Pisilli marks Roma's 2–0 win over Torino with late goal, celebrates with teammates

Roma face Inter at the Olimpico on Saturday in their first major test of a promising season, but history weighs heavily against them. The Giallorossi have won four matches with 12 goals scored and only one conceded so far, numbers that have begun to fuel talk of genuine ambitions in the capital. However, Roma have not beaten Inter at home for nearly a decade—their last victory came in 2016 under Spalletti, decided by an own goal from Icardi. Since then, nine matches have yielded three draws and six defeats. Gasperini, preparing his tactical approach to challenge Inter and their coach Chivu, carries his own uncomfortable record against the Nerazzurri. In 36 meetings, the Roma boss has managed only five victories. Last season added another painful chapter with a heavy defeat at San Siro. The Inter side arrives as a complete and formidable opponent, strong in every department and capable of raising their level in big matches, though some defensive vulnerabilities have emerged. Gasperini wants to change his record against them precisely now, when Roma have truly begun to dream. The task will demand the perfect performance, personality from his players, and above all the Olimpico behind them—a ten-year drought is a long one to break.

Gasperini made three tactical adjustments in the 55th minute during Roma's match against Torino, transforming the side from their standard 3-4-1-2 formation into a more compact 3-5-2 to protect the midfield and manage the game at a critical moment. With Roma bright in the first half but tiring in the second, and Torino pressing harder after their tactical shift, the coach reshaped his defence and midfield: Balerdi dropped to midfield during out-of-possession phases, allowing Mancini to slot into the back three, while Lulli moved to the right as a centre-back and Soulé was lowered to the right flank to provide additional balance. The adjustment proved decisive, giving Roma greater defensive cover without sacrificing attacking threat and allowing them to resist Torino's pressure before securing victory with late goals from Malen and Dybala. The change exemplified Gasperini's approach to in-game management—reading the match, shifting shape at the right moment, and maintaining Roma's identity while adapting to opposition movements. Where Torino's increased intensity and the injection of Braganca had created danger, Roma's new shape absorbed pressure and controlled the midfield space. Gasperini's willingness to vary his setup without abandoning his 3-4-1-2 framework, toggling between formations as circumstances demand, has become a hallmark of his tenure at the club. The tactical evolution comes with Inter's visit next on the horizon—another fixture demanding close reading of the game and precision in execution. Gasperini's Roma are proving capable of winning through detail, intensity, and sustained concentration across the full 90 minutes, qualities the coach is embedding as the side plots their course through the season.

Davide Massa of Imperia will referee Saturday's Serie A encounter between Roma and Inter at the Stadio Olimpico on 19 September at 18:00, the fifth round of fixtures. The supporting officials are Meli and Berti, with Maresca as fourth official. Mazzoleni will handle VAR duties and Di Paolo will be the assistant VAR. Roma's record with Massa is unfavourable: 34 matches yielding 10 victories, 12 draws and 12 defeats. His most recent appointment in charge of the Giallorossi came in the 2025–26 season, a 2–1 loss to Como at the Sinigaglia Stadium where Wesley was sent off for a second yellow card. Roma have failed to score in 10 matches under Massa's control. Their last win with him as referee dates to the 2022–23 season: Inter 1–2 Roma at San Siro, with goals from Dybala and Smalling. Inter enjoy a contrasting record. In 33 matches officiated by Massa, they have won 23, drawn 5 and lost 5. Their most recent fixture under him came in matchday 32 of the 2025–26 campaign, a 3–4 victory over Como at the Sinigaglia. Massa also directed matchday 7 of that same season, when Roma lost 0–1 to Inter.

Radio Roma commentators are backing Roma to upset Inter in their upcoming league fixture, with analyst Mario Mattioli declaring Roma in the better psychological state to spring a surprise. Mattioli said: "Never like this time can Roma pull off a trick on Inter: in my view at this moment I see them superior to the Nerazzurri in character and psychological predisposition, I see them very consistent. Inter has more ups and downs: they concede two goals but then overturn it. Never like this time can Roma win it. But if the match doesn't open up in regular time, I don't rule out that in the end it could finish in a draw." Roma have not beaten Inter since November 2018, but commentators believe the pressure-based system Gasperini has installed offers a route to victory. David Rossi highlighted that "Roma has understood what the manager wants, they all go in the same direction, there's no one who breaks ranks. Inter is a team that suffers under pressure… when pressed well, man-to-man, it can run into difficulty." Fabio Petruzzi praised the conviction shown against Turin, noting Roma "doesn't fear playing high, plays with the defence on the midfield line, doesn't fear conceding goals. It's a calculated risk. The mentality of going onto any pitch and not fearing one-v-one football across the entire field is the most beautiful thing." Nando Orsi cautioned that the fixture will be revealing, saying: "This match can give different judgements compared to what we've seen so far because neither of the two has faced important teams until now." Francesca Ferrazza anticipated tactical rotation, predicting: "Gasperini doesn't put out the usual formation, in my view on Saturday with a more advanced midfielder in Cristante or Pisilli, and putting Dybala and Malen up front." The defence remains a live selection question. Alessio Nardo noted that the Mancini–Balerdi–Hermoso trio is "perhaps one of the fiercest trios and most temperamental," while Lorenzo Pes assessed the Balerdi versus Ndícka choice as "50–50," noting Ndícka's familiarity with the defensive unit may give him the edge. Roberto Pruzzo, a Roma legend, expressed concern about Inter's strength in depth, observing they have two squads and reacted powerfully after conceding two goals in recent form.

Niccolò Pisilli has impressed in Roma's opening matches after overcoming a difficult summer, and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is weighing how to use him in the coming fixture against Inter. Gasperini has long admired the 21-year-old midfielder, who will turn 22 in a week. Last season the coach praised Pisilli's development repeatedly and made his commitment to the club explicit in January, saying he would "stay here". Pisilli has repaid that faith on the pitch, delivering the kind of outside-the-box shots that few other midfielders in the Roma squad possess. Before the Torino match, Gasperini was direct about his midfield depth: "In midfield we have four players, all four are essential and important." The numbers back him up. Pisilli has already scored 10 goals in 82 Roma appearances (across 5 assists)—a tally De Rossi reached in 105 matches. Remarkably, 7 of his 10 goals came after the 80th minute and 3 beyond the 90th, a striking pattern that underscores his impact as a substitute. Against Inter, he could start again, though potentially in a different role. With Koné expected to return to midfield alongside Cristante and de Roon ready to come off the bench, Gasperini may deploy Pisilli as a trequartista behind Dybala and Malen. This positioning would allow him to support the midfield—more so than Soulé or Mora—while leveraging his ability to strike from distance and find space between the lines to create attacking threats.

Marten De Roon's arrival at Roma in the final days of the summer transfer window had raised eyebrows among supporters, not least because of the departure of Neil El Aynaoui. The 35-year-old Dutch midfielder faced scepticism over his age and a history of social media provocations directed at Roma following clashes between his former club Atalanta and the Giallorossi. But in his early appearances, De Roon has already justified Gian Piero Gasperini's decision to reunite with him. Gasperini has deployed De Roon more frequently than any other player across his managerial career—361 appearances, compared to Toloi's 289—demonstrating the depth of their working relationship. De Roon left Atalanta after falling out of favour under Sarri, and Gasperini brought him to Roma on what amounted to a free transfer within 48 hours. His arrival initially unsettled Roma's fanbase due to past social media friction, but De Roon apologised immediately and made himself available. Though his competitive minutes remain limited—35 across Serie A and Champions League—his early impact has been positive, with Gasperini appearing to orchestrate play from the dugout with precision. De Roon brings valuable experience to a squad that is shorter than last season but higher in quality. After Paulo Dybala, he holds the second-most Champions League appearances in the group with 44, offering younger players like Niccolò Pisilli the chance to develop under an established presence. His integration has helped stabilise a Roma side operating with Gasperini's direct tactical methods.