died at 83.

Former Roma defender Vincent Candela has backed Gasperini's side as genuine Serie A title contenders and Inter's only realistic threat. Speaking on Rai Radio 1, Candela said: "Roma and Inter have given us great football. They are the two squads playing for the Scudetto. This Roma is a title-winning team; it can give Inter—who are the strongest—problems." He singled out Paulo Dybala and Manu Koné for praise, noting the squad's strength and cohesion. Former Roma and Inter manager Fabio Capello echoed the assessment, telling La Gazzetta dello Sport that Roma's position at the summit "does not surprise me," and that alongside Inter, "it is the team most ready from the beginning of the championship." Capello highlighted Gasperini's influence since the transfer market and noted some players even cut their salaries, demonstrating belief. He reserved criticism for Inter's defensive vulnerabilities, questioning why they concede so many goals.

Amantino Mancini, a former player at both clubs, assessed the encounter as evenly matched at "50-50," crediting Roma's growth in technical quality and mental consistency. On individual matchups, he praised both Donyell Malen and Lautaro Martínez but gave the edge to the Inter forward. Roma's defensive contingencies suggest Evan N'Dicka will start despite pre-match uncertainty, while Inter will be without Calhanoglu and Stones, with Zielinski drafted in to cover midfield losses.

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Testo Originale / Source Text

“Giuseppe Giannini, leggenda della Roma, ha rilasciato un’intervista al Corriere della Sera. Il ‘Principe’ ha parlato della sfida al vertice contro l’Inter, soffermandosi sulla crescita dei giallorossi. Di seguito le sue parole “Sì, difficile metterle sullo stesso piano. Anche per questo, però, la…”

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