Molina impresses in Dortmund outing as Atlético Madrid fans look on in surprise

Italy bounced back from their defeat to Belgium with a 4-1 away victory over Turkey in the Nations League on 28 September, claiming their opening three points of the competition. Bastoni, Frattesi and Kayode scored three goals in the opening thirty minutes before Yilmaz halved the deficit early in the second half. Pio Esposito restored Italy's three-goal lead to seal the win. Daniele Ghilardi spent all 90 minutes on the bench, while Gianluca Mancini was not included in the squad at all. France beat Belgium 1-0 on the same day with Oliver Olise scoring in the 88th minute. Manu Koné came off the bench in the closing moments as a replacement for Da Cunha in that fixture. Italy's next Nations League fixture is scheduled for Friday against France.

Italy defeated Turkey 4–1 in a Nations League fixture at Belediye Stadyumu in Bursa on 28 September 2026, with goals from Bastoni, Frattesi, Kayode and Pio Esposito. The result came in the second matchday, with Italy seeking to recover after a home loss to Belgium. Kayode and Sebastiano Esposito made their debuts for the national team, while Ruggeri also earned a first cap. Roberto Mancini's side established control early: Bastoni opened the scoring from a corner in the ninth minute, Frattesi doubled the lead in the 22nd minute after Kayode's initial effort was parried, and Kayode himself added the third in the 27th. Turkey reduced the deficit through Yilmaz in the 47th minute before Pio Esposito headed in a fourth from Tonali's rebound in the 51st minute. From a Roma perspective, Gianluca Mancini was not included in the Italy squad, while Daniele Ghilardi was named on the bench. The match was significant for Italy's Nations League campaign, with a win essential to avoid relegation to League B. Turkey, managed by Vincenzo Montella, had lost their opening fixture to France. Italy's lineup featured Donnarumma in goal with Kayode at right-back, Scalvini and Bastoni as centre-backs, and Ruggeri at left-back. Frattesi, Tonali and Fagioli operated in midfield, with Raspadori, Pio Esposito and Sebastiano Esposito in attack. Italy's bench included Ghilardi, Calafiori, Di Lorenzo, Mandragora, Romano, Doumbia, Cambiaghi, Vergara, Kean and Scamacca.

Roma face back-to-back fixtures on their return from the international break that will reveal much about their credentials as a major club. The standout occasion is a Champions League home match against Real Madrid on 14 October — a reunion heavy with history. José Mourinho returns to the Olimpico, where he spent two and a half seasons and where Roma supporters are primed to salute him properly, though Gasperini's bench will hold no warm pleasantries. The fixture carries particular weight because Roma can approach it without fear: Real Madrid have struggled through the early campaign, including against Inter despite the Bernabéu result, and will arrive in Rome without key players including Konaté, Valverde, and possibly Mbappé, who is recovering from a tendon injury to his knee sustained with France. A dominant first-half display against Inter has delivered confidence and clarity to a squad that has identified gaps in their game — notably goals conceded early in the second half — but retains the hunger to return among Europe's elite. Gasperini has already shown in little more than a year that his football can carry a whole city, and Roma know these two matches will test their maturity against world-class opposition. The coach will not afford to slip. Gasperini's own words on Daniele De Rossi's arrival underscore the tension between different eras: "At Roma De Rossi put football first — before that people sought results through other things," he said, a pointed reference to Mourinho's tenure. Roma's ambition in the Champions League phase and their need to defend the first-half coherence they showed against Inter will define whether this squad belongs among the continent's best.

Roma's training ground atmosphere remained positive on 30 September, with Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina among the smiling faces in footage released by the club. The pair had been withdrawn the previous day from an event organised in Argentina to mark Lionel Messi's retirement, a decision that appeared to cause no ill feeling based on the images distributed by the club. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini maintains a calm environment despite ongoing absences. Wesley, Donyell Malen and Bryan Cristante have not yet returned to full group training and continue their recovery programmes, while international players remain away on duty with their national teams. Lorenzo Pellegrini is working hard to regain peak condition during the extended break and may feature in a friendly against the Primavera to build match fitness ahead of competitive action. Roma face Como in eleven days, providing Gasperini with adequate time to prepare for the Sinigaglia fixture and monitor the recovery of unavailable players. The objective is to have the largest possible squad available when the league campaign resumes.

Roma's radio stations aired a wide-ranging discussion on the club's direction under owner Dan Friedkin, the recent signing of midfielder Marten de Roon and the decision to prevent Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina from joining Argentina's national team during the international break. David Rossi from Rete Sport criticised Friedkin's limited public engagement, saying: "The boss made quite an illuminating statement: 'Between the stadium and first place, it's really a beautiful period…' incredible, eh! I hadn't thought of it, but now that the lieutenant Dan has told me. It doesn't seem to me that he's made statements that have broadened our minds. Now everything is fine, we're top of the table, but that doesn't make us forget that at corporate level there have been other moves—the man in question likes to go to the ECA to play the big shot as Roma's president, but he hasn't set foot here for a year and a half now." Mario Corsi of Tele Radio Stereo defended the ownership, contrasting them with previous regimes: "Those before were a bunch of con artists, the Friedkins aren't con artists. These ones are building a stadium, they're putting money in, and it will be a beautiful stadium. This one doesn't take bribes, he doesn't take Roman rubbish. Galactic is a gentleman, speaks perfect Italian, and he's in love with Roma." Alessio Nardo of Tele Radio Stereo noted a change in direction: "It seems that, fortunately, the course at Roma has changed. From Gasperini's arrival onward, the choices made on Ranieri, on the sporting director, on the stadium question, and also this strong stance on Dybala and Molina—the Friedkins have suddenly shown they've learned something. They're more present, more attentive, or maybe they have someone advising them better than they did a few years ago." Roberto Pruzzo of Radio Radio praised the De Roon signing: "In a midfield department where you're short on numbers, De Roon is important because otherwise you'd be thin. At Bergamo they even burned his shirt over his departure. It seems there was a technical evaluation that led Roma to make an operation like this." Francesca Ferrazza stressed the need to maintain critical thinking: "We joke and play with predictions, but the Friedkins are serious people. We like the stadium, but critical spirit should never be set aside—it should always be maintained. Many newspapers have completely lost that critical spirit from other years. Critical spirit is constructive; if you say 'But are there car parks?', that doesn't mean you don't want the stadium, but you ask the question."

Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina will not travel to Argentina for Lionel Messi's international farewell match, a decision made by mutual agreement between the players and the club. Despite their affection for Messi, both declined to force the issue, understanding Roma's preference to avoid a cross-continental journey just hours before the Como fixture. Dybala's focus is entirely on the upcoming match at the Sinigaglia. He has been a regular starter this season and used his four rest days granted by Gasperini to train in his home gym, preparing himself for the showdown against Fabregas's side. Dybala has already recorded four assists this season but remains goalless, with his last goal coming on 18 January against Torino. He will feature on 11 October and later face Mourinho in the Champions League clash against Real Madrid on 14 October. Sunday's match will pit two Argentine talents against each other: Dybala versus Como's Nico Paz, a generational duel between players considered among the strongest in their country. Paz, who will return from international duty on 8 October, is regarded in Argentina as Messi's successor—a player Como are unlikely to rest. Dybala, despite a twelve-year age gap with Paz, remains intent on proving he can deliver decisive moments.