Roma continue pre-season preparations in Cardiff

Roberto Mancini's second era as Italy coach will begin with a squad built around young talent, with three players already earmarked for early call-ups. Mancini is prioritising players from different backgrounds eligible for the national team to build a long-term project. One prospect is a 20-year-old Roma academy graduate currently on loan at Cagliari for the season. Born to Swiss-Italian parents in Winterthur, he represented Switzerland throughout his youth career but switched to Italy for his senior international career. He has already made six appearances for Cagliari and scored one goal, becoming a mainstay in their midfield as the club has begun the season in strong form. A 19-year-old Treviso-born Italy youth international at Milan has impressed coach Ruben Amorim, featuring in every game thus far with two goals in four outings as a wide No. 10 in Amorim's 3-4-2-1 system. Amorim believes he is ready for the Italy call-up—high praise given his track record with youngsters—and he is already part of the national setup. The third prospect is a 22-year-old midfielder born in Treviglio who moved to Sporting from Venezia this summer and has become a mainstay in their midfield with seven appearances, including one in the Champions League. Mancini has monitored him closely and recently flew to Lisbon to watch him play in person. An Italy U21 senior cap for the international is very much on the cards.

Niccolò Pisilli is putting together a strong start to the season and could make another appearance in Roma's upcoming match against Inter, potentially in a different role. The midfielder has impressed with his work rate, physical commitment and attacking participation—precisely what Gasperini demands from a player capable of executing both phases with intelligence and decisiveness. In midfield, Koné is expected to return to the starting lineup alongside Cristante, with de Roon ready to come off the bench. However, to counter Inter's 3-5-2 formation under Chivu, Gasperini may deploy Pisilli as a trequartista behind Dybala and Malen. At Trigoria today the squad was complete in training, with one notable exception: Mario Hermoso. The Spanish defender is sidelined by a mild ankle contusion but the injury is not considered serious, and he is expected to recover without significant issues. Wesley and Evan N'Dicka both returned positive updates from the session, signalling they are available for selection.

Evan N'Dicka and Wesley trained normally on 16 September, while Mario Hermoso undertook separate work due to a minor ankle injury but is expected to be available for Saturday's match against Inter. Davide Massa will referee the fixture, with assistants Meli and Berti, fourth official Maresca, VAR Mazzoleni and AVAR Di Paolo. Massa's record against Roma stands at 10 wins, 12 draws and 12 defeats in 34 matches, while Inter have won 23, drawn 5 and lost 5 of their 33 previous encounters with him. Donyell Malen's strong start to the season—six goals and one assist—has attracted interest from Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City. Arsenal have made initial exploratory contact, but no official offers or negotiations with Roma exist. The club views Malen as central to Gasperini's project and has no intention of selling him in January. Malen is contracted until 2030 and Roma value him at approximately 60 million euros. Sabatini told Radio Radio Pomeriggio: "If I think back a year ago, it's the same situation: Inter won with a goal after 10 minutes. Roma play more football, not for the three points, but because they have the opportunity to land a blow on Inter that could hurt them. Knocking Inter out with three weeks of second thoughts would be an important result from a moral standpoint." Piero Torri on Radio Manà Manà Sport said: "For me a great team never adapts to opponents but always imposes its way of playing. Pisilli as a trequartista behind Dybala and Malen could be a move to try to surprise Inter, but in my opinion the team is used to playing in a certain manner. On the counter-attack Inter can really hurt you."

Niccolò Pisilli is putting together a strong start to the season and could make another appearance in Roma's upcoming match against Inter, potentially in a different role. The midfielder has impressed with his work rate, physical commitment and attacking participation—precisely what Gasperini demands from a player capable of executing both phases with intelligence and decisiveness. In midfield, Koné is expected to return to the starting lineup alongside Cristante, with de Roon ready to come off the bench. However, to counter Inter's 3-5-2 formation under Chivu, Gasperini may deploy Pisilli as a trequartista behind Dybala and Malen. At Trigoria today the squad was complete in training, with one notable exception: Mario Hermoso. The Spanish defender is sidelined by a mild ankle contusion but the injury is not considered serious, and he is expected to recover without significant issues. Wesley and Evan N'Dicka both returned positive updates from the session, signalling they are available for selection.

Evan N'Dicka and Wesley trained normally on 16 September, while Mario Hermoso undertook separate work due to a minor ankle injury but is expected to be available for Saturday's match against Inter. Davide Massa will referee the fixture, with assistants Meli and Berti, fourth official Maresca, VAR Mazzoleni and AVAR Di Paolo. Massa's record against Roma stands at 10 wins, 12 draws and 12 defeats in 34 matches, while Inter have won 23, drawn 5 and lost 5 of their 33 previous encounters with him. Donyell Malen's strong start to the season—six goals and one assist—has attracted interest from Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City. Arsenal have made initial exploratory contact, but no official offers or negotiations with Roma exist. The club views Malen as central to Gasperini's project and has no intention of selling him in January. Malen is contracted until 2030 and Roma value him at approximately 60 million euros. Sabatini told Radio Radio Pomeriggio: "If I think back a year ago, it's the same situation: Inter won with a goal after 10 minutes. Roma play more football, not for the three points, but because they have the opportunity to land a blow on Inter that could hurt them. Knocking Inter out with three weeks of second thoughts would be an important result from a moral standpoint." Piero Torri on Radio Manà Manà Sport said: "For me a great team never adapts to opponents but always imposes its way of playing. Pisilli as a trequartista behind Dybala and Malen could be a move to try to surprise Inter, but in my opinion the team is used to playing in a certain manner. On the counter-attack Inter can really hurt you."

Roma will face Inter at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday, 19 September at 18:00 in a Series A fifth-round fixture that pits two of the season's strongest starts directly against each other. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has reported that nearly his full squad is available for the match after Evan N'Dicka recovered from a gastrointestinal issue and Wesley returned to training following a strong ankle contusion sustained during a European fixture in Istanbul. Both players have been in doubt but are now fit to feature. Roma have won their opening four league matches — beating Fiorentina, Lecce, Atalanta and Torino — to sit on 12 points at the fifth-round stage. Inter arrive at the same points total with an identical record, making the Olimpico clash a direct contest between the Serie A's two unbeaten leaders. The fixture carries significant weight as a first summit meeting in the upper reaches of the table. Historically at the Olimpico, Roma hold the advantage over Inter: in 105 previous meetings there, Roma have won 42, Inter 36, with 27 draws. Roma have also scored more goals at home against Inter, registering 168 to Inter's 152. The last meeting at the stadium came on 10 October 2025, when Inter won 1-0. Gasperini is expected to field a 3-4-2-1 formation with Mile Svilar in goal, a defensive line of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso, and Wesley and Emanuele Lulli as full-backs. Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné will anchor midfield. Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé will operate in attacking midfield roles behind Donyell Malen. Leonardo Balerdi remains a candidate to displace N'Dicka from the starting XI after strong recent performances. Inter, managed by Cristian Chivu, face more pressing fitness concerns: Hakan Calhanoglu missed the last match with an adductor strain and his availability remains uncertain, while John Stones was withdrawn in their previous fixture with a muscular issue. No Roma players are suspended or unavailable. The match will be broadcast live on DAZN and Sky. Official team sheets will be released approximately one hour before the scheduled 18:00 kickoff on Saturday, 19 September.

Roberto Mancini's second era as Italy coach will begin with a squad built around young talent, with three players already earmarked for early call-ups. Mancini is prioritising players from different backgrounds eligible for the national team to build a long-term project. One prospect is a 20-year-old Roma academy graduate currently on loan at Cagliari for the season. Born to Swiss-Italian parents in Winterthur, he represented Switzerland throughout his youth career but switched to Italy for his senior international career. He has already made six appearances for Cagliari and scored one goal, becoming a mainstay in their midfield as the club has begun the season in strong form. A 19-year-old Treviso-born Italy youth international at Milan has impressed coach Ruben Amorim, featuring in every game thus far with two goals in four outings as a wide No. 10 in Amorim's 3-4-2-1 system. Amorim believes he is ready for the Italy call-up—high praise given his track record with youngsters—and he is already part of the national setup. The third prospect is a 22-year-old midfielder born in Treviglio who moved to Sporting from Venezia this summer and has become a mainstay in their midfield with seven appearances, including one in the Champions League. Mancini has monitored him closely and recently flew to Lisbon to watch him play in person. An Italy U21 senior cap for the international is very much on the cards.

Roberto Mancini, back as Italy manager after three years away, is planning fresh faces in his squad selections as the national team embarks on a new era following their World Cup qualifying failure. According to Sky Sport's Peppe Di Stefano, Doumbia, Romano and Ali Zoma will feature in upcoming call-ups. The trio have impressed the coach: Doumbia moved to Sporting after two seasons at Venezia, Romano has made a strong start at Cagliari, and Ali Zoma is impressing Nuremberg's supporters in the German second division. Samuele Inácio, a Borussia Dortmund talent, is also confirmed in Mancini's thinking; all three players have chosen to represent Italy despite holding dual nationality. Mancini is also reviewing Kayode, though the player could be left with Italy's Under-21 squad for their important fixtures, while Retegui may similarly be rested. Among attacking wingers, Vergara is currently ahead of his club-mate Politano for selection. Mancini is working closely with Under-21 coach Baldini on young talent who have performed well but will remain at U21 level for now, notably Milan's Cissè, who has made an impressive start under Amorim. Five players have been deliberately left in the U21 setup: Lulli, Raimondo, Koleosho, Ndour and Pisilli.

Roma will face Inter at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday, 19 September at 18:00 in a Series A fifth-round fixture that pits two of the season's strongest starts directly against each other. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has reported that nearly his full squad is available for the match after Evan N'Dicka recovered from a gastrointestinal issue and Wesley returned to training following a strong ankle contusion sustained during a European fixture in Istanbul. Both players have been in doubt but are now fit to feature. Roma have won their opening four league matches — beating Fiorentina, Lecce, Atalanta and Torino — to sit on 12 points at the fifth-round stage. Inter arrive at the same points total with an identical record, making the Olimpico clash a direct contest between the Serie A's two unbeaten leaders. The fixture carries significant weight as a first summit meeting in the upper reaches of the table. Historically at the Olimpico, Roma hold the advantage over Inter: in 105 previous meetings there, Roma have won 42, Inter 36, with 27 draws. Roma have also scored more goals at home against Inter, registering 168 to Inter's 152. The last meeting at the stadium came on 10 October 2025, when Inter won 1-0. Gasperini is expected to field a 3-4-2-1 formation with Mile Svilar in goal, a defensive line of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso, and Wesley and Emanuele Lulli as full-backs. Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné will anchor midfield. Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé will operate in attacking midfield roles behind Donyell Malen. Leonardo Balerdi remains a candidate to displace N'Dicka from the starting XI after strong recent performances. Inter, managed by Cristian Chivu, face more pressing fitness concerns: Hakan Calhanoglu missed the last match with an adductor strain and his availability remains uncertain, while John Stones was withdrawn in their previous fixture with a muscular issue. No Roma players are suspended or unavailable. The match will be broadcast live on DAZN and Sky. Official team sheets will be released approximately one hour before the scheduled 18:00 kickoff on Saturday, 19 September.

Roma made it four wins from four Serie A matches, with Donyell Malen opening the scoring once again and Niccolò Pisilli adding a second goal despite cramping. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini fielded a reshuffled lineup on the night, confirming his pre-match assertion that all his players are of first-team calibre. The squad showed intensity throughout, refusing to surrender ground in what became a dominant display. Gasperini earned a rating of 7 to 8 from the major Italian newspapers, reflecting the positive impression of his tactical handling. Leonardo Balerdi emerged as the standout performer in defence, earning marks between 7 and 8 across outlets, taking command of the back line. Malen received consistent recognition for his attacking threat, rated 7 to 7.5 across publications. The 3-4-2-1 shape allowed Roma to control proceedings, with the manager's use of substitutions demonstrating his confidence in squad depth. Gazzetta della Sport rated Svilar 7, Mancini 6.5, and Hermoso 6.5, with Pisilli at 7. Corriere dello Sport gave Balerdi an 8, Dybala 7.5, and Malen 7.5, with Gasperini earning 8. Il Messaggero rated Balerdi 7.5 and Malen 7.5. Il Tempo awarded Balerdi 7.5 and Malen 7. Leggo gave Malen 7.5. Substitutions included Rensch, Koné, De Roon, Mora, and Castro, reflecting the manager's willingness to rotate across the squad.

Roma lined up in a 3-4-2-1 formation for their Serie A match at Torino on 14 September 2026, with Niccolò Pisilli and Emanuele Lulli in the starting eleven. Matías Soulé was preferred to Rodrigo Mora in the forward line, while Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen completed the attacking unit. Gianluca Mancini, Mario Hermoso and Leonardo Balerdi formed the back three, with Bryan Cristante and Pisilli operating in midfield alongside Nahuel Molina and the left-side defender. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini named Mile Svilar in goal. The bench included several squad options: De Marzi, Gollini, Koulierakis, Ghilardi, Wesley, Devyne Rensch, Marten de Roon, Manu Koné, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Santiago Castro and Mora. Torino, managed by Abate, deployed a 3-5-1-1 formation led by Simeone in attack, with Vlasic supporting. The match was refereed by Maresca, with Tegoni and Fontani as assistants, Sozza as fourth official, and Aureliano on VAR duties with Ghersini as assistant VAR.

Roma face Torino in Serie A on 14 September at 18:30, four days after their Champions League return, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini managing squad rotation following the trip to Istanbul. The starting XI appears largely settled, though midfield and the right flank remain open questions. Svilar will start in goal, with the familiar trio of Mancini, Ndicka and Hermoso in defence; Ghilardi is the alternative. Wesley is expected to hold the left-back spot, while the right side is contested between Lulli and Rensch, with Lulli marginally favoured, though Gasperini indicated in his press conference that his condition would need to be assessed before the match. The main shift could come in midfield. Manu Koné picked up a knee problem against Fenerbahçe, opening the door for Nicolò Pisilli to partner Bryan Cristante; Koné has attempted recovery and remains an option. Dybala and Donyell Malen are set pieces in attack, with Matías Soulé the likely choice to complete the forward line, while Rodrigo Mora stands ready either from the start or as an in-match solution. The probable Roma formation is 3-4-2-1: Svilar; Mancini, Ndicka, Hermoso; Lulli, Cristante, Pisilli, Wesley; Soulé, Dybala; Malen.