Koné leads France past Morocco into World Cup semi-finals

Roma face Fiorentina at the Olimpico at 20:45 tonight in the opening match of the Serie A season, with Gian Piero Gasperini preparing several significant choices for his debut fixture. The surprise selection could be Rodrigo Mora, who arrived only in recent days but is already a candidate for a starting shirt. The Portuguese forward is slightly favoured over Matías Soulé to play behind the partnership of Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. Gasperini is expected to deploy a 3-4-1-2 formation. Mile Svilar starts in goal with Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso forming the back three, though Konstantinos Koulierakis is pushing to displace the Spanish defender following encouraging signs in pre-season. Nahuel Molina and Wesley occupy the wing-backs, with Manu Koné returning to midfield. Bryan Cristante is slightly favoured over Neil El Aynaoui for the remaining midfield spot. Mora's immediate integration represents the most intriguing tactical choice, with Santiago Castro available as an important option from the bench. Fiorentina will respond with a 4-3-2-1 under Fabio Grosso. Their lineup includes goalkeeper De Gea, a back four of Jimenez, Dragusin, Ranieri and Valdepenas, Brescianini, Fagioli and Ndour in midfield, Gudmundsson and Atta in support, and Kean as the central striker.

Roma will face Fiorentina in the opening match of the 2026–27 Serie A season on 24 August at 20:45, with the Olimpico sold out for the campaign's debut. Head coach Gasperini has settled most selection questions but left unresolved a contest between Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora for a place on the attacking midfield line, both having been tested in recent tactical sessions. Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen will lead the attack. The squad arrives with the goal of confirming the previous season's strong showing, which returned Roma to the Champions League after seven years away. The defensive line appears set, with Mile Svilar in goal behind a back three of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso. The midfield four will likely be Nahuel Molina, Bryan Cristante, Manu Koné and Wesley across the width. Rome's major newspapers offered varying formations in their predicted lineups ahead of the fixture. Gazzetta dello Sport, Corriere dello Sport, Tempo, Messaggero, Repubblica and Romanista all suggested a 3–4–2–1 or 3–4–1–2 structure, though they differed on whether Soulé or Mora would occupy the second attacking midfield slot. Romanews.eu predicted a 3–4–2–1 with Soulé in that role and Dybala flanking him, while other outlets split between the two options, reflecting the uncertainty Gasperini has yet to resolve.

Gian Piero Gasperini's Roma begin their Serie A campaign this evening at the Olimpico against a heavily refreshed Fiorentina. The squad setup is largely settled: Svilar in goal, a proven defensive three of Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso, with Molina making his official Roma debut on one flank and Wesley on the other. The only genuine uncertainty sits in the attacking midfield position, where Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora vie for the spot behind Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. Gasperini's formation hints at an attacking intent despite the tactical flexibility expected of the former Atalanta boss. Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné are locked in as the midfield pairing, with Molina's inclusion marking his competitive entry into the side. The Olimpico is set to display Roma colours in full, underlining the fresh start under new management in what shapes as a defining early test against Fiorentina's overhauled squad. Multiple outlets have converged on the likely XI. La Gazzetta dello Sport predicts a 3-4-1-2 shape with Soulé in the playmaking role and Dybala and Malen as the strike pair. Corriere dello Sport and Tuttosport both favour a 3-4-2-1 formation, positioning Soulé and Dybala together on the second line with Malen as the sole striker. Il Messaggero, Corriere della Sera and Il Tempo align with Gazzetta's 3-4-1-2 structure, again backing Soulé to start ahead of Mora in the attacking unit.

Roma face Fiorentina at the Olimpico at 20:45 tonight in the opening match of the Serie A season, with Gian Piero Gasperini preparing several significant choices for his debut fixture. The surprise selection could be Rodrigo Mora, who arrived only in recent days but is already a candidate for a starting shirt. The Portuguese forward is slightly favoured over Matías Soulé to play behind the partnership of Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. Gasperini is expected to deploy a 3-4-1-2 formation. Mile Svilar starts in goal with Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso forming the back three, though Konstantinos Koulierakis is pushing to displace the Spanish defender following encouraging signs in pre-season. Nahuel Molina and Wesley occupy the wing-backs, with Manu Koné returning to midfield. Bryan Cristante is slightly favoured over Neil El Aynaoui for the remaining midfield spot. Mora's immediate integration represents the most intriguing tactical choice, with Santiago Castro available as an important option from the bench. Fiorentina will respond with a 4-3-2-1 under Fabio Grosso. Their lineup includes goalkeeper De Gea, a back four of Jimenez, Dragusin, Ranieri and Valdepenas, Brescianini, Fagioli and Ndour in midfield, Gudmundsson and Atta in support, and Kean as the central striker.

Roma begin the 2026–27 season tonight at the Olimpico, hosting Fiorentina under coach Gian Piero Gasperini in a fixture expected to deliver intensity and attacking football. Kickoff is 20:45, and the stadium is sold out. Gasperini has settled on a 3–4–1–2 formation to suit the squad's strengths. The main pre-match question centres on the playmaker role, where young talent Rodrigo Mora is challenging Matías Soulé for a place, though the Argentine holds a slight edge after his summer work in that position. The rest of the starting eleven is confirmed: Mile Svilar in goal, with Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso across the defence; Wesley and Nahuel Molina on the flanks, the latter preferred to Devyne Rensch; Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné in midfield, as Niccolò Pisilli and Neil El Aynaoui are not at full fitness; Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen in attack, with Santiago Castro ready from the bench. Fiorentina arrive under Fabio Grosso with a heavily rebuilt squad, managing a transition period and the off-field situation involving Kean. Roma have shown steady progress in pre-season and carry the confidence of a strong finish to last season into this campaign.

Roma open their 2026–27 campaign at home to Fiorentina on 24 August at 20:45 at Stadio Olimpico, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini weighing a significant selection decision hours before kickoff. Rodrigo Mora, the young Portuguese talent who has impressed at Trigoria with his quality, vision and intensity, is a serious candidate to start in the playmaker role, potentially displacing Matías Soulé on the trequarti. The teenager's inclusion would support the attacking partnership of Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen in Gasperini's established 3–4–1–2 system. Gasperini has built his XI around familiar defensive foundations: Mile Svilar in goal, a back three of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso, with Nahuel Molina and Wesley covering the flanks. Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné anchor the midfield. The decision on Mora reflects Roma's strengthened squad depth this season, with options including Niccolò Pisilli's recovery, Neil El Aynaoui, Robinio Vaz, and the tactical flexibility offered by both Mora and Soulé as attacking alternatives—a level of squad quality the club has been building toward as the transfer window approaches its close.