Roma bid for Champions League return at Verona in €70m showdown

Donyell Malen has become the focal point of Gian Piero Gasperini's Roma, transforming the club's attack after arriving in January and dragging them to Champions League qualification. Gasperini repositioned the Dutch forward to operate between the back three and the fullback line, unlocking a decisive edge that had been missing when Roma pursued an attacker capable of running in behind during the previous summer transfer window. Since his debut against Torino, Malen has contributed 14 goals and 2 assists in Serie A, plus one Europa League goal against Bologna—15 goals in 22 matches as Roma scored 40 total (36 in the league, 4 in Europe). He accounts for 40 per cent of the club's seasonal tally. Seven of his 15 goals proved decisive, most crucially a penalty against Parma at the 100th minute. Without Malen, Roma would have accumulated 12 fewer points. Before his arrival, Roma struggled badly. In their opening 27 matches under Gasperini, they netted only 36 goals—23 in Serie A, 11 in Europa League, 2 in Coppa Italia—averaging 1.33 per game. The first summer window had brought no genuinely incisive attacking reinforcement. Malen's January arrival transformed that dynamic nearly immediately. From his debut onwards, Roma's goal-per-match average nearly doubled to 2.11. This season, Malen has added 5 goals in 3 matches, accounting for 50 per cent of Roma's 10 goals so far. He has now scored 19 times in 21 appearances for the club. The article notes that after last season's performance, some observers worried he would not sustain such output; the early 2026-27 figures have silenced those doubts.

Daniele Ghilardi has emerged as one of the season's surprises at Roma. After months of adaptation last season following his arrival from Verona, the defender earned Gasperini's trust, yet began the campaign without a league start across the opening eighteen matches. His turning point came at Lecce, where he suddenly stepped into the side and performed flawlessly. Last week at the same venue he was named in the starting eleven again, producing four tackles won from five attempts, eight ground duels won and aerial supremacy. On Saturday against Atalanta, Ghilardi replaced Gianluca Mancini and contributed significantly to Roma's comeback. Gasperini chose to release Jan Ziółkowski over the summer in favour of keeping the 2003-born defender, continuing a pattern of player development that has become a hallmark of his management at Roma. Crucially, Italy national team coach Roberto Mancini attended the Olimpico fixture and took note of the performance. While Ghilardi remains too early for September's international break, Mancini is expected to consider him for future call-ups.

Tensions between Atalanta chief executive Luca Percassi and Roma sporting director Tony D'Amico have escalated into a formal federal inquiry after confrontations in the tunnel and adjacent areas near the Tribuna Monte Mario during their recent match. Roma issued an official statement condemning Percassi's behaviour, describing it as verbal aggression, while Atalanta disputes the account of events entirely. On 7 September, the Italian Football Federation opened an official case file to clarify what occurred at the Olimpico. No federal inspectors were present at the time of the incident, so Federal Prosecutor Giuseppe Chiné will evaluate all available evidence and attempt a detailed reconstruction. Roma's position centres on an alleged verbal assault from Percassi toward D'Amico, whereas Atalanta contests this characterization. Witnesses present during the episode, including Olimpico stewards, are being heard beginning immediately. The two principal figures involved—D'Amico and Percassi—are scheduled to give statements in the coming days. The federation's inquiry will form the basis for determining what disciplinary action, if any, follows from the confrontation.