Roma and Inter draw; Michele from Oman's match sketch

Manu Koné scored twice against Inter on 20 September 2026, silencing a long-standing criticism that he lacked a cutting edge in the final third. The French midfielder's double, which sent the Stadio Olimpico into raptures and left Inter's defence in disarray, came as a direct result of a tactical adjustment by head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. The system—Cristante positioned deep to handle defensive cover while Koné pushed higher—gave the midfielder the freedom to attack continuously and arrive near the opposition area with regularity. By shifting Bryan Cristante into a shadow role on Inter's most advanced players, Gasperini effectively added an attacker to Roma's shape without extra personnel. Cristante's assignment was to track whoever led Inter's charge, whether Jones or Lautaro; his effort freed Koné from defensive duties and allowed the midfielder to climb into dangerous positions. The tactical masterstroke worked precisely as designed. Roma discovered numerical superiority in central areas where Inter least expected it, and Koné was central to that dominance throughout the opening period. His two finishes were clinical insertions into the box, completed with the precision of a player operating without defensive shackles. The plan gradually unravelled after Lautaro's introduction and Koné's departure, dimming the magic that had seized the match early on. Yet the concept—and more importantly, the two goals scored by the French midfielder—remained, proof that Gasperini's study of the opposition and willingness to reshape his midfield balance had yielded tangible dividends at a crucial juncture.

Roma Primavera won 1–0 away at Milan's PUMA House of Football, with Mattia Guaglianone scoring the decisive goal. The visitors, managed by Mattia Scala, ended a run of two consecutive draws against Lecce and Como and returned to winning ways in the league. The match remained competitive and balanced through the first half, with Roma able to match Milan's intensity. The contest shifted decisively after the interval when Milan was reduced to ten men early in the second half, allowing the giallorossi to progressively assert control. Guaglianone, a class of 2010 player and one of the most promising talents in Roma's academy, delivered the moment that secured three crucial points. Playing at an age bracket below his own, he has already demonstrated his capacity to influence matches at senior youth level—he had previously scored in Youth League against Fenerbahce—and this performance adds further evidence of his development. Roma did not manage to extend their lead but managed the advantage competently and weathered Milan's attempts to draw level. Milan's situation deteriorated when Nolli received a second red card in added time, leaving the Rossoneri to finish the encounter with only nine players on the pitch. Roma secured another important milestone: their first clean sheet of the campaign, having conceded at least one goal in each of their opening four matches. The result lifted the giallorossi to 11 points after five rounds of Primavera 1, maintaining their unbeaten record in the division. The victory came on a difficult away ground against a direct rival, and Scala's squad demonstrated maturity as well as technical quality in their performance.

Roma came close to pulling off an upset against Inter, going ahead 2-0 before Lautaro Martínez's double brought the sides level. There was satisfaction in the squad for a strong performance, particularly in an exceptional first half, but also deep frustration at dropping two points from a winning position. Matías Soulé expressed the mood on social media: "Great team performance, we gave everything until the end but the result slips away from us. We continue to work and improve. Forza Roma." Mile Svilar, who made at least two important and decisive saves, wrote: "We always move forward." Donyell Malen added: "Grateful to God and all of you. Always," thanking the Roma fans once again.