Roma face Bologna in Serie A relegation battle; Dybala back in squad

Roma travel to Turin on Monday at 18:30 for the fourth Serie A match of the season aiming to secure a fourth consecutive league victory and maintain their position at the top of the table. The fixture will feature a compelling duel on the flanks between two rising stars of Italian football: Alessio Cacciamani of Torino and Emanuele Lulli of Roma, both born in 2007 and tipped as future resources for the Italian national team. Cacciamani was long pursued by Roma during the summer before joining Torino. He is a left-sided full-back capable of playing as either a traditional defender or an attacking winger, quick and technical, particularly effective when receiving the ball wide and taking on opponents. His game centres on accelerations, ball-carrying and attacking space, combining ball-playing quality with a willingness to join the attack. Though young, he already displays personality in one-on-one duels and a strong commitment to defensive work. In the first three league matches he has made 3 appearances, totalling 227 minutes and recording 1 assist. Lulli, a Roma academy graduate, has been a major surprise for head coach Gian Piero Gasperini this season. Gasperini handed him a starting role from the opening day against Fiorentina following a pre-season in which the young defender showed quality and character. Unlike Cacciamani, Lulli appears more structurally complete and balanced across both phases of play. He can operate as a right-sided defender but possesses the characteristics of a modern wing-back: good athleticism, defensive awareness, the ability to support attacking moves and notably solid quality in the final pass. He has started all three opening matches, accumulating 234 minutes, 4 key passes and 15 balls recovered, figures that underline his contribution in both build-up and defensive work. The flank contest promises to be particularly interesting: Cacciamani relies more on acceleration and one-on-one play, while Lulli can offer greater equilibrium and defensive reading. Both 2007-born players are already carrying significant responsibility at the highest level despite their youth, yet with distinctly different qualities.

Roma are preparing for their trip to Turin with manager Gian Piero Gasperini planning several changes to manage the squad across a long season. Leonardo Balerdi is set to start in place of Gianluca Mancini, who will rest. The Argentine defender has been a standout performer in Roma's recent matches and has impressed every time Gasperini has called upon him, including a moment that went viral after contact with Lukaku. In attack, Rodrigo Mora is in line to start ahead of Paulo Dybala, with Mora among the Golden Boy candidates and keen to prove himself. Niccolò Pisilli is positioned to replace Manu Koné in midfield, as the French midfielder continues to train separately and is heading towards missing the match. Gasperini is taking no risks with Koné's fitness. The strategy reflects Gasperini's intention to rotate his squad without compromising quality, with the season stretching ahead and every player needed. Mora, alongside Emanuele Lulli, is among those in contention for the Golden Boy award and will see the Turin fixture as an opportunity to demonstrate his value. Koné's absence is being managed carefully, with the manager preferring not to force the situation. Separately, Salah Eddine has found a new club. The Moroccan player will join Greek side Panathinaikos.

Roma returned to Trigoria on 12 September to prepare for Monday's Serie A away match against Torino, one day after drawing in the Champions League at Fenerbahce. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini had the full squad available except for Manu Koné, who undertook a separate training session as Roma continue to manage a knee problem he sustained in Istanbul, where he was forced off at half-time. Koné's availability for the Torino fixture remains uncertain. Roma's medical staff have not needed to order instrumental examinations, which had prompted some optimism in recent hours, but the fact that the midfielder continued working apart from the group on 12 September demands caution. Gasperini will assess Koné over the coming sessions to determine whether he can rejoin full training and be available for the trip. The remainder of the squad trained without significant issues. Upcoming sessions will also reveal Gasperini's thinking on possible rotation after the demands of European football.

Gian Piero Gasperini has reshaped AS Roma's environment in just fourteen months, turning a tense setting into a serene one where the squad operates with confidence and compactness. The transformation is evident in the club's strong start to the season: 9 points from the first three Serie A matches and a significant draw secured at Fenerbahce in Istanbul in the Champions League. Playing under enormous pressure in an intense atmosphere, Roma demonstrated maturity by suffering intelligently, maintaining unity, and defending a valuable result. The match showcased the identity Gasperini is constructing—high pressing, intensity, and directness. The squad showed some fatigue early in the second half, a sign the team is still under development, but the coach can rely on a core of key leaders including Svilar, Dybala, N'Dicka, Cristante, Koné and Malen, supported by an increasingly dependable bench featuring Balerdi, Pisilli and other squad members. Fans have grasped and appreciated this direction. Roma knows when to push—as demonstrated against Atalanta at the Olimpico—and when to defend with intelligence, as in Turkey. The giallorossi approach their next challenges against Torino and Inter with enthusiasm and a fresh sense of purpose, ready to test their ambitions further.

Mile Svilar has emerged as Roma's one constant as Gasperini navigates fresh squad questions this season. In Roma's Champions League debut yesterday against Fenerbahce, Svilar was decisive in both the first half and the second period when the Roma defence began to struggle, anchoring a side that had started the league campaign impeccably and shown courage in Europe. While goals from Malen and performances from Dybala, Mora and Soulé have drawn attention in attack, Svilar's quality between the posts has been overshadowed—though he maintains an 87.5% save percentage in Serie A. Gasperini's expansive style, particularly in Europe, exposes Roma's defence to counterattacks and one-on-one situations where Svilar's role becomes critical. Qualification to the knockout stages will depend significantly on his performance. Roma's Champions League campaign this season will pit Svilar against the world's best forwards, a challenge he has prepared for since signing a renewal. His dramatic intervention in the penalty shootout against Feyenoord entered Roma folklore, and the Curva Sud has repeatedly called for his contract extension—unsurprising given his commitment to the club. Svilar marked his return to European competition after nine years by posting on social media: "Grateful to be back playing in the Champions League after 9 years, and even more special to do it with this shirt. Forza Magica Roma!!!" He last played in the competition as an 18-year-old with Benfica. Among all the uncertainties Gasperini will face this season, Svilar remains the pillar of this squad.

Roma's opening Champions League match in Istanbul provided a revealing examination of individual readiness at the competition's highest level, exposing both natural fit and shortcomings that Serie A sometimes masks. Manu Koné emerged as the clearest success story. Until a knee injury forced his substitution at the 52nd minute, he appeared to raise his game as the match intensified, showing pressure, physical duels, ball protection and the ability to break the first press. Donyell Malen proved similarly suited to matches where chances are limited and the capacity to attack space becomes decisive. Mile Svilar's performance raised only the question of how far he can progress in the competition. Paulo Dybala demonstrated that while understanding how to play at this level has never been his problem, availability remains the constraint. When his physical condition allows, the Champions League remains his natural habitat: he takes possession facing forward, makes precise decisions, and creates space where others see none. Gianluca Mancini's European credentials are not in doubt, but Istanbul confirmed he appears less sharp and reactive than his usual standard. His replacement by Leonardo Balerdi sharpened the contrast; the Argentine entered immediately into the match's intensity, bringing aggression and intensity. Nahuel Molina passed a significant test, showing he can handle the demands placed on full-backs across both phases. Wesley posed a tactical question: at left-back with his weaker foot, Fenerbahçe systematically closed his inside corridor, forcing him onto the byline with his left foot and making him more predictable. Rodrigo Mora, frequently called upon by Gian Piero Gasperini, revealed that the Champions League is also a physical examination. Pressed, challenged and confined to tight spaces, he could not impose himself as he knows he can. Matías Soulé discovered that talent must be paired with better decision-making as margins shrink. Dybala, Koné, Malen and Svilar appear ready for this dimension; Balerdi entered with force and Molina withstood the impact. Mancini must rediscover his sharpness, Wesley needs a tactical solution, and Mora requires the physical tools to express his talent at this level.

Roma are preparing for their trip to Turin with manager Gian Piero Gasperini planning several changes to manage the squad across a long season. Leonardo Balerdi is set to start in place of Gianluca Mancini, who will rest. The Argentine defender has been a standout performer in Roma's recent matches and has impressed every time Gasperini has called upon him, including a moment that went viral after contact with Lukaku. In attack, Rodrigo Mora is in line to start ahead of Paulo Dybala, with Mora among the Golden Boy candidates and keen to prove himself. Niccolò Pisilli is positioned to replace Manu Koné in midfield, as the French midfielder continues to train separately and is heading towards missing the match. Gasperini is taking no risks with Koné's fitness. The strategy reflects Gasperini's intention to rotate his squad without compromising quality, with the season stretching ahead and every player needed. Mora, alongside Emanuele Lulli, is among those in contention for the Golden Boy award and will see the Turin fixture as an opportunity to demonstrate his value. Koné's absence is being managed carefully, with the manager preferring not to force the situation. Separately, Salah Eddine has found a new club. The Moroccan player will join Greek side Panathinaikos.

Gian Piero Gasperini is preparing to rotate his squad heavily ahead of matches against Torino and Inter, with Koné, Dybala, Malen and Mancini among those likely to be rested. Castro, Mora, Soulé, Pisilli and De Roon are expected to see more action as Roma look to preserve their key players and test the depth of the squad while addressing defensive issues that have emerged in recent fixtures. Salah-Eddine's departure to Panathinaikos is confirmed. The left-back moves on a loan deal with a right of redemption and underwent medical tests in Athens today to complete the transfer. Separately, defender Oosterwolde has reopened the possibility of joining Roma. An achilles tendon operation had scuppered a move earlier this summer, but Oosterwolde met with Roma officials in Istanbul and signalled his willingness to return. "I hope to come back to Roma in the coming months," he said. The club remains interested with D'Amico continuing to monitor developments. Gasperini values Oosterwolde's versatility, and his recovery from surgery will be key to determining whether Roma can revive the deal as early as January. Carina told Radio Radio: "I've read plenty of criticism of Roma. In 30 years doing this job I'd never known a situation where I couldn't speak to my colleague—there was an absurd broadcast an hour and a half before the match and 30 minutes after. Given where it was played, Roma put in a more than decent performance: they dominated the first half. From the stadium, I had the sense that Roma wouldn't lose it, and could even have won it." Pruzzo added: "I saw a good Roma. What I keep thinking is that I have many doubts about whether the squad is qualitatively as strong as people say: I don't have that perception. In the first half they played like last season, but in the second, when you need to change, there isn't the same level. I think Castro is Roma's best option off the bench. Then Molina comes on and does the same thing as Rensch, and Mora yesterday did nothing."

Roma drew their first match of the season, a result that has handed fuel to the club's most vocal critics. A goal by Brown was enough to stir the naysayers from silence after Roma's bright start to the campaign. The criticism ranges widely: that Roma have faced no genuine test in the league; that Malen has misfired; that Mora is merely a former Porto substitute out of his depth; that Gasperini has grown quiet where he once railed against "Ricky"; that Mancini is finished; that Wesley's focus lies elsewhere; that Koné avoids celebrating goals with teammates for unexplained reasons; that Gasperini's substitutions were wrong; that when he withdrew Malen he brought on De Roon out of friendship rather than judgment, a claim absurd coming from those who called Castro an inexplicable signing in the first place; and that Rensch played only as a favour, a serious tactical error. The draw in Istanbul itself has become a flashpoint for those determined to cast shadows over both Roma and their manager. Critics claim it proves Roma have not faced quality opposition in domestic play. The broader narrative from the pessimists is one of decline and poor judgment—both in the squad assembled and in how it is being used. Yet the tone of the piece suggests the critics are opportunistic, seizing on a single result to resurrect doubts that the strong start had quieted. The article offers no quarter to this chorus of doom, treating their complaints with contempt as a predictable cycle: the naysayers announced player exits before 30 June; they questioned the signings of Castro and Balerdi; and now, having seen their early predictions of collapse proven wrong by the opening fixtures, they are back in full voice. The sense is one of inevitable, tiresome repetition—the "Brancaleone Army" undeterred and unrelenting in its determination to find failure.

Leonardo Balerdi is in line for his first Serie A start at left-back in Monday's trip to Turin, with Gian Piero Gasperini considering a defensive reshuffle after Gianluca Mancini's recent performances failed to impress. Balerdi made an impact coming off the bench against Atalanta and has earned plaudits from Roma supporters, particularly after a clip went viral on social media showing him in a robust challenge with Romelu Lukaku during the second half of Roma's match against Fenerbahce. In that incident, Lukaku ended up on the ground while Balerdi remained unmoved, gesturing for the Fenerbahçe striker to get back to his feet. Gasperini's summer philosophy centred on adding quality depth to the squad, giving him more selection options than before. If the coach opts to start Balerdi alongside Evan N'Dicka on Monday, he will need to prove himself convincing to Gasperini in what would be a first full outing in the role.

Roma's defensive hierarchy may begin to shift. Gianluca Mancini remains one of Gian Piero Gasperini's key figures, but in the last two matches he has shown signs of fatigue, while Leonardo Balerdi has made the most of every minute he has been given from the bench. Against Atalanta and Fenerbahce the pattern was identical: Mancini started and Balerdi came on in the second half. In just two substitute appearances totalling 39 minutes, the Argentine defender has caught attention through his personality, aggression in duels and physical engagement. Gasperini introduced him with a precise description: "A captain"—not merely a reference to the armband Balerdi wore at Marseille, but above all a reflection of a defender who appears to need little time to settle mentally into matches. Mancini remains understandably one of Roma's certainties and it would be premature to speak of a true reversal of the pecking order. However, two consecutive substitutions and the need to manage a third match in a few days could open the door. Against Torino, Balerdi could have his first real opportunity to start. It also signals the depth the defensive unit has reached. With Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso ahead, Gasperini can call on alternatives including Balerdi, Koulierakis and Ghilardi. The Argentine is the one pushing hardest right now to change the hierarchy. Mancini remains the starter and Balerdi has begun to knock on the door. At Torino, Gasperini may decide to open it.

Gian Piero Gasperini has reshaped AS Roma's environment in just fourteen months, turning a tense setting into a serene one where the squad operates with confidence and compactness. The transformation is evident in the club's strong start to the season: 9 points from the first three Serie A matches and a significant draw secured at Fenerbahce in Istanbul in the Champions League. Playing under enormous pressure in an intense atmosphere, Roma demonstrated maturity by suffering intelligently, maintaining unity, and defending a valuable result. The match showcased the identity Gasperini is constructing—high pressing, intensity, and directness. The squad showed some fatigue early in the second half, a sign the team is still under development, but the coach can rely on a core of key leaders including Svilar, Dybala, N'Dicka, Cristante, Koné and Malen, supported by an increasingly dependable bench featuring Balerdi, Pisilli and other squad members. Fans have grasped and appreciated this direction. Roma knows when to push—as demonstrated against Atalanta at the Olimpico—and when to defend with intelligence, as in Turkey. The giallorossi approach their next challenges against Torino and Inter with enthusiasm and a fresh sense of purpose, ready to test their ambitions further.