Koulierakis arrives in Wales to join Gasperini and the squad

Marten De Roon's arrival at Roma in the final days of the summer transfer window had raised eyebrows among supporters, not least because of the departure of Neil El Aynaoui. The 35-year-old Dutch midfielder faced scepticism over his age and a history of social media provocations directed at Roma following clashes between his former club Atalanta and the Giallorossi. But in his early appearances, De Roon has already justified Gian Piero Gasperini's decision to reunite with him. Gasperini has deployed De Roon more frequently than any other player across his managerial career—361 appearances, compared to Toloi's 289—demonstrating the depth of their working relationship. De Roon left Atalanta after falling out of favour under Sarri, and Gasperini brought him to Roma on what amounted to a free transfer within 48 hours. His arrival initially unsettled Roma's fanbase due to past social media friction, but De Roon apologised immediately and made himself available. Though his competitive minutes remain limited—35 across Serie A and Champions League—his early impact has been positive, with Gasperini appearing to orchestrate play from the dugout with precision. De Roon brings valuable experience to a squad that is shorter than last season but higher in quality. After Paulo Dybala, he holds the second-most Champions League appearances in the group with 44, offering younger players like Niccolò Pisilli the chance to develop under an established presence. His integration has helped stabilise a Roma side operating with Gasperini's direct tactical methods.

Marten De Roon has arrived at Roma to rejoin Gian Piero Gasperini, the coach who has deployed him more frequently than any other manager in his career. The 35-year-old midfielder left Atalanta after Sarri and D'Amico determined he no longer fit their plans, and Roma secured him on what was reportedly a nominal fee within 48 hours. His exit from Bergamo prompted Atalanta ultras to unveil a pointed banner: "You chose to pass through our history but not to belong to it. Goodbye little flag." Gasperini responded swiftly: "Should he have become an old shoe gathering dust in a cupboard? He didn't leave of his own accord." De Roon's arrival initially unsettled Roma's fanbase, given tensions dating back to social media provocations in previous years. He apologised immediately and made himself available. Though his minutes remain limited—35 across Serie A and the Champions League—his impact has been positive. De Roon understands Gasperini's system instinctively; the coach appears to operate him with remote-control precision from the bench. The squad is smaller than last season but superior in quality, and his presence is a luxury. He has brought experience to the group: after Paulo Dybala, he ranks second for Champions League appearances with 44, and younger players such as Niccolò Pisilli can develop optimally alongside him.

Marten de Roon has rejoined Gian Piero Gasperini at Roma, reuniting with the coach he knows best after 361 appearances together across their time at Atalanta—far more than any other player Gasperini has managed, save Toloi with 289. The 35-year-old's departure from Bergamo drew sharp criticism from Atalanta's ultras, who unveiled a banner stating: "You chose to pass into our history but not to belong to it. Goodbye flag-carrier." Gasperini dismissed the barb, saying: "Should he have become an old shoe in a cupboard? He did not leave by his own choice." De Roon exited because he no longer fitted Sarri and D'Amico's plans at Atalanta, allowing Roma to bring him to the club quickly and at minimal cost in the space of 48 hours. De Roon's arrival initially caused unease among Roma's support, given his history of social-media provocations toward the club's fanbase, but he apologised immediately upon joining and has made himself available to Gasperini. Playing time has been limited—35 minutes across league and Champions League matches so far—though his impact has been positive. Gasperini appears to conduct de Roon almost telepathically, the midfielder knowing the coach's system inside out. Roma's squad is shorter than last season but measurably stronger in quality; having de Roon is described as a luxury. Beyond his tactical nous, he has brought experience: after Paulo Dybala, he holds the second-highest tally of Champions League appearances in the squad with 44, and younger players like Niccolò Pisilli can benefit from his presence as they develop.

Roma have conceded just one goal in their opening four league matches, reflecting the defensive solidity Gasperini has built with a central defence of the highest calibre. The additions of Balerdi and Koulierakis have reinforced a department already well-established, creating what Gasperini probably hoped to have available last season but did not. The wealth of options is now reshaping how the side defends. Evan N'Dicka commands the backline with his reading of play; Balerdi has impressed from the bench and in his league debut against Torino, winning over Roma's supporters. Gianluca Mancini has weathered early-season difficulties to deliver a strong performance at Torino. Mario Hermoso, the ever-reliable figure, has anchored the defence through demanding fixtures. Daniele Ghilardi impressed at Lecce, and Koulierakis waits his turn—however the combinations rotate, the defence stands as Roma's most complete department. Behind them, the goalkeeper between the posts no longer makes headlines, his standards now expected rather than celebrated. Roma lead Serie A with a single goal conceded so far. Among Europe's five major leagues, only Arsenal can match that defensive record. This defensive foundation arrives before Roma face Inter, whose forward line of Lautaro Martínez, Thuram, Esposito and Bonny has shown defensive frailty in their early season outings.

Gasperini faces the kind of problem he would have welcomed last season: an abundance of defensive options. Evan N'Dicka excels at difficult tackles, rarely conceding chances. Leonardo Balerdi has impressed from the bench and earned a starting place against Torino. Gianluca Mancini, despite early errors, showed his resilience at Torino. Mario Hermoso has steadied the backline in these opening matches, anchoring Roma through difficult moments. Daniele Ghilardi impressed at Lecce, and Konstantinos Koulierakis provides further depth—however the defence is composed, it remains Roma's most complete department. The numbers validate Gasperini's setup. Roma have conceded just one goal, the best defensive record in Serie A. Among Europe's top five leagues, only Arsenal can match that figure. This defensive solidity represents Roma's strongest calling card ahead of a fixture against Inter, whose defence has shown more than a few problems in their opening matches despite the presence of players including Lautaro, Thuram, Esposito and Bonny. Behind the goals stands a goalkeeper who, like Donyell Malen in attack, has become almost routine in his excellence and generates little headlines. The depth available to the head coach reflects what the article describes as "excellent" defending at Lecce and the overall strength of Roma's backline across their opening fixtures.

Roma's defensive department has emerged as one of the strongest in Europe through the opening weeks of the 2026-27 campaign. After finishing last season as Serie A's second-best defence behind Como, the backline under Gian Piero Gasperini has been further reinforced with the arrivals of Leonardo Balerdi and Konstantinos Koulierakis, joining established defenders Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, Mario Hermoso and Daniele Ghilardi. In this season's opening fixtures, Roma have conceded just one goal—scored by Ederson in the match against Atalanta. Comparing the opening rounds across Europe's five major leagues, Roma's defensive record is matched only by Arsenal, the runners-up in the European championship, who have also conceded a single goal in their first four matches. Freiburg in the Bundesliga has the same record but across three games played, while Real Madrid and Barcelona in La Liga have both conceded four goals and four clubs in Ligue 1 sit at two goals conceded. At shot-on-target metrics, Roma rank second in Serie A, allowing an average of three shots per match—just behind Como's 2.75—while Arsenal lead across Europe with 2.25 per game, according to Sofascore data. Goalkeeper Mile Svilar has provided crucial protection between the posts, making decisive interventions in moments of defensive vulnerability. This strong defensive performance stands in sharp contrast to Inter, Roma's next league opponent, who have already conceded six goals in their opening matches.

Gianluca Mancini has silenced his doubters with an impressive performance, capping a week in which the Roma defender faced scrutiny over errors in matches against Atalanta and Fenerbahce. A selfie with children outside Trigoria yesterday underscored his commitment to the giallorossi colours. After coming under fire from some quarters who called for Leonardo Balerdi to replace him, Mancini delivered a strong showing, even taking the captain's armband after Bryan Cristante's substitution. Inter, who made a significant move for him in the summer, now face him as an opponent — a test of the resolve Mancini showed when he chose Roma over a financially superior offer elsewhere. The 23-year-old has committed his future to the club, signing a contract extension through 2029. He is expected to start on Saturday in the heart of Roma's defence alongside Mario Hermoso and either Evan N'Dicka or Balerdi as the team prepares to confront Inter's attacking threat. Mancini could have decided to face Roma as an adversary this summer, but rejected that path. Instead, he is set to enjoy a Serie A campaign that has begun with high expectations and his first Champions League season as a key player.

Radio Roma commentators are backing Roma to upset Inter in their upcoming league fixture, with analyst Mario Mattioli declaring Roma in the better psychological state to spring a surprise. Mattioli said: "Never like this time can Roma pull off a trick on Inter: in my view at this moment I see them superior to the Nerazzurri in character and psychological predisposition, I see them very consistent. Inter has more ups and downs: they concede two goals but then overturn it. Never like this time can Roma win it. But if the match doesn't open up in regular time, I don't rule out that in the end it could finish in a draw." Roma have not beaten Inter since November 2018, but commentators believe the pressure-based system Gasperini has installed offers a route to victory. David Rossi highlighted that "Roma has understood what the manager wants, they all go in the same direction, there's no one who breaks ranks. Inter is a team that suffers under pressure… when pressed well, man-to-man, it can run into difficulty." Fabio Petruzzi praised the conviction shown against Turin, noting Roma "doesn't fear playing high, plays with the defence on the midfield line, doesn't fear conceding goals. It's a calculated risk. The mentality of going onto any pitch and not fearing one-v-one football across the entire field is the most beautiful thing." Nando Orsi cautioned that the fixture will be revealing, saying: "This match can give different judgements compared to what we've seen so far because neither of the two has faced important teams until now." Francesca Ferrazza anticipated tactical rotation, predicting: "Gasperini doesn't put out the usual formation, in my view on Saturday with a more advanced midfielder in Cristante or Pisilli, and putting Dybala and Malen up front." The defence remains a live selection question. Alessio Nardo noted that the Mancini–Balerdi–Hermoso trio is "perhaps one of the fiercest trios and most temperamental," while Lorenzo Pes assessed the Balerdi versus Ndícka choice as "50–50," noting Ndícka's familiarity with the defensive unit may give him the edge. Roberto Pruzzo, a Roma legend, expressed concern about Inter's strength in depth, observing they have two squads and reacted powerfully after conceding two goals in recent form.

Niccolò Pisilli has impressed in Roma's opening matches after overcoming a difficult summer, and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is weighing how to use him in the coming fixture against Inter. Gasperini has long admired the 21-year-old midfielder, who will turn 22 in a week. Last season the coach praised Pisilli's development repeatedly and made his commitment to the club explicit in January, saying he would "stay here". Pisilli has repaid that faith on the pitch, delivering the kind of outside-the-box shots that few other midfielders in the Roma squad possess. Before the Torino match, Gasperini was direct about his midfield depth: "In midfield we have four players, all four are essential and important." The numbers back him up. Pisilli has already scored 10 goals in 82 Roma appearances (across 5 assists)—a tally De Rossi reached in 105 matches. Remarkably, 7 of his 10 goals came after the 80th minute and 3 beyond the 90th, a striking pattern that underscores his impact as a substitute. Against Inter, he could start again, though potentially in a different role. With Koné expected to return to midfield alongside Cristante and de Roon ready to come off the bench, Gasperini may deploy Pisilli as a trequartista behind Dybala and Malen. This positioning would allow him to support the midfield—more so than Soulé or Mora—while leveraging his ability to strike from distance and find space between the lines to create attacking threats.

Gasperini made three tactical adjustments in the 55th minute during Roma's match against Torino, transforming the side from their standard 3-4-1-2 formation into a more compact 3-5-2 to protect the midfield and manage the game at a critical moment. With Roma bright in the first half but tiring in the second, and Torino pressing harder after their tactical shift, the coach reshaped his defence and midfield: Balerdi dropped to midfield during out-of-possession phases, allowing Mancini to slot into the back three, while Lulli moved to the right as a centre-back and Soulé was lowered to the right flank to provide additional balance. The adjustment proved decisive, giving Roma greater defensive cover without sacrificing attacking threat and allowing them to resist Torino's pressure before securing victory with late goals from Malen and Dybala. The change exemplified Gasperini's approach to in-game management—reading the match, shifting shape at the right moment, and maintaining Roma's identity while adapting to opposition movements. Where Torino's increased intensity and the injection of Braganca had created danger, Roma's new shape absorbed pressure and controlled the midfield space. Gasperini's willingness to vary his setup without abandoning his 3-4-1-2 framework, toggling between formations as circumstances demand, has become a hallmark of his tenure at the club. The tactical evolution comes with Inter's visit next on the horizon—another fixture demanding close reading of the game and precision in execution. Gasperini's Roma are proving capable of winning through detail, intensity, and sustained concentration across the full 90 minutes, qualities the coach is embedding as the side plots their course through the season.

Gianluca Mancini has silenced his doubters with an impressive performance, capping a week in which the Roma defender faced scrutiny over errors in matches against Atalanta and Fenerbahce. A selfie with children outside Trigoria yesterday underscored his commitment to the giallorossi colours. After coming under fire from some quarters who called for Leonardo Balerdi to replace him, Mancini delivered a strong showing, even taking the captain's armband after Bryan Cristante's substitution. Inter, who made a significant move for him in the summer, now face him as an opponent — a test of the resolve Mancini showed when he chose Roma over a financially superior offer elsewhere. The 23-year-old has committed his future to the club, signing a contract extension through 2029. He is expected to start on Saturday in the heart of Roma's defence alongside Mario Hermoso and either Evan N'Dicka or Balerdi as the team prepares to confront Inter's attacking threat. Mancini could have decided to face Roma as an adversary this summer, but rejected that path. Instead, he is set to enjoy a Serie A campaign that has begun with high expectations and his first Champions League season as a key player.

Radio Roma commentators are backing Roma to upset Inter in their upcoming league fixture, with analyst Mario Mattioli declaring Roma in the better psychological state to spring a surprise. Mattioli said: "Never like this time can Roma pull off a trick on Inter: in my view at this moment I see them superior to the Nerazzurri in character and psychological predisposition, I see them very consistent. Inter has more ups and downs: they concede two goals but then overturn it. Never like this time can Roma win it. But if the match doesn't open up in regular time, I don't rule out that in the end it could finish in a draw." Roma have not beaten Inter since November 2018, but commentators believe the pressure-based system Gasperini has installed offers a route to victory. David Rossi highlighted that "Roma has understood what the manager wants, they all go in the same direction, there's no one who breaks ranks. Inter is a team that suffers under pressure… when pressed well, man-to-man, it can run into difficulty." Fabio Petruzzi praised the conviction shown against Turin, noting Roma "doesn't fear playing high, plays with the defence on the midfield line, doesn't fear conceding goals. It's a calculated risk. The mentality of going onto any pitch and not fearing one-v-one football across the entire field is the most beautiful thing." Nando Orsi cautioned that the fixture will be revealing, saying: "This match can give different judgements compared to what we've seen so far because neither of the two has faced important teams until now." Francesca Ferrazza anticipated tactical rotation, predicting: "Gasperini doesn't put out the usual formation, in my view on Saturday with a more advanced midfielder in Cristante or Pisilli, and putting Dybala and Malen up front." The defence remains a live selection question. Alessio Nardo noted that the Mancini–Balerdi–Hermoso trio is "perhaps one of the fiercest trios and most temperamental," while Lorenzo Pes assessed the Balerdi versus Ndícka choice as "50–50," noting Ndícka's familiarity with the defensive unit may give him the edge. Roberto Pruzzo, a Roma legend, expressed concern about Inter's strength in depth, observing they have two squads and reacted powerfully after conceding two goals in recent form.