Lulli aims to impress Gasperini with defensive nous and attacking drive

Roma's early-season form has exposed a critical tactical and psychological vulnerability during the transition from the first half into the second half, with over 40% of goals conceded across league and cup matches occurring in the window between the 35th minute of the first half and the 60th minute of the second half. The period from the 46th to 60th minute—the opening quarter-hour after the break—has proven particularly dangerous, registering the highest expected goals against (xGA) in relation to the volume of shots attempted by opponents. This recurring collapse in focus has directly cost Roma results in several matches this season, often manifesting as either a loss of shape during defensive transitions or a breakdown in the cleanness of initial build-up play. Analysis using the Time-Chunk breakdown method reveals a stark performance split across the 90 minutes. The root cause stems from a combination of physical and tactical factors. Upon returning from the dressing room, Roma's pressing efficiency deteriorates dramatically, measured by the PPDA index (Passes Allowed per Defensive Action). In the first thirty minutes, Roma limits opposing passes to just 7.1 before forcing a defensive action; this metric jumps to 13.2 after the interval. This relaxation in pressing intensity allows opposing teams to establish comfortable possession in their own half, find time to scan the field, and exploit the width or penetrate depth with relative ease. Compounding the problem is a neuromuscular reactivation delay: ground duels won drop below 45% in the opening ten minutes of the second half, compared to 62% in the first period. This reactive deficit cascades through the team—fewer second balls captured in the attacking third, delayed one-on-one coverage on the wings, and an inability to break up opponent transitions with preventive fouls. Tactically, opposing coaches use the interval to reorganize their escape routes from Roma's initial press. When Roma fails to return with the same aggressive mentality as the kickoff, opposing teams successfully adjust, leaving Roma exposed in the critical space between the midfield line and the defensive block. Data tracking confirms the profound transformation in the squad's performance between kick-off and the return from the break. Addressing this structural problem requires intervention across multiple levels. On the methodological front, the club must modify warm-up routines and physical and cognitive reactivation protocols during the 15-minute break to eliminate the sluggish "mental cold" in the opening minutes of the second half. Strategically, earlier substitutions around the 50th–55th minute would introduce fresh legs in high-expenditure roles such as the wing-backs and interior midfielders. In terms of in-game reading, the first 300 seconds of the second half should prioritize measured possession management and systematic targeting of set plays, slowing the opponent's rhythm to allow the team to restore proper distances on the pitch.

Donyell Malen was a special guest at the Stadio Tre Fontane on 30 September 2026, attending Roma Women's debut in the UEFA Women's Champions League against Barcelona. The Roma forward arrived with his partner Delisha and took a seat in the stands. When spotted by supporters, he stopped to sign autographs and pose for photographs with fans of all ages. Roma's social media captured his arrival at the stadium. Malen's presence at the fixture had a particular purpose: to watch his partner's sister, Silver Van Hetten, who has recently signed with Roma's women's youth academy (Primavera femminile). Van Hetten will train and compete alongside the Roma Women squad.

Manu Koné addressed speculation about a potential move away from Roma during a France national team press conference ahead of their match against Italy on Friday 2 October at 20:45. The midfielder acknowledged the late summer transfer window interest but reaffirmed his commitment to the club. "Things happened… I'm at Roma, I'm focused, we have objectives. I'm a Roma player and I'll give 100% for this club," Koné said. Roma are preparing to mark their centenary year, which begins in 2027. The club will launch the celebrations at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday 2 January when they face Frosinone. In a significant gesture, Roma will wear a special one-off commemorative shirt for that fixture—a kit designed exclusively to honour the club's hundred years since foundation and distinct from the kits that will be used throughout the 2027–28 season. Midfielder Nicolò Pisilli spoke separately about a recurring date in his career. "10 October is my date—it's a day bringing me luck in recent years," he told Vivo Azzurro TV in the Generazione Azzurra format. "In 2024 I made my senior Italy debut at the Olimpico, my club's stadium and my home city. In 2025 I scored my first Under-21 double." Pisilli added that his ambitions include winning a Serie A title with Roma and a World Cup with Italy.

Como's squad has accumulated more minutes in international duty during the current break than Roma's, a factor that could influence the upcoming league fixture between the two sides. Cesc Fabregas's Como squad saw 15 players called up across various national teams and age groups, while Gian Piero Gasperini's Roma contingent numbered 12. Como's representatives included Kean and Ricci (Italy), Da Cunha and Butez (France), Baturina and Smolcic (Croatia), Douvikas (Greece), Chalobah (England), Diao (Senegal), Paz (Argentina), Kambwala (Congo), Liberali (Italy Under 21), Ramon, Valle and Rodriguez (Spain Under 21). Roma's included Mancini and Ghilardi (Italy), Koné (France), Balerdi, Soulé and Castro (Argentina), N'Dicka (Ivory Coast), Koulierakis (Greece), Lulli and Pisilli (Italy Under 21), Mora (Portugal U21), and De Marzi (USA Under 19). As of yesterday evening, Como's 15 players had accumulated 770 minutes of international action, while Roma's 12 had totalled 450 minutes. Further matches remain to be played in the international window, meaning the figures will change.

Roman radio stations aired opinions on three key Roma stories on 28 September 2026. Piero Torri of Manà Manà Sport (90.9) predicted that a new stadium would transform the club's finances. 'Today could be an important day for Roma's stadium,' Torri said. 'There should be final approval, then it will be up to Roma to build it and deliver it quickly. It would be a guarantee of revenue growth that would bring you closer to the elite of European football. There is an absolute need for the stadium, otherwise everything becomes complicated. For starters, you would no longer pay the rent on the stadium, which is several million euros. Plus there will be around a hundred suites that cost a lot of money to purchase for a year, and those can guarantee you 10–20 million euros a year. You could increase revenue by 30–40%.' Other commentators assessed Roma's recent decisions. Lorenzo Pes of Tele Radio Stereo (92.7) discussed the transfer of Gianluca Romano and a potential return for Francesco Totti at the 2027 centenary. 'On Romano, things have turned around: from a phenomenon he has become a flop,' Pes said. 'I hope the policy of rejuvenation continues, even if it means tough evenings like the one the other night. The road is long and uphill, but at least it is a road to travel. Totti? There is certainly coolness in relations with Roma, but I will leave a small door open for the centenary.' Francesca Ferrazza of Tele Radio Stereo (92.7) addressed a report about Francesco Totti's image rights and Roma's sale of shirts bearing his number 10. 'Roma has put the proceeds of shirts sold with the 10 in the accounts,' Ferrazza explained, 'and at that point Totti's legal team contacted Roma to discuss it. That is a different issue, because presented that way it looks as though Totti is obsessed with money.' Roberto Pruzzo of Radio Radio (104.5) praised Emanuele Lulli's display in a friendly match in England, saying the defender 'seems like a lad who deserves it' in Roma's context. Nando Orsi of Radio Radio (104.5) defended the loan of Romano to Spezia, noting that player development often takes time and that scouting errors must be minimised.

Roma and Emanuele Lulli's representatives are working on a contract renewal, with his current deal set to expire on 30 June. The update came as part of a roundup of commentary from Rome radio stations on club matters. Lulli, a young squad member, impressed in a recent friendly in England, prompting radio commentator Roberto Pruzzo to note: "He made a good showing in that friendly in England. It was a pleasant surprise. For Roma, where you need alternatives, he seems like a lad who deserves his chance." The defender's extension reflects the club's confidence in his development as a long-term option at the Stadio Olimpico. Separately, radio analyst Andrea Verdenelli criticised Italy's national team selection, saying: "It is unacceptable not to see Pisilli in the senior national team." Niccolò Pisilli remains a Roma academy product and has established himself in the club's midfield setup this season. His absence from the latest Italy squad drew public frustration from the broadcaster, underlining the belief among some observers that he merits a higher level of international recognition. The radio coverage also touched on broader club developments. Commentators discussed the stadium project as a critical priority for Roma's future revenue and competitiveness in European football, with several noting stadium income through match-day operations, corporate suites and the elimination of rental costs as key drivers of financial growth. Francesco Totti's relationship with the club also featured in discussion, with one analyst noting lingering distance in relations but suggesting a potential opening for involvement in Roma's centenary celebrations in 2027.

Nahuel Molina has become one of Gasperini's most dangerous players in Roma's opening Serie A fixtures, proving to be a decisive summer acquisition for €13 million. The Argentine has demonstrated his impact through aggressive ball recovery in advanced positions—notably helping create Manu Koné's opening goal—and his consistent threat from distance. After five league matches, Molina ranks among Serie A's best for chances created (2.9 per 90 minutes, behind only Dybala and Wesley in giallorosso), ball recoveries (5.04 per 90), and possessions won in the opponent's third (0.78 per 90), according to Sofascore data. Roma have finally secured a right-sided threat matching Gasperini's tactical demands, addressing a weakness from last season when the club saw only sporadic contributions from a combination of Zeki Çelik and Kostas Tsimikas on that flank. Alongside other key acquisitions—Donyell Malen, Paulo Dybala and Leonardo Balerdi—Molina is reshaping the team's profile. Some observers outside Rome had already suggested he represented a downgrade compared to Çelik, but offensive and defensive statistics offer no room for interpretation. Molina's record through early September demonstrates substantial improvement across all phases: key passes, dribbling, expected assists, ball recoveries and possessions won in the advanced third all favour the Argentine over his predecessor.

Roma hold first place in Serie A ahead of Saturday's fixture against Inter. The side has conceded only one goal in the league this season—Ederson's effort in Atalanta's limited attempts—a defensive record matched among Europe's top five leagues only by Arsenal, the Europa League runners-up. In Germany, Freiburg lead with one goal conceded in three matches; in Spain, Real Madrid and Barcelona both have four; in France, four clubs have conceded two. Gasperini has overhauled Roma's defence compared to last season. Out are N'Dicka, Wesley and Koné; in are Balerdi, Molina and Pisilli. Balerdi and Molina have just arrived—Argentine internationals of substance, neither a routine acquisition. Balerdi missed the World Cup through injury; Molina was Copa América runner-up alongside Paulo Dybala after winning the World Cup in Qatar. The contrast with last season is stark. A year ago, Gasperini would have replaced N'Dicka and Wesley with Ziolkowski and Tsimikas, neither of whom remain at the club. Similarly, El Aynaoui would have started in place of Koné, but he too was moved on after just one season.

Roma's evolution under coach Gian Piero Gasperini has taken shape across two decisive fixtures—the Champions League debut against Fenerbahce in Istanbul on Thursday and a four-day-later trip to Turin against Torino—that showcase the impact of the summer transfer market overhaul steered by new sporting director D'Amico. In the first match, Roma's return to Europe's elite competition after a seven-year absence saw Gasperini field performers who had earned third place in Serie A. Against Torino, however, two summer signings started, with three more introduced during play as Roma secured a fourth consecutive league win. Despite missing three key players—Evan N'Dicka, Wesley, and Manu Koné—Roma maintained tactical identity and attacking threat at Turin, underlining how the summer reinforcements have strengthened the squad's reliability compared to the previous season. The shift in personnel tells the story plainly. A year ago, Gasperini would have replaced N'Dicka and Wesley with Kostas Tsimikas and Jan Ziółkowski; neither remains at Trigoria. Manu Koné's role would have gone to Neil El Aynaoui, who has been moved on after one season, as have Tsimikas and Ziółkowski. In their place came Leonardo Balerdi and Nahuel Molina, both Argentine internationals—Balerdi absent from last year's World Cup only through injury, Molina a Qatar winner alongside Paulo Dybala and recently a World Cup runner-up. Niccolò Pisilli, grown into his role at the start of 2026 and a national team player, has inherited Koné's midfield spot. Gasperini paired Balerdi immediately with Marten de Roon, who arrived from Bergamo in the final moments of the window and played more than half the second half against Torino. Lorenzo Pellegrini, called up after five months out, extended Gasperini's roster of captains—the coach has made clear he possesses multiple leaders beyond Bryan Cristante and Gianluca Mancini. Gasperini operates what he calls the "law of sixteen," seeking to deploy the same core of players in every match to guarantee brilliance, intensity and competitive edge. He refuses publicly to divide his squad into starters and substitutes; there is no difference between a player who begins and one who enters in progress. New sporting director D'Amico's tenure has produced a squad numerically smaller than its predecessor, as D'Amico himself acknowledged, yet Gasperini presented it at full strength in Turin. The article notes that one or two adjustments in January may be needed to perfect the squad further.

Roma's players on loan across Europe experienced a mixed week of midweek and league fixtures. Neil El Aynaoui performed well for RB Leipzig despite a 2–0 home defeat to Bayer Leverkusen, completing 31 of 34 passes and winning 8 of 14 duels while receiving a yellow card in the 74th minute. His statistical rating reached 7.2, among Leipzig's best performances. Anass Salah-Eddine made a convincing debut for Panathinaikos in a Greek Cup tie against Kifisia, playing all 90 minutes on the left flank in a 2–0 victory. FotMob rated him 7.3 for a clean display as Panathinaikos dominated with 71 per cent possession in the first half. By contrast, Angeliño's week at Deportivo La Coruña ended disastrously: he was sent off for a challenge on Miguel Sierra in the 59th minute of a midweek fixture against Sevilla—initially given a yellow card before the VAR review led to a direct red—leaving his side to lose 1–0 already down in the scoreline. Statistical ratings gave him just 5.7, and Deportivo manager Hidalgo noted how the expulsion undermined the team's comeback effort. Angeliño subsequently missed the following 1–1 draw against Betis through suspension. Mohamed Seck at Foggia produced sharply contrasting displays within days. Playing 90 minutes in a goalless midweek draw against Savoia, he was identified as Foggia's best performer, winning nearly every duel against opposing attackers. Coach Auteri retained him for the next match against Inter U23, but this time his form dipped noticeably. Foggia lost 2–1, and a careless passing error by Seck enabled the decisive goal from Fumagalli. Foggiacalciomania rated him 5.5, noting good physical condition but a costly mistake. The week illustrated the growth trajectory of a defender aged just 20, with evident talent and physicality that must be coupled with fewer lapses in concentration. Elsewhere, Federico Nardin at Pescara played the full 90 minutes in a 1–1 midweek draw against Gubbio, earning ratings of 6 and 6.9 for personality and reliability despite some refinements needed, but sat out the subsequent 1–0 win at Vado. Filippo Reale completed 90 minutes for Carrarese in a 1–0 home defeat to Benevento, earning 6 and 6.7 ratings for an orderly display, while Luigi Cherubini entered at the 77th minute for Benevento and struck the post with a close chance in the 83rd. Radoslaw Zelezny, Perugia's goalkeeper, conceded five goals across two matches but received ratings of 6 in both a 3–0 home loss to Spezia and a 2–0 away defeat at Grosseto, with no clear responsibility on most goals. Robinio Vaz at Hull City entered off the bench in the 78th minute during a 2–1 loss at Newcastle after more than ten minutes without notable incident, marking his second consecutive Premier League appearance. Marash Kumbulla remained unused at Rayo Vallecano despite being named in squads for a 2–1 win against Espanyol and a 1–1 draw at Osasuna. Jan Ziolkowski has not returned to action for Monza, continuing recovery from plantar fasciitis. Artem Dovbyk spent another week without playing time at Bologna.

Angeliño, loaned to Deportivo La Coruña this summer with a buy option, made his first start in a year in the sixth matchday of Liga between Deportivo and Seville on 17 September 2026. The move brought no luck. After sitting on the bench for the opening four rounds, Angeliño was fielded in the starting XI but lasted only until the 60th minute, when he was sent off for a hard challenge on Miguel Sierra. The referee initially showed yellow but upgraded it to red after consulting the VAR. The dismissal came at the worst moment for Deportivo, who were already trailing 0–1 following Sierra's goal in the 52nd minute. Seville held on to win 0–1, leaving Angeliño's long-awaited return to competitive action marked by a straight red card.

Roma players out on loan delivered mixed results across a busy weekend of football, with Alessandro Romano continuing to impress in Serie A while others made their debuts for their temporary clubs. Romano played all 90 minutes as Cagliari defeated Atalanta 2–1 at Bergamo, and created a chance for Mendy early in the second half that was ruled out for marginal offside. The 20-year-old also fired from distance in the 15th minute, forcing a corner from Carnesecchi. Under coach Pisacane, Romano has become an established starter and is at Cagliari on a loan with an obligation to buy should certain sporting conditions be met. Neil El Aynaoui experienced a contrasting week at RB Leipzig. The Moroccan midfielder played the full match in the Bundesliga club's 4–1 Champions League defeat away at Como on Thursday, then returned to the starting XI in Bundesliga action on Sunday, playing 74 minutes in a 5–0 victory over Hamburg without scoring or assisting. He remains on loan with a right of redemption. Robinio Vaz made his Premier League debut for Hull City, entering at the 82nd minute in place of McBurnie during an away fixture at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea. Hull secured a 2–2 draw, and Vaz, born in 2007, now has his first minutes in English football under his belt. He too is on loan with a right of redemption. Other Roma loanees had quieter weekends. Mattia Mannini made his Benevento debut off the bench, replacing Siatounis in the 74th minute of a 3–1 win against Hellas Verona—his first appearance after being unused at Ascoli. Filippo Reale played 90 minutes at left centre-back in Carrarese's 1–0 home defeat to Catanzaro, the goal coming from Iemmello in the 83rd minute. Radoslaw Zelezny started in goal for Perugia away at Ravenna but saw his side lose 3–0 after being reduced to ten men when Kabashi was sent off late in the first half. He had kept a clean sheet in a win against Pineto the previous week. Luigi Cherubini sat unused on Benevento's bench in their 3–1 success, a reversal of his playing status from Ascoli. Angeliño made a second consecutive unused substitute appearance for Deportivo La Coruña in a 1–1 draw at Getafe. Marash Kumbulla returned to the squad list for Rayo Vallecano but did not play in a 4–1 defeat at Real Madrid's Bernabeu. Jan Ziolkowski remained unavailable with a foot problem that had already kept him out the week prior; Monza lost 3–2 to Lecce without him. Artem Dovbyk was held out of Bologna's trip to Napoli after sustaining a minor groin issue in the 91st minute of a prior victory; Bologna lost 1–0 at the Maradona, with manager Tedesco calling the precaution sensible rather than a serious injury. Anass Salah-Eddine is nearing a loan move to Panathinaikos; Roma has agreed terms and the winger has arrived in Athens for medicals, though an official announcement had not yet been published at the time of writing.