Mancini stops for photos and delights young fans outside Trigoria

Davide Massa has been appointed to referee Roma's Serie A clash against Inter at the Olimpico on Saturday 19 September at 18:00, with the fixture a top-of-the-table encounter between the two league leaders. Mazzoleni will oversee proceedings from the VAR room, supported by Di Paolo as AVAR. Meli and Berti are the assistant referees, while Maresca takes the fourth official role. Roma's record with Massa in charge stands at ten matches without victory. The last Roma win under his direction came in October 2022 when Roma beat Inter 2–1 away at San Siro. Most recently, Massa officiated Roma's trip to Como on 15 March, a match Roma lost 2–1 after Wesley was sent off in a controversial decision for a foul on Diao near Roma's penalty area. The full list of Serie A Week 5 referees has been announced: Perenzoni handles Monza–Sassuolo (Friday 18 September at 20:45); Guida takes Bologna–Torino (Saturday 19 September at 15:00); Manganiello directs Udinese–Cagliari (Saturday 19 September at 15:00); Sozza referees Venezia–Lazio (Saturday 19 September at 20:45); Doveri oversees Fiorentina–Napoli (12:30); Chiffi directs Frosinone–Como (15:00); Mariani handles Parma–Genoa (15:00); Zufferli referees Juventus–Atalanta (18:00); and La Penna takes Milan–Lecce (20:45).

Sixteen Roma supporters have been issued Daspo (stadium bans) following Roman salutes performed in the Curva Sud during the Roma-Atalanta match on 16 September 2026. Some of those involved wore shirts bearing the phrase "über alles". The bans will prevent the individuals from entering sports facilities, with lengths ranging from one to five years and validity across the entire national territory. The targeted supporters, aged between 19 and 42, have already been reported to judicial authorities for violation of the Mancino law. Their cases were investigated by the Prati Police Commissariat and the Digos. Several of the banned individuals had prior police records for offences including carrying weapons, threats, damage, brawling and smuggling. These histories influenced the varying lengths of their bans. Four Roma fans from the group face aggravated Daspo orders with additional prescriptions requiring them to report to police stations during Roma matches, in the hours before and after kick-off and during the fixture itself. One supporter received the maximum five-year ban; since 2022 he had already been subject to a previous stadium access ban. Rome's Questura stated: "The swiftness of the Rome police's administrative and criminal response confirms a strategy of strict rigour, designed to censure through activation of every legal instrument any conduct incompatible with the values of sport as a moment of aggregation and national culture." The force added that, continuing policies from previous seasons, it will pursue "every initiative aimed at facilitating and easing the livability of sports facilities" in compliance with regulations and coexistence among rival supporter groups.

Mattia Guaglianone, a 16-year-old left-footed attacking midfielder, is emerging as a bright prospect in Roma's Primavera programme. His contract expired in summer, but Roma sporting staff D'Amico and Margiotta retained him on a two-year deal, turning away interest from Ajax and Bayern Munich. He has made an immediate positive impact in the Under-20 setup, though his development project is only beginning. The Stadio Olimpico will be in full voice on Saturday when Roma face Inter. More than 65,000 tickets have already been sold, boosted by a full away section after away fans from Fiorentina and Atalanta recently boycotted their fixtures at the ground. The fixture represents the latest major attendance draw for the club this season, with the away support particularly notable after recent sparse visiting allocations.

Gianluca Mancini pulled over on his way out of Trigoria on 15 September to take a selfie with a group of young supporters who flagged him down in the middle of the road. The Roma defender obliged the excited children, who embraced each other afterwards in a moment of joy captured on video and shared by the Instagram account Calciatori per Sbaglio. The interaction came after training as Roma prepared for Saturday's big match against Inter. Mancini has become a fixture in the capital and is one of the players through whom Roma's fanbase most closely identifies, valued for his commitment and passion for the shirt. The gesture exemplifies the connection between the defender and the club's supporters.

Roma stayed top of Serie A alongside Inter after four matches with a victory away at Turin, extending their perfect record. Donyell Malen scored again, but the standout feature was a third clean sheet of the campaign: Mile Svilar's record in goal has been breached only by Atalanta's Ederson. The addition of Leonardo Balerdi to an already-settled back line of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso has significantly strengthened the defence. Against Turin's forwards, Balerdi posted commanding numbers: 7 duels won, 11 defensive actions, 6 clearances—more than any other player on the pitch—plus 29 completed passes from 32 attempted, a success rate of 91%. He was combative in close defence and brave in pressing opponents into the attacking third. Gasperini benefits from the fact that Balerdi functions as an extra layer rather than a replacement for the established trio, giving Roma a more powerful shield while opponents face added danger in attack. The defence will face a stern examination on Saturday in a title clash against Inter, whose 13 goals make them the league's leading scorers. Last season Inter scored 6 goals against Roma—nearly one-fifth of all the goals Roma conceded in the entire Serie A campaign—a significant test of the giallorossi's defensive resilience.

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.