One week to Fiorentina: what Roma still need to complete Gasperini's squad

Paulo Dybala delivered a standout performance to inspire Roma to a 2-2 draw against Borussia Dortmund in a friendly on 15 August at Signal Iduna Park. The Argentine opened the scoring in the 4th minute with a solo effort, then provided a corner-kick assist for Bryan Cristante's header to give Roma a 2-0 lead within nine minutes. Dortmund rallied through goals from Ryerson in the 12th minute and Guirassy in the 28th to equalise before half-time, with the second half remaining competitive until the final whistle. Dybala played all 90 minutes and nearly snatched a late winner with a free-kick. The display provided encouragement to head coach Gian Piero Gasperini ahead of Roma's Serie A opener against Fiorentina. Donyell Malen appeared understandably short of match fitness against his former teammates, though the test offered Gasperini substantial reassurance after a heavy defeat to Brighton. Molina made his debut, Manu Koné returned to action, and 19-year-old Lulli impressed across 78 minutes, convincing the coach to integrate him permanently into the first-team squad. Roma will resume training on Wednesday morning at Trigoria ahead of their home league debut against Fiorentina on 24 August at the Olimpico.

Paulo Dybala produced a standout display to help Roma earn a 2–2 draw against Borussia Dortmund at the Signal Iduna Park in a friendly on 15 August. The Giallorossi twice took the lead through Dybala's attacking play before the German side fought back to level the match. The result offers a morale boost ahead of Roma's Serie A opener against Fiorentina in the coming days, after a poor defeat to Brighton during the pre-season schedule. Gasperini's side finished their summer training camp on a positive note following the Dortmund fixture. Donyell Malen continued to show signs of being short of full match fitness, while there were opportunities for other squad members. The manager was sufficiently impressed by Lulli's contribution to consider giving him a more permanent place in the first-team setup moving forward. The draw demonstrated Roma's attacking threat despite defensive lapses that allowed Dortmund back into the contest. Manu Koné returned to action and Molina made his debut in what was an encouraging test of Gasperini's tactical ideas before the competitive season begins.

Roma drew 2–2 with Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park in their final pre-season fixture before the Serie A campaign begins. Paulo Dybala opened the scoring in the 4th minute, then set up Bryan Cristante for a second-half header five minutes later, but goals from Ryerson and Guirassy at the 12th and 28th minutes brought Dortmund level. Gasperini fielded a strong starting XI featuring the familiar defensive trio of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso, with Mile Svilar in goal. Bryan Cristante and Neil El Aynaoui controlled midfield, while Matías Soulé and Dybala supported Donyell Malen up front. Lorenzo Pellegrini, Niccolò Pisilli and Wesley were absent, the latter sidelined by a mild ankle sprain. The match showcased Roma's physical improvement over the summer, though defensive vulnerabilities remain. Dybala played with notable sharpness, while Gasperini offered frequent tactical instruction to Soulé, urging him to widen play. Roma's pre-season campaign closes in Germany, with the squad returning to Trigoria on Wednesday morning to resume preparations for the opening league fixture against Fiorentina. The match against Fabio Grosso's side arrives in seven days at the Stadio Olimpico, marking Roma's first competitive test and their return to Champions League football under Gasperini, now in his second season in charge.

Roma drew 2–2 with Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park in their final pre-season fixture before the Serie A campaign begins. Paulo Dybala opened the scoring in the 4th minute, then set up Bryan Cristante for a second-half header five minutes later, but goals from Ryerson and Guirassy at the 12th and 28th minutes brought Dortmund level. Gasperini fielded a strong starting XI featuring the familiar defensive trio of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso, with Mile Svilar in goal. Bryan Cristante and Neil El Aynaoui controlled midfield, while Matías Soulé and Dybala supported Donyell Malen up front. Lorenzo Pellegrini, Niccolò Pisilli and Wesley were absent, the latter sidelined by a mild ankle sprain. The match showcased Roma's physical improvement over the summer, though defensive vulnerabilities remain. Dybala played with notable sharpness, while Gasperini offered frequent tactical instruction to Soulé, urging him to widen play. Roma's pre-season campaign closes in Germany, with the squad returning to Trigoria on Wednesday morning to resume preparations for the opening league fixture against Fiorentina. The match against Fabio Grosso's side arrives in seven days at the Stadio Olimpico, marking Roma's first competitive test and their return to Champions League football under Gasperini, now in his second season in charge.

Roma will host Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico on Monday, 24 August at 20:45 for the opening day of the Serie A season. Gasperini's Roma will line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation: Svilar in goal; Mancini, Ndicka, and Hermoso in defence; Molina, El Aynaoui, Cristante, and Wesley across midfield; Dybala and Soulé in attacking support; and Malen leading the line. Fiorentina will deploy a 4-3-3 system under Grosso, featuring De Gea in goal, with Joao Mario, Viery, Dragusin, and Valdepenas in defence, Ndour, Oulai, and Atta in midfield, and Mastantuono, Kean, and Gudmundsson in attack. Tickets for the match remain on sale through the Roma website. The fixture will be broadcast live on Dazn. Fans can also follow live text coverage on ilromanista.eu or listen to radio commentary on radioromanista.it.

Roma's final pre-season friendly ended in a 2–2 draw against Borussia Dortmund on 15 August, with Paulo Dybala and Bryan Cristante scoring for the Giallorossi. The Argentine's performance offered the most encouraging sign of the day as Roma prepared for their Serie A opener against Fiorentina on 24 August. Debutants Nahuel Molina and Konstantinos Koulierakis featured in the closing stages, while the squad showed improvement compared to earlier summer matches, though Gasperini's side remain in preparation mode ahead of the campaign. Mile Svilar made several crucial saves to prevent a defeat, earning 6.5/10 for a demanding performance. Dybala orchestrated Roma's attacking play with precision, unlocking chances with a left-foot finish to open the scoring and crafting a poetic pass for Castro in the box. Cristante doubled the lead with a header just ten minutes after Dybala's opener. Defensively, Gianluca Mancini (6.0), Evan N'Dicka (6.0), and Mario Hermoso (5.5) had mixed afternoons against Dortmund's pressure; Hermoso in particular struggled against Karetsis. Elsewhere, Devyne Rensch squandered a clear opportunity, Matías Soulé showed flashes but lacked sharpness, and Donyell Malen provided service without imposing himself heavily on the match.

Roma radio commentators dissected the Giallorossi's opening performance on 15 August, offering mixed assessments of the squad's readiness and frustration over the transfer window's output. Pruzzo told Radio Radio Mattino that Roma played well for 15 minutes but were exposed on set pieces, noting that "Dybala is in good form, but won't be able to play this type of match all the time. Soulé hasn't managed to show his qualities yet, and struggles alongside Dybala. El Aynaoui operates at too measured a pace—we'd need a player with different running ability, and I'd think about it from a market perspective. For now Malen is a distant relation of the player we know, but he and Castro are strong. I'm worried Molina gave his best at Atlético Madrid." Mattioli struck a harsher tone, saying "Roma hasn't displeased me, but some players need to improve physically. Roma 'talks, talks', but then at the final moment does nothing. If we look at the desired targets and who has arrived, the balance is zero. The investments have been made, but the names being discussed for two months haven't arrived. Roma must play in the Champions League." Orsi raised tactical concerns about left-sided incompatibility between Soulé and Dybala, and questioned why Roma, pursuing an attacking wide player since 1 July, had not yet secured one. He also flagged concerns over a potential late-window departure of a key player.

Roma radio commentators offered mixed assessments of the Ferragosto fixture, with former striker Roberto Pruzzo highlighting both positives and concerns over the club's attacking setup. Pruzzo noted that Roma played well for 15 minutes against an opponent still warming up, but conceded the opening goal through poor pressing discipline. He praised Paulo Dybala's fitness but questioned whether the Argentine can sustain that level every match. On Matías Soulé, Pruzzo observed: "Soulé is not yet able to express his qualities; with Dybala he struggles." He also assessed Neil El Aynaoui's tempo, saying the winger "goes at too measured a rhythm" and suggested Roma should consider a different profile in that position during the transfer window. Radio panellists raised frustration over Roma's transfer activity. Nando Orsi emphasised that since 1 July, Roma has searched for an attacking fullback without success, and pointed out that the pairing of Soulé and Dybala—both left-footers who want to play on the right—creates tactical incompatibility: "It is difficult for them to play well together." Mario Mattioli expressed concern that despite significant investment, none of the players Roma targeted two months ago have arrived, warning that "the Roma must play Champions League." Pruzzo added that Donyell Malen remains a pale shadow of his former self, though he and Castro possess quality, and warned that Molina may have already given his best at Atlético Madrid.

Paulo Dybala delivered a standout performance to inspire Roma to a 2-2 draw against Borussia Dortmund in a friendly on 15 August at Signal Iduna Park. The Argentine opened the scoring in the 4th minute with a solo effort, then provided a corner-kick assist for Bryan Cristante's header to give Roma a 2-0 lead within nine minutes. Dortmund rallied through goals from Ryerson in the 12th minute and Guirassy in the 28th to equalise before half-time, with the second half remaining competitive until the final whistle. Dybala played all 90 minutes and nearly snatched a late winner with a free-kick. The display provided encouragement to head coach Gian Piero Gasperini ahead of Roma's Serie A opener against Fiorentina. Donyell Malen appeared understandably short of match fitness against his former teammates, though the test offered Gasperini substantial reassurance after a heavy defeat to Brighton. Molina made his debut, Manu Koné returned to action, and 19-year-old Lulli impressed across 78 minutes, convincing the coach to integrate him permanently into the first-team squad. Roma will resume training on Wednesday morning at Trigoria ahead of their home league debut against Fiorentina on 24 August at the Olimpico.

Roma will open their Serie A campaign against Fiorentina in exactly one week's time, but face an injury concern over two key players. Wesley and Pisilli were both absent from a friendly against Borussia Dortmund on 15 August, and their availability for the first league match remains uncertain. Wesley has an ongoing ankle problem that will be reassessed when training resumes at Trigoria in two days' time; Pisilli will undergo a similar evaluation on the same day. There is optimism both players will be fit for the clash with Fiorentina. Molina is expected to be the only recent recruit to start from the beginning against the Viola. Manu Koné requires further assessment before selection. Matías Soulé will operate on the left wing, with Paulo Dybala positioned on the right. Lorenzo Pellegrini, meanwhile, needs more time to recover from injury and will not be included in the squad for the match.

Roma radio commentators dissected the Giallorossi's opening performance on 15 August, offering mixed assessments of the squad's readiness and frustration over the transfer window's output. Pruzzo told Radio Radio Mattino that Roma played well for 15 minutes but were exposed on set pieces, noting that "Dybala is in good form, but won't be able to play this type of match all the time. Soulé hasn't managed to show his qualities yet, and struggles alongside Dybala. El Aynaoui operates at too measured a pace—we'd need a player with different running ability, and I'd think about it from a market perspective. For now Malen is a distant relation of the player we know, but he and Castro are strong. I'm worried Molina gave his best at Atlético Madrid." Mattioli struck a harsher tone, saying "Roma hasn't displeased me, but some players need to improve physically. Roma 'talks, talks', but then at the final moment does nothing. If we look at the desired targets and who has arrived, the balance is zero. The investments have been made, but the names being discussed for two months haven't arrived. Roma must play in the Champions League." Orsi raised tactical concerns about left-sided incompatibility between Soulé and Dybala, and questioned why Roma, pursuing an attacking wide player since 1 July, had not yet secured one. He also flagged concerns over a potential late-window departure of a key player.

Roma radio commentators offered mixed assessments of the Ferragosto fixture, with former striker Roberto Pruzzo highlighting both positives and concerns over the club's attacking setup. Pruzzo noted that Roma played well for 15 minutes against an opponent still warming up, but conceded the opening goal through poor pressing discipline. He praised Paulo Dybala's fitness but questioned whether the Argentine can sustain that level every match. On Matías Soulé, Pruzzo observed: "Soulé is not yet able to express his qualities; with Dybala he struggles." He also assessed Neil El Aynaoui's tempo, saying the winger "goes at too measured a rhythm" and suggested Roma should consider a different profile in that position during the transfer window. Radio panellists raised frustration over Roma's transfer activity. Nando Orsi emphasised that since 1 July, Roma has searched for an attacking fullback without success, and pointed out that the pairing of Soulé and Dybala—both left-footers who want to play on the right—creates tactical incompatibility: "It is difficult for them to play well together." Mario Mattioli expressed concern that despite significant investment, none of the players Roma targeted two months ago have arrived, warning that "the Roma must play Champions League." Pruzzo added that Donyell Malen remains a pale shadow of his former self, though he and Castro possess quality, and warned that Molina may have already given his best at Atlético Madrid.