Koné returns as Roma draw 2–2 with Borussia Dortmund in pre-season

Mats Hummels was honoured by both Borussia Dortmund and AS Roma before a friendly between the two clubs on 15 August 2026. The former defender, who spent significant time with both organisations in the latter stages of his career, greeted former Roma teammates and staff members ahead of kick-off. Before the match, Hummels received two commemorative plaques in recognition of the bonds he built with each club. Roma's CEO John Galantic personally presented the Giallorossi's plaque to the ex-centre-back. The friendly offered Hummels an emotional return to the Roma world and a chance to reconnect with the club that formed a key chapter in his recent playing history.

Mats Hummels was present at Borussia Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park to watch the friendly between Dortmund and Roma on 15 August 2026. The German defender, who played for Roma during the 2025–26 season, received a special award before the match. CEO John Galantic presented Hummels with a relief of the She-wolf, Roma's iconic emblem, in recognition of his time at the club. The friendly served as the final pre-season test for Gasperini's Roma squad ahead of the new campaign. Hummels took to the pitch wearing Dortmund's colours, marking his return to the Bundesliga club where he spent the majority of his career before his spell in Rome.

Mats Hummels was present at Signal Iduna Park on 15 August 2026 to watch the friendly between Borussia Dortmund and AS Roma. The German defender, a 2014 World Cup winner who spent 13 years with Dortmund and one season with Roma, was recognised before the match with commemorative plaques presented by the two clubs' CEOs, Carsten Cramer and John Galantic. Hummels spent time with some of his former teammates during Roma's warm-up, and had also attended the women's friendly earlier in the day, which Dortmund won 1–0.

Roma played their final pre-season friendly against Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park on 15 August, with kickoff at 17:30. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini left Molina on the bench and deployed Lulli at left-back in Wesley's absence. Donyell Malen led the attack in a 3-4-2-1 formation that also featured Mile Svilar in goal, a back line of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, and Mario Hermoso, midfielders Devyne Rensch, Neil El Aynaoui, Bryan Cristante and Lulli, with Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé in support. The match offered Gasperini a chance to assess the squad's development ahead of the new season. Dortmund lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation under coach Kovac, with Gregor Kobel in goal and Serhou Guirassy leading their attack. Roma had several players available on the bench, including De Marzi, Pierluigi Gollini, Koulierakis, Castro, Manu Koné, Molina, Jan Ziółkowski, Mannini, Reale, Robinio Vaz, Morucci and Daniele Ghilardi.

Roma close their pre-season programme against Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini using the fixture as a final opportunity to assess his squad before the league season begins. The friendly marks Roma's last warm-up match after weeks of preparation at Trigoria and their summer retreat. Gasperini fielded a 3-4-2-1 formation with Mile Svilar in goal, a back three of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso, and Donyell Malen leading the attack alongside Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé. Bryan Cristante and Neil El Aynaoui operated in midfield, with Devyne Rensch and Lulli providing width. The match provided Gasperini with a chance to verify the squad's condition and resolve final doubts ahead of the competitive season. Borussia Dortmund, managed by Niko Kovac, lined up in a 3-4-1-2. The Signal Iduna Park clash served as a significant test of Roma's preparations, with all attention shifting to their league debut once the game concluded.

Paulo Dybala has consolidated his status as Roma's cornerstone player despite an injury-depleted forward line under Gian Piero Gasperini. The club initially weighed the possibility of parting with the Argentine at the end of his contract, mindful of his €8 million net annual salary in the 2025–26 season and the 21 matches he missed due to physical problems. However, a contract extension through 2027, confirmed on 13 July, resolved all doubts. Dybala accepted a 70% salary reduction to remain in giallorosso colours, demonstrating his deep attachment to the club. With Stephan El Shaarawy departing on a free transfer, Lorenzo Venturino and Bryan Zaragoza returning to their parent clubs, and Lorenzo Pellegrini sidelined by injury, Dybala and Matías Soulé carry almost the entire responsibility for the attacking midfield role. His experience proves invaluable ahead of Roma's European campaign: Dybala's 53 Champions League appearances make him the squad's most seasoned European player, ahead of Nahuel Molina (37 appearances), Donyell Malen and Mario Hermoso (31 each). Against Borussia Dortmund in a friendly on 15 August at 17:30, Dybala is set once again to lead the team on the pitch, confirming his status as both a technical and commercial pillar of the club.

Roma played their final pre-season friendly against Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park on 15 August, with kickoff at 17:30. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini left Molina on the bench and deployed Lulli at left-back in Wesley's absence. Donyell Malen led the attack in a 3-4-2-1 formation that also featured Mile Svilar in goal, a back line of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, and Mario Hermoso, midfielders Devyne Rensch, Neil El Aynaoui, Bryan Cristante and Lulli, with Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé in support. The match offered Gasperini a chance to assess the squad's development ahead of the new season. Dortmund lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation under coach Kovac, with Gregor Kobel in goal and Serhou Guirassy leading their attack. Roma had several players available on the bench, including De Marzi, Pierluigi Gollini, Koulierakis, Castro, Manu Koné, Molina, Jan Ziółkowski, Mannini, Reale, Robinio Vaz, Morucci and Daniele Ghilardi.

Roma close their pre-season programme against Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini using the fixture as a final opportunity to assess his squad before the league season begins. The friendly marks Roma's last warm-up match after weeks of preparation at Trigoria and their summer retreat. Gasperini fielded a 3-4-2-1 formation with Mile Svilar in goal, a back three of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso, and Donyell Malen leading the attack alongside Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé. Bryan Cristante and Neil El Aynaoui operated in midfield, with Devyne Rensch and Lulli providing width. The match provided Gasperini with a chance to verify the squad's condition and resolve final doubts ahead of the competitive season. Borussia Dortmund, managed by Niko Kovac, lined up in a 3-4-1-2. The Signal Iduna Park clash served as a significant test of Roma's preparations, with all attention shifting to their league debut once the game concluded.

Roma face Borussia Dortmund in a prestige friendly at Signal Iduna Park on 15 August, kick-off 17:30, in what Gasperini has confirmed will be the club's final warm-up before the Serie A campaign begins. Wesley, the Brazilian full-back, will not travel after sustaining a light ankle sprain on 14 August; he will remain in Rome for treatment with the intention of being available for the Serie A opener against Fiorentina on 24 August. Lorenzo Pellegrini, fresh from a contract renewal, continues his pre-season conditioning programme and is absent from the squad, as is Niccolò Pisilli, who has not yet recovered from injury and is working individually. Nahuel Molina, who has been training at Trigoria for several days, is among the 23 players named by Gasperini and could make his Roma debut from the first minute, particularly given Wesley's absence. Manu Koné, the midfielder, has also been included after mixing individual and group work. Gasperini is expected to field a familiar XI in defence—Svilar in goal behind Mancini, N'Dicka, and Hermoso—with Molina and Rensch on the flanks, Cristante and either El Aynaoui or Koné in midfield, and Dybala and Soulé supporting Malen up front. The Signal Iduna Park is sold out. The women's teams will also play beforehand at Stadio Rote Erde at 13:00. The men's match will be broadcast on DAZN.

Roma played their final pre-season friendly against Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park on 15 August, with kickoff at 17:30. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini left Molina on the bench and deployed Lulli at left-back in Wesley's absence. Donyell Malen led the attack in a 3-4-2-1 formation that also featured Mile Svilar in goal, a back line of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, and Mario Hermoso, midfielders Devyne Rensch, Neil El Aynaoui, Bryan Cristante and Lulli, with Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé in support. The match offered Gasperini a chance to assess the squad's development ahead of the new season. Dortmund lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation under coach Kovac, with Gregor Kobel in goal and Serhou Guirassy leading their attack. Roma had several players available on the bench, including De Marzi, Pierluigi Gollini, Koulierakis, Castro, Manu Koné, Molina, Jan Ziółkowski, Mannini, Reale, Robinio Vaz, Morucci and Daniele Ghilardi.

Roma close their pre-season programme against Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini using the fixture as a final opportunity to assess his squad before the league season begins. The friendly marks Roma's last warm-up match after weeks of preparation at Trigoria and their summer retreat. Gasperini fielded a 3-4-2-1 formation with Mile Svilar in goal, a back three of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso, and Donyell Malen leading the attack alongside Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé. Bryan Cristante and Neil El Aynaoui operated in midfield, with Devyne Rensch and Lulli providing width. The match provided Gasperini with a chance to verify the squad's condition and resolve final doubts ahead of the competitive season. Borussia Dortmund, managed by Niko Kovac, lined up in a 3-4-1-2. The Signal Iduna Park clash served as a significant test of Roma's preparations, with all attention shifting to their league debut once the game concluded.

Roma face Borussia Dortmund in a prestige friendly at Signal Iduna Park on 15 August, kick-off 17:30, in what Gasperini has confirmed will be the club's final warm-up before the Serie A campaign begins. Wesley, the Brazilian full-back, will not travel after sustaining a light ankle sprain on 14 August; he will remain in Rome for treatment with the intention of being available for the Serie A opener against Fiorentina on 24 August. Lorenzo Pellegrini, fresh from a contract renewal, continues his pre-season conditioning programme and is absent from the squad, as is Niccolò Pisilli, who has not yet recovered from injury and is working individually. Nahuel Molina, who has been training at Trigoria for several days, is among the 23 players named by Gasperini and could make his Roma debut from the first minute, particularly given Wesley's absence. Manu Koné, the midfielder, has also been included after mixing individual and group work. Gasperini is expected to field a familiar XI in defence—Svilar in goal behind Mancini, N'Dicka, and Hermoso—with Molina and Rensch on the flanks, Cristante and either El Aynaoui or Koné in midfield, and Dybala and Soulé supporting Malen up front. The Signal Iduna Park is sold out. The women's teams will also play beforehand at Stadio Rote Erde at 13:00. The men's match will be broadcast on DAZN.