Pruzzo backs Dybala as Roma's standout signing as radio pundits debate mercato

Roma's radio stations have given their verdicts on Saturday's victory over Atalanta, with commentators split between praising the performance and assessing the squad's depth ahead of the Champions League debut on Thursday. Piero Torri of Radio Manà Manà said: "For now Roma are on full points alongside Inter, and these are certainly positive responses. From now until December it will all be a question of injuries: if Roma are not hit by injuries, their squad is sufficient. In any case, Pisilli and Rensch remained on the bench on Saturday, then Pellegrini will return. Without excessive problems, then, the squad is sufficient; in January you can possibly fine-tune something at a quantitative level. In any case, you have 21 players, and good ones too: if you put them on the pitch you don't have a collapse in quality." Torri added that when a team functions well, a player rated 6 can look like an 8. Francesco Balzani highlighted Balerdi's impact as a substitute, calling it "decisive" and praising the victory as "a win in the Mourinho style with Gasperini's football." Antonio Felici stressed that the win over Atalanta showed Roma can succeed even when facing difficulty in the 90 minutes, representing "the victory of self-awareness." Simone Valdarchi echoed the praise for Gasperini's tactical substitutions, saying Balerdi in particular "changed the inertia of the match" and allowed Roma to escape the difficulties created by Krstović and return to dominating play. Nando Orsi noted Roma have scored 10 goals so far and represent "a complete team where everyone can score," calling them underperformers on 9 points in the league table. Lorenzo Pes said Gasperini's next step is convincing Dybala he can score again, noting the striker will want to feature in Thursday's Champions League debut.

Roma commentators have praised the team's attacking display and tactical discipline following a win over Atalanta, with radio panelists highlighting Matías Soulé's performance and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's growing imprint on the squad. Mirabella told Radio Romanista that Soulé was the standout performer, noting his immediate impact despite uncertainty over his future. "Today Matías Soulé felt at home," he said. Frequelli credited Mario Hermoso as the best player on the pitch, citing both his contribution to Roma's equaliser and his resilience after contributing to Atalanta's goal. Bighi echoed the praise for Soulé's growth and drew attention to Gasperini's tactical approach: "The manager is working very well. The squad has won not just through passion but through the work Gasperini is doing." Carina told Radio Radio that Roma has finally become "Gasperiniana"—reflecting the same style viewers saw in Gasperini's Atalanta teams. He noted an unusual tactical choice in the match, saying Gasperini won the game by removing two defenders: "If he hadn't taken off N'Dicka and Mancini, Roma would have suffered the second goal, because both struggle against Kristovic and go into difficulty. With Ghilardi and Balerdi, Roma regains the centre." He identified Rodrigo Mora as a player capable of beating defenders one-on-one but requiring development, while flagging the underlying financial burden: "The problem Roma carries with it is the cost: 50 million." Orsi credited Roma's fitness and tactical organisation, noting they have scored 10 goals across their first three matches this season. "Roma merits more than the 9 points in the league table," he said. Pruzzo expressed reservations about Mora, stating: "In a half he doesn't touch ten passes, though on a couple of occasions he did well. If he doesn't improve in level, I have the impression that something else is needed." Di Giovambattista highlighted Paulo Dybala's contribution of four assists in three games and praised the crowd's role in Roma's comeback. Pes told TeleradioStereo that Gasperini's next step must be restoring Dybala's goal-scoring form, adding: "Roma have conviction and hunger. Winning in Istanbul allows you to start a good path. It's a tough stadium to face, but Roma feel they can win the match."

Fabio Capello believes AS Roma, under Gian Piero Gasperini, are the strongest threat to Inter's Serie A title this season. Speaking to Gasport, the former Roma coach highlighted the squad's continuation of last season's approach, citing the arrival of Rodrigo Mora as a player who has already integrated seamlessly into the team's system. Capello stated: "Because it has continued on the same path as last season and is maintaining the same attitude with an important game base and quality: in addition it has fielded a new player, Mora, who has already inserted himself perfectly into the team's mechanics. I had said it twenty days ago: the anti-Inter is actually Roma." Capello identifies Roma's one-on-one pressing across the pitch and their attacking play as the primary weapons against Inter. He emphasized the quality of Roma's attacking options: "When you have 4-5 quality players present in the penalty area who know how to dialogue in tight spaces, sooner or later something happens. And against Atalanta the winning goal eventually arrived." He credited Gasperini's decision to field two starting-quality players per position as crucial, noting that Saturday's substitutions at the Olimpico produced visible results. Gasperini has instilled a mentality of sacrifice in the squad and built the team from last season alongside director of sport Massara, according to Capello, who said: "Players follow him because he is a credible coach." Capello highlighted the standout eagerness of Roma's substitutes, stating: "They all play with the same desire to win because they understood they are competitive. I did not see a single Roma player who came into the field with the attitude of someone offended at being a substitute during the match." He praised the rotational quality available to Gasperini, particularly Paulo Dybala, Matías Soulé and Mora, describing them as "players of quality who integrate well." When asked whether parallels exist with his own title-winning Roma team, Capello drew a comparison: "Many; in the first year at Roma we understood we were strong, then we completed the squad with Batistuta." He concluded that managing successfully in Rome requires emotional equilibrium and composure, qualities he suggested he and Gasperini both possess.

Roma's radio stations have given their verdicts on Saturday's victory over Atalanta, with commentators split between praising the performance and assessing the squad's depth ahead of the Champions League debut on Thursday. Piero Torri of Radio Manà Manà said: "For now Roma are on full points alongside Inter, and these are certainly positive responses. From now until December it will all be a question of injuries: if Roma are not hit by injuries, their squad is sufficient. In any case, Pisilli and Rensch remained on the bench on Saturday, then Pellegrini will return. Without excessive problems, then, the squad is sufficient; in January you can possibly fine-tune something at a quantitative level. In any case, you have 21 players, and good ones too: if you put them on the pitch you don't have a collapse in quality." Torri added that when a team functions well, a player rated 6 can look like an 8. Francesco Balzani highlighted Balerdi's impact as a substitute, calling it "decisive" and praising the victory as "a win in the Mourinho style with Gasperini's football." Antonio Felici stressed that the win over Atalanta showed Roma can succeed even when facing difficulty in the 90 minutes, representing "the victory of self-awareness." Simone Valdarchi echoed the praise for Gasperini's tactical substitutions, saying Balerdi in particular "changed the inertia of the match" and allowed Roma to escape the difficulties created by Krstović and return to dominating play. Nando Orsi noted Roma have scored 10 goals so far and represent "a complete team where everyone can score," calling them underperformers on 9 points in the league table. Lorenzo Pes said Gasperini's next step is convincing Dybala he can score again, noting the striker will want to feature in Thursday's Champions League debut.

Roma's remarkable late comeback against Atalanta has impressed pundit Lele Adani, who analysed the performance on La Domenica Sportiva. Mario Hermoso equalised in the 89th minute before Roma scored again within three minutes, with Adani highlighting the intensity of the attack: Matías Soulé, Paulo Dybala and Santiago Castro all shot during that spell, firing once every 40 seconds in September heat at the Stadio Olimpico with the thermometer at 35 degrees. Adani drew parallels to Gasperini's Atalanta sides, describing Roma's display as an act of faith rather than conventional football. He was struck by Roma's persistence in creating chances even when the match appeared lost and the crowd's overwhelming support. The club completed 39 shots across the entire fixture, which Adani called epic football shaped by the team's determination to attack in the final minutes.

Roma claimed a dramatic late victory against Atalanta on Saturday, with goals from Mario Hermoso and Matías Soulé securing the win in the final moments despite playing in 35-degree heat at the third matchday of the season. Lele Adani praised head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's influence on the performance during La domenica sportiva, drawing comparisons to the Atalanta teams Gasperini previously managed. Adani highlighted Roma's attacking intensity in the decisive phase. "The Roma drew level in the 89th minute with Hermoso, then scored three minutes later," Adani said. "In those minutes they shot four times, so once every 40 seconds. They shot from Soulé, Dybala, Castro, and then Matías scored. Atalanta's Gasperini used to do this because his matches are acts of faith—it wasn't a football match but a piece of history, and then the Olimpico drowns you out. Roma had 39 shots; it was an epic match."

Atalanta sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli confirmed that Marten de Roon requested a move to Roma during the transfer window that has just closed. Speaking at a press conference to present Frank Kessié, Giuntoli said: "When a player asks to leave, you have to listen to him. He asked us to go to Roma and we threw ourselves at Kessié." De Roon joined Roma's squad this summer after spending the previous season with Atalanta. Giuntoli explained Atalanta's approach to the midfielder's departure: "We're sorry, but we have to turn the page and move forward. Kessié is a player with personality who can help us in this new Atalanta." The signing of Kessié was presented as the club's solution to replacing the departing midfielder.

A confrontation between Atalanta CEO Luca Percassi and Roma sporting director Tony D'Amico at the Olimpico on Saturday evening has escalated into a formal dispute. According to reports published today by Il Romanista, Corriere dello Sport and la Repubblica, Percassi followed D'Amico as both clubs were leaving the stadium, pursuing him towards the Monte Mario car park. The Atalanta executive directed heavy language at D'Amico, with Corriere dello Sport reporting insults that questioned both professional and personal qualities. D'Amico did not respond in kind and attempted to leave, but Percassi continued the verbal assault all the way to the car park, reportedly accompanied by his wife. The confrontation escalated to the point where stadium stewards and security had to intervene to prevent further escalation. The clash reflects deteriorated relations dating back months. D'Amico spent four seasons at Atalanta before joining Roma, but his departure was far less cordial than officially presented. He had pushed to move to Roma while Atalanta had already identified Cristiano Giuntoli for the sporting director role; D'Amico remained blocked for weeks before his release, hampering Roma's early transfer work. The tension has only deepened given overlapping personnel moves: head coach Gian Piero Gasperini departed Atalanta for Roma, followed by D'Amico, and now midfielder Marten de Roon has joined Roma. Corriere dello Sport reports a significant detail: Gasperini himself telephoned Percassi directly to facilitate de Roon's transfer to Roma—a notable contact given Gasperini had experienced disagreements with the Atalanta executive, though maintained a relationship with his father Antonio. Roma has called Percassi's conduct "unacceptable," while Atalanta has firmly rejected the Roma version of events. The matter now passes to the Federal Prosecutor's office. Prosecutor Giuseppe Chiné will evaluate available evidence and interview those directly involved and witnesses, including the intervening stewards. The case has moved beyond internal stadium corridors into formal sporting justice proceedings.

Roma have a numerically shorter squad than last season yet paradoxically possess far more possibilities, a pattern evident across the opening three matches and most starkly demonstrated by the victory against Atalanta. Ten players departed from the squad that closed last season while six arrived: Koulierakis, Balerdi, Mora, Castro, Molina and De Roon. The club has contracted in size but fundamentally shifted the quality of its alternatives. Against Atalanta, Castro struck twice against the woodwork, Soulé provided an assist and the decisive goal, Balerdi made an immediate impact on his debut, while Ghilardi and Molina helped reshape the team during its most difficult moments. This underlines a crucial difference from a year ago. Head coach Gasperini anticipated the pattern before the match, stating: "Starters and substitutes no longer matter; you play with 16 players." With the Champions League approaching, this depth becomes potentially decisive—rotations will be inevitable and Roma must sustain their level even with changed personnel. The squad remains tight and will probably require reinforcement in January, but one fact is already clear: Roma have narrowed numerically but expanded in quality.

Roma return to the Champions League for the first time in seven years on Thursday 10 September, travelling to Istanbul to face Fenerbahce in the League Phase's first matchday with a 18:45 kickoff. The match will be broadcast on Sky Sport and available to subscribers via Sky Go. Gasperini's side arrive in buoyant form after a 2–1 comeback win against Atalanta in Serie A, where Hermoso and Soulé scored in the closing stages, and have won their opening three league matches. Roma are expected to line up in a 3–4–2–1 formation with Svilar in goal, a back three of Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso, Wesley and Molina as full-backs, Cristante and Koné in midfield, and Dybala and Soulé supporting lone striker Malen. Molina and N'Dicka remain in contention with alternatives, and the squad picture will become clearer in training over the coming days. Lorenzo Pellegrini is almost certain to remain absent. Fenerbahce will be without Guendouzi, the former Lazio midfielder, who is serving a four-match suspension (two of which are conditional) following a fight during their qualifier against Lyon. The Turkish side reached the League Phase unbeaten through the preliminaries, eliminating Górnik Zabrze, Sturm Graz and Lyon, though they suffered a recent domestic setback when losing the derby to Besiktas after wins over Konyaspor and Samsunspor. In European competition they remain unbeaten across seven matches. Their probable lineup shows Ederson in goal, Semedo, Škriniar, Aké and Brown across the defence, Kanté and Yüksek in midfield, and Asensio, Aktürkoğlu and Nene behind striker Lukaku. This will be the first official meeting between the two clubs. Fenerbahce have won their last three home matches against Serie A sides without conceding, the most recent a 2–0 victory over Lazio in the 2012–13 Europa League quarter-finals. Official team lineups will be announced approximately one hour before kickoff, around 17:45 Italian time.

Roma secured a 2–1 home victory over Atalanta on 5 September 2026, their first win at the Olimpico against the Bergamo side since 5 March 2022. After falling behind through Ederson's goal in the second half, Roma fought back without capitulating as they had in previous seasons. Mario Hermoso equalised with a header from a corner on the left wing, meeting the ball with a delicate chip. Matías Soulé then settled the match at the 93rd minute, cutting inside with his right foot before crossing with his left to find the far post and beat Carnesecchi. The performance at Trigoria on the morning after the match drew praise, with staff noting the return to form of Soulé. Gasperini's side demonstrated growing resilience as the season progresses, refusing to surrender despite going behind. The comeback underlined a shift in mentality compared to the previous campaign. Hermoso's involvement from set-piece defence and Soulé's match-winning intervention were highlights of Roma's recovery, with the latter's impact immediately evident upon his introduction. Press ratings reflected the quality on display. Hermoso earned marks ranging from 6.5 to 7.5 across outlets, with one publication rating him 7.5 for his performance. Soulé, brought on in the 54th minute, received ratings between 7.5 and 8.5. Paulo Dybala was marked between 6 and 8, while Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné drew ratings of 5.5 to 7.5 and 6.5 to 7.5 respectively. Manager Gasperini received ratings between 7 and 8 from the newspapers assessed.

Roma delivered a dramatic comeback at the start of matchday three to beat Atalanta, with Matías Soulé scoring at the 93rd minute to seal the three points. The Argentine forward, who also provided an assist, was the standout performer in what the Italian press dubbed a statement win for the Giallorossi this season. Mario Hermoso proved instrumental in reigniting the match when it appeared lost, while head coach Gian Piero Gasperini earned widespread praise for his tactical management. The victory is being framed as Roma's first authentic championship display of the campaign, with the comeback signalling a bold statement to the league's other top clubs. Soulé's performance drew particular attention from Italy's major sports newspapers, with the 54th-minute substitute recapturing the form that impressed observers last season. Hermoso's contribution, meanwhile, was credited with turning the tide when the match seemed to be slipping away. Across ratings from Corriere dello Sport, Gazzetta dello Sport, Il Messaggero, Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica, and Il Tempo, Soulé received the highest individual marks, with Corriere dello Sport awarding him 8.5 out of 10 for his performance off the bench. Hermoso's ratings ranged from 6.5 to 7.5, while Gasperini received marks between 7 and 8 across the publications. Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné were also highlighted for their midfield contributions, with Cristante earning 7.5 from Corriere dello Sport. Paulo Dybala received marks ranging from 6 to 8. The match formation was recorded as 3-4-1-2, with substitutions bringing on Daniele Ghilardi, Leonardo Balerdi, Nahuel Molina, and Santiago Castro during the course of play.