Mancini: scudetto will be five-team race, Dybala at peak of his career

Amantino Mancini, a former player at both Roma and Inter, analysed Saturday's 2–2 draw between the clubs at the Olimpico, calling it the correct result. "It was undoubtedly the fairest outcome; Roma played well in the first half, while Inter performed better in the second," he said. Mancini expects the Serie A title race to extend beyond Roma and Inter. "There will be other teams fighting for the Scudetto; I believe Napoli, Juventus and Milan can compete for the title alongside Roma and Inter. It's a long season and there's still plenty of football to be played, but I think these five teams will be battling for the title." He acknowledged Roma's improvement but maintained Inter's slight edge. "Roma have strengthened well and are a more competitive team, but I still see Inter slightly ahead because they've been playing together as a group for longer. That said, Roma have improved considerably compared to last year." On Paulo Dybala, Mancini was emphatic: "We know Dybala's quality and technical gifts. When he's physically fit and playing regularly, he is a world-class talent. Fortunately for Roma and for him, this year he has suffered no injuries and is playing really well. He is at the peak of his career." Regarding Inter's defensive vulnerabilities—having fallen two goals behind in three consecutive league matches before recovering—Mancini identified structural issues. "Inter are struggling in defence; the numbers confirm it. They concede too many goals and must fix the backline. Chivu knows this well; he knows how to resolve it. This isn't the first time it's happened: the team has serious defensive problems." Mancini also rated Lautaro among the world's top five strikers and praised fellow Brazilian Carlos Augusto, suggesting he deserves a call-up to the national team despite not being a regular starter.

Roma have developed a pattern of conceding goals in the opening stages of the second half, with Lautaro Martinez's strike for Inter marking the third such incident this season. Of the four goals Roma have conceded in the 2026-27 season, three arrived in the earliest moments after half-time: Ederson, Brown and Martinez. Head coach Gasperini does not view this as coincidence, according to Il Tempo. The issue is not new. Roma carried the habit from the 2025-26 season, when twelve goals were conceded in the first eleven minutes of second halves—two scored by Simeone in 2025 and ten more in 2026. Across last season's Serie A campaign, nine of those twelve came from the first thirty-one goals conceded overall, representing roughly one-third of Roma's defensive total. The vulnerability in the early stages of the restart represents a tactical concern that requires attention.

Roma's match against Inter on Saturday revealed a fundamental shift in how top coaches approach modern football. Gian Piero Gasperini made five substitutions in the fixture, a decision that exemplifies the sport's rapid tactical evolution. He replaced all three of his starting central defenders, a midfielder and an outside player, while keeping his attack unchanged throughout the ninety minutes. From the opposing dugout, Cristian Chivu made similarly bold choices, withdrawing a centre-back, a midfielder and a full-back before introducing his attacking changes only at the ninety-first minute. The match demonstrated how thoroughly the old certainties of football have eroded. For decades, an unwritten rule held that central defenders should never leave the pitch except through injury or at full-time. Chivu broke another long-standing taboo by making two substitutions immediately before a Roma corner kick and a set-piece—a move previously considered reckless. Both managers' decisions underscore how the sport now operates at such intensity that the five-substitution rule, introduced along with five-second throw-in limits and the ability to roll the ball out from the goalkeeper inside the penalty area, has become essential to surviving and controlling a match. Gasperini's own evolution on this matter is particularly telling. In previous comments on new regulations, the Grigliasco-born coach expressed reservations: "I don't like the five solutions, but I use them all. Teams don't drop off anymore; with all these changes nowadays it looks like basketball. Matches were prettier before, but these are the rules and I use all the slots." Today, he has abandoned those doubts entirely, converting the five-substitution rule into one of his primary weapons for reading and transforming matches in real time. The tactical performance against Inter confirms how thoroughly he has moved past those old reservations.

Amantino Mancini, a former player at both Roma and Inter, analysed Saturday's 2–2 draw between the clubs at the Olimpico, calling it the correct result. "It was undoubtedly the fairest outcome; Roma played well in the first half, while Inter performed better in the second," he said. Mancini expects the Serie A title race to extend beyond Roma and Inter. "There will be other teams fighting for the Scudetto; I believe Napoli, Juventus and Milan can compete for the title alongside Roma and Inter. It's a long season and there's still plenty of football to be played, but I think these five teams will be battling for the title." He acknowledged Roma's improvement but maintained Inter's slight edge. "Roma have strengthened well and are a more competitive team, but I still see Inter slightly ahead because they've been playing together as a group for longer. That said, Roma have improved considerably compared to last year." On Paulo Dybala, Mancini was emphatic: "We know Dybala's quality and technical gifts. When he's physically fit and playing regularly, he is a world-class talent. Fortunately for Roma and for him, this year he has suffered no injuries and is playing really well. He is at the peak of his career." Regarding Inter's defensive vulnerabilities—having fallen two goals behind in three consecutive league matches before recovering—Mancini identified structural issues. "Inter are struggling in defence; the numbers confirm it. They concede too many goals and must fix the backline. Chivu knows this well; he knows how to resolve it. This isn't the first time it's happened: the team has serious defensive problems." Mancini also rated Lautaro among the world's top five strikers and praised fellow Brazilian Carlos Augusto, suggesting he deserves a call-up to the national team despite not being a regular starter.

Giancarlo Antognoni, head of Italy's U21 delegation, has backed Emanuele Lulli for his first-ever senior youth squad call-up, saying the Roma defender merits the honour because he is playing regularly for his club. Speaking on the Amore Giallorosso programme on T9, Antognoni said: "I believe that Lulli deserves this call-up because he is playing as a starter for Roma and so coach Baldini has rightly taken him into consideration. Emanuele is an important player for Roma and will be for the national team too because his is a position that is somewhat uncovered. Before him we had Palestra and Kayode who were called up to the senior squad and so I believe that Lulli can represent an important surprise for the national team in future, and this is thanks to Roma for playing him. I believe Baldini sees something important in him." Lulli is among Roma's current squad and plays in the defensive ranks. Antognoni noted that Italy's U21 side have performed positively under coach Baldini, winning two recent senior friendlies against Luxembourg and Greece. The delegation head said the upcoming fixtures are pivotal: "We have these last two matches, and if we manage to win both of them we will qualify by right to first place. If something different happens, we will have to review our path a bit." Antognoni also discussed fellow Roma academy player Niccolò Pisilli, who is with the U21 squad. He stressed that being selected for the youth team rather than the senior side is not a demotion. "Pisilli is a guarantee for us," Antognoni said, "and being here instead of with the senior national team is not a step back. Mancini had called him up with the first squad, but since he is an important player for the U21 and we have these two important matches, it was decided to have him play with us." Pisilli celebrated his birthday during the squad's preparation phase. Italy's U21 team face Armenia next, followed by what Antognoni described as a probably decisive match against Poland as they pursue automatic qualification to the European Championship.

Bryan Cristante has been withdrawn from Italy's Nations League squad after sustaining an injury in Roma's Serie A match against Inter, forcing manager Roberto Mancini to call up Samuele Ricci as his replacement. Cristante was originally selected for the campaign but the physical problem forced him to withdraw from the squad for the clash against Belgium, which marks the start of Italy's new Nations League cycle. The absence provides an opportunity to examine Cristante's relationship with the Nations League and Italy's overall performance with and without him. Across 22 Nations League matches in the period examined, Cristante has appeared eight times. In the other 14 occasions, he has been unavailable: 12 times through non-selection and twice through remaining on the bench. When the Roma midfielder has featured, Italy have recorded four wins, two draws and two defeats. In the 14 matches where Cristante did not play, the Azzurri collected seven wins, six draws and just one loss. Looking specifically at the last six Nations League Finals matches analysed, Cristante appeared in exactly half of them—three times—while not being selected twice and remaining on the bench on one occasion. With Cristante on the pitch, Italy faced Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands, securing two victories and one defeat. A notable detail involving Roma's current squad emerged from the Netherlands match: Cristante started that fixture while Donyell Malen started for the opposition. Both players now share Roma's dressing room under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. In the three matches of that cycle where Cristante was not used, Italy recorded two losses against Germany and Spain, alongside a draw against Germany.

Roma's radio stations have intensified debate over whether Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina should be permitted to travel to Argentina to attend Lionel Messi's farewell celebration, with head coach Gasperini reportedly opposed to the plan and the club siding with him. The pair would return just 72 hours before Roma's Serie A match at Como—described by one commentator as the second-most difficult fixture in the league after Inter–Roma—raising concerns about recovery time and squad focus. Dybala and Molina both played with Messi for Argentina at the last World Cup and feel the personal pull strongly, but the consensus among most analysed voices is that allowing them to make an intercontinental journey so close to a crucial match would damage Roma's preparation. David Rossi on Rete Sport argued that professional players should not have requested permission in the first place: "They should have said, 'Caro Messi, you could have organised this on 1 October, we leave for Como on the 10th.'" He added that the club "always makes two weights and two measures" regarding Dybala specifically, suggesting he receives disproportionate scrutiny. Francesca Ferrazza on Tele Radio Stereo declared: "I wouldn't even send them to Capri on holiday now that everyone is leaving for these four days off, let alone to Argentina four days before Como–Roma." Piero Torri of Manà Manà Sport stated: "Molina and Dybala in Argentina would be counterproductive for Roma, returning 72 hours before the Como match. I think Gasperini and the club are absolutely not in agreement with it." Lorenzo Pes on Tele Radio Stereo said a decision would come "next week." The debate also touched on squad renewal: Lulli and Mario Hermoso are out of contract in June, with Lulli's renewal already under way through Pellegrini's agent. Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini are also approaching contract expiration, with much depending on how the season unfolds. The situation remains unresolved, with some voices—including Roberto Pruzzo—suggesting that "common sense will prevail" and that "common sense is staying in Rome," while others like Mario Mattioli believe the players will ultimately travel to what is described as a unique, unrepeatable event in football history.

Amantino Mancini, a former player at both Roma and Inter, analysed Saturday's 2–2 draw between the clubs at the Olimpico, calling it the correct result. "It was undoubtedly the fairest outcome; Roma played well in the first half, while Inter performed better in the second," he said. Mancini expects the Serie A title race to extend beyond Roma and Inter. "There will be other teams fighting for the Scudetto; I believe Napoli, Juventus and Milan can compete for the title alongside Roma and Inter. It's a long season and there's still plenty of football to be played, but I think these five teams will be battling for the title." He acknowledged Roma's improvement but maintained Inter's slight edge. "Roma have strengthened well and are a more competitive team, but I still see Inter slightly ahead because they've been playing together as a group for longer. That said, Roma have improved considerably compared to last year." On Paulo Dybala, Mancini was emphatic: "We know Dybala's quality and technical gifts. When he's physically fit and playing regularly, he is a world-class talent. Fortunately for Roma and for him, this year he has suffered no injuries and is playing really well. He is at the peak of his career." Regarding Inter's defensive vulnerabilities—having fallen two goals behind in three consecutive league matches before recovering—Mancini identified structural issues. "Inter are struggling in defence; the numbers confirm it. They concede too many goals and must fix the backline. Chivu knows this well; he knows how to resolve it. This isn't the first time it's happened: the team has serious defensive problems." Mancini also rated Lautaro among the world's top five strikers and praised fellow Brazilian Carlos Augusto, suggesting he deserves a call-up to the national team despite not being a regular starter.

Donyell Malen has withdrawn from the Netherlands squad due to left-knee discomfort sustained in Roma's match against Inter. Medical tests have ruled out serious damage, and the forward has been undergoing targeted work and physiotherapy in recent days. When training resumes on Tuesday, he will initially continue on an individual programme before gradually returning to group work. Roma are taking a cautious approach and aim to have him fully fit when the season resumes. Francesco Totti will take on a role within the new Maxima Roma structure, though not in player recruitment. Instead, he will work to grow the club's fan base. Totti has reiterated his enduring attachment to the club, saying: "Roma remains always magical for me. That is my first skin." Despite two recent meetings with Ryan Friedkin over recent months, a return to Trigoria has not materialised. Among the tactical strengths of Gasperini's Roma is one-on-one play. The club has improved dramatically from a 39.2 per cent successful dribbling rate last season to 61.73 per cent so far this campaign, climbing from 19th place to the top of that category. Malen and Soulé lead with 2.6 successful dribbles per match, followed by Mora at 2.1 and Ghilardi at 1.9. Dybala trails at 0.9.