Roma face Inter on Saturday amid debate over favourites tag and squad selection

Roma face Inter in a fixture pitting Paulo Dybala against Lautaro Martínez, two Argentine World Cup winners from 2022 who now stand as symbols of their respective clubs. The match arrives at a decisive point in the season, with Gasperini describing it as a genuine test of maturity despite his usual caution about title talk before matchday twenty. Dybala, who joined Roma in summer 2022 after a long wait for Inter's interest that ultimately did not materialise, embodies the elegance and playmaking that recalls Francesco Totti's grandeur. The Joya has not scored since January, partly through injury and some restraint in his shooting, but Dybala remains Roma's creative reference point. His value to the team is evident in his influence on teammates: forward Donyell Malen, revitalised by Gasperini, carries 20 goals in 21 matches and frequently thanks Dybala for the technical "blessing" he provides, a connection underlined during the warm-up before a recent Turin fixture. Martínez stands as Inter captain and their total point of reference, with 177 goals across 380 appearances—an impressive consistency. Both players represent the revival of a two-striker system championed by Gasperini and Chivu, with Dybala moving freely alongside his forward partner. Beyond the rivalry on the pitch, a strong friendship forged in the Argentina national team remains between them.

Radio pundits debated Roma's chances against Inter in a key fixture, with assessments split on the balance of strength. Orsi told Radio Radio that Inter are slight favourites but framed it as a 50–50 or 49–51 proposition, describing both Roma and Inter—along with Como—as protagonists in the title race. "Sono due squadre che giocano bene e che hanno un gioco caratterizzato," he said. "Io mi aspetto una grande gara che testimonierà il fatto che queste due squadre, compreso il Como, saranno le protagoniste dello scudetto." He credited Chivu with personalising Inzaghi's game but noted he still has much to do, and contrasted that with Gasperini's approach: "Con Gasperini sono due pensieri diversi, ma entrambi danno identità alla squadra." Carina highlighted Roma's dominance and scoring rate but cautioned that they had not yet faced a squad of Inter's calibre. He predicted a tight contest: "Mi aspetto una bella partita, una gara con poche reti dove le squadre si studiano." He stressed that player quality, not coaching, would be decisive, noting that replacing Malen with most other Serie A forwards (except Inter's) would change the equation. Vanni saw Inter as favourites on current form but believed Roma could take satisfaction from a win, though he warned it would be hard for them to sustain the pace over the season. He singled out the absence of Calhanoglu as significant for Inter, explaining the midfielder's ability to thrive under pressure and eliminate the need for a playmaker. Pess analysed defensive arrangements and midfield balance ahead of the match. He expected N'Dicka to play in front of Balerdi against Inter and noted a conditional tactical shift: "Se dovesse giocare Molina, c'è la possibilità che Wesley vada a destra; se gioca Lulli, invece, rimane Lulli a destra." He also weighed the midfield: "Oggi Koné è più dominante di Barella."

Roma host Inter tomorrow in a fixture that will offer early clarity on both sides' title credentials. Paulo Dybala and Lautaro Martínez, who won the World Cup together in Qatar in 2022, will face off again on the same Olimpico pitch where they celebrated that triumph. The two Argentine forwards represent starkly different football personalities: Dybala, born in Laguna Larga in Córdoba province, embodies class and technical beauty, while Martínez, from the coastal city of Bahía Blanca, has evolved into a lethal centre-forward and Inter captain in the mould of Javier Zanetti. They could have played alongside each other at Milan, and briefly did for Argentina, establishing a friendship that extends beyond the pitch to their families. For Roma, Dybala remains the standard-bearer of the club's ambitions. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has stated he will only discuss the Scudetto "after the twentieth matchday", yet this clash represents a crucial crossroads to gauge how far the Giallorossi have come and whether they can genuinely challenge Inter's dominance. Among those who have worn a Roma shirt, Dybala is most comparable to Francesco Totti in his touch, passing ability, and shooting—qualities that echo the maestoso of the club's greatest figure, even without wearing the number 10. That shirt belongs now to Martínez, who has transformed himself into a champion striker bearing the captain's armband. The numbers underline their different paths. Martínez has scored 177 goals in 380 Inter appearances and exceeded 20 league goals in three consecutive seasons from 2021 to 2024. Dybala's last goal came on 18 January, an unusual drought for a player of his calibre that Gasperini attributes to injury and an unconscious fear of shooting that will fade through regular playing time. In his absence, Donyell Malen has become Roma's primary scorer, but Malen speaks openly of receiving a "blessing" from Dybala. The Argentine's passing quality was evident in the goal against Turin, where Dybala's threading ball led to Malen's effort even before the finish that the statistics recorded. Both Roma and Inter now favour formations that use two forwards in close proximity—whether paired with two wingers in a 4-3-3 or two attacking midfielders in a 4-2-3-1—a tactical return to fashion driven by Gasperini and Chivu in Serie A. Roma often deploy a 3-4-2-1 that permits Dybala to find his own position alongside or just behind the primary striker. Dybala chose Roma in the summer of 2022 after Inter pursued him, and the article suggests he has harboured no regrets despite winning fewer trophies at the Giallorossi.

Roma's flying form has sparked title-race optimism among the club's supporters, with actor Carlo Verdone telling Corriere dello Sport that this season could be their moment. Verdone praised head coach Gasperini's work, saying: "It could be the right year, yes. Gasperini is doing a huge job, he's brought out genuinely incredible players and the squad is performing very well." He singled out defender Emanuele Lulli as an unexpected prospect and midfielders Niccolò Pisilli and Leonardo Balerdi for particular praise, with Verdone describing Balerdi—a recent arrival—as "very strong" and predicting Lulli will soon feature for Italy. On the threat posed by Inter, Verdone acknowledged the challenge ahead. "Inter are genuinely frightening, without doubt," he said. "They're a team that becomes a force when they attack—we've seen that in this opening stretch of the season and last season under a good coach like Chivu. But Inter can also give something away, as the Udinese match showed. Roma have the best defence in the league, but the Nerazzurri are always scary."

Leonardo Balerdi's loan deal from Marseille contains a complex purchase structure tied directly to his match appearances. If the Argentine defender plays in at least 55% of Roma's fixtures across all competitions for a minimum of 45 minutes, the buyout becomes mandatory at €14 million. Should his appearance rate fall between 40 and 55%, the obligation drops to €11 million. Marseille has secured a protection clause requiring Roma to pay a minimum €9 million if Balerdi accumulates just 20% of minutes played in the second half of the season. Balerdi will earn €1.5 million annually under the loan agreement—a significantly reduced figure relative to his market value—with a salary increase guaranteed if Roma exercise the permanent transfer option from next season onwards.

Radja Nainggolan, the former Roma and Inter midfielder, reflected on his time in giallorosso colours during an interview with Radio Bruno Roma, touching on Sunday's Roma–Inter fixture and the club's summer recruitment. The big match remains Inter's to lose, he suggested: "I think Inter stay favourites to win the Scudetto. The Nerazzurri have built a strong squad, reached the Champions League final and have important reserves. The Scudetto Naples won last year, in my view, Inter lost. It will be a difficult match: Dybala can make the difference, he is a fantastic player." On Roma's transfer business, Nainggolan praised the early impact of defender Balerdi's personality and forward Santiago Castro's entry against Atalanta, though he noted Castro's latest display was less sharp. He believes Roma's new signings suit the team's current form. Back at the Olimpico for a match, he found the sold-out atmosphere striking: "When I was here it was different. If I have to thank Mourinho for one thing, it is that he brought people back to the stadium. The atmosphere is full, you see everyone singing: Roma is something else. It made an impression on me, it was a lovely experience." Asked whether Roma should attack or show more respect to Inter, Nainggolan insisted respect does not mean abandoning the offensive approach. "Roma has an identity, it has improved from last year. There is Mancini throwing himself forward too: these are things you notice. A team that wants to win must have its identity." On the goalkeeping contest, he rated Svilar's form: "Svilar played really well last year and he is confirming it. Martínez, on the other hand, is in his first year as starter: you feel the pressure. In the second goal against Udinese you see his error, but a goalkeeper has to make mistakes to learn." Pressed on defence, he would choose stability over the physical presence of N'Dicka or Balerdi for such a clash: "For a match like this, putting Balerdi in can be risky. I don't know what Gasperini will choose, but I would play with the more stable ones." On his departure from Roma itself, Nainggolan was candid. He said: "The first chance to play in Serie A was Roma: I would never have left, I did everything for Roma. The people respected me. But my personality is what it is: I hate falseness and false people, and when something goes against my values, I go. If you had asked me back then if I was happy to go to Inter or sad to leave Roma, I would have said I was sadder to leave Roma. I turned down offers from Chelsea and China to stay." He added that in today's Roma, with Malen's depth runs and the team's attacking philosophy, he would have thrived: "In this Roma I would have been well, I would have enjoyed myself. But unfortunately the era is different."

Roma's flying form has sparked title-race optimism among the club's supporters, with actor Carlo Verdone telling Corriere dello Sport that this season could be their moment. Verdone praised head coach Gasperini's work, saying: "It could be the right year, yes. Gasperini is doing a huge job, he's brought out genuinely incredible players and the squad is performing very well." He singled out defender Emanuele Lulli as an unexpected prospect and midfielders Niccolò Pisilli and Leonardo Balerdi for particular praise, with Verdone describing Balerdi—a recent arrival—as "very strong" and predicting Lulli will soon feature for Italy. On the threat posed by Inter, Verdone acknowledged the challenge ahead. "Inter are genuinely frightening, without doubt," he said. "They're a team that becomes a force when they attack—we've seen that in this opening stretch of the season and last season under a good coach like Chivu. But Inter can also give something away, as the Udinese match showed. Roma have the best defence in the league, but the Nerazzurri are always scary."

Rome's radio stations offered their analysis ahead of Roma's fixture against Inter on 19 September. The match has drawn keen attention from local media figures debating its tactical significance and implications for the title race. Piero Torri of Radio Manà Manà (90.9) framed the occasion in stark terms for Roma's ambitions. "I'm waiting for a major response from a match that, from the perspective of ambition and objectives, can certainly deliver something," Torri said. "This is one of the most important matches Roma play under Friedkin ownership, like against Napoli last year. It's a big challenge and Roma has all the right credentials to look Inter in the eye without ever backing down. Roma's attacking trio can absolutely cause problems for Inter's defensive trio. Today in his press conference Gasperini won't give away too many clues." Nando Orsi of Radio Radio Mattino (104.5) acknowledged Inter as favourites but backed both sides to produce a high-quality contest. "They are two squads that play well and have characterful football," Orsi said. "I expect a big match that will show that these two teams, including Como, will be the main players in the title race." Simone Valdarchi of Radio Manà Manà noted tactical preparations from Gasperini, reporting that Wesley had been trialled on the right with Molina on the left, and that Lulli had also featured in testing. Valdarchi suggested Lorenzo Pellegrini might feature in an unexpected capacity if fresh, predicting a "surprise" starting role for the midfielder against Como.

Radio pundits debated Roma's chances against Inter in a key fixture, with assessments split on the balance of strength. Orsi told Radio Radio that Inter are slight favourites but framed it as a 50–50 or 49–51 proposition, describing both Roma and Inter—along with Como—as protagonists in the title race. "Sono due squadre che giocano bene e che hanno un gioco caratterizzato," he said. "Io mi aspetto una grande gara che testimonierà il fatto che queste due squadre, compreso il Como, saranno le protagoniste dello scudetto." He credited Chivu with personalising Inzaghi's game but noted he still has much to do, and contrasted that with Gasperini's approach: "Con Gasperini sono due pensieri diversi, ma entrambi danno identità alla squadra." Carina highlighted Roma's dominance and scoring rate but cautioned that they had not yet faced a squad of Inter's calibre. He predicted a tight contest: "Mi aspetto una bella partita, una gara con poche reti dove le squadre si studiano." He stressed that player quality, not coaching, would be decisive, noting that replacing Malen with most other Serie A forwards (except Inter's) would change the equation. Vanni saw Inter as favourites on current form but believed Roma could take satisfaction from a win, though he warned it would be hard for them to sustain the pace over the season. He singled out the absence of Calhanoglu as significant for Inter, explaining the midfielder's ability to thrive under pressure and eliminate the need for a playmaker. Pess analysed defensive arrangements and midfield balance ahead of the match. He expected N'Dicka to play in front of Balerdi against Inter and noted a conditional tactical shift: "Se dovesse giocare Molina, c'è la possibilità che Wesley vada a destra; se gioca Lulli, invece, rimane Lulli a destra." He also weighed the midfield: "Oggi Koné è più dominante di Barella."

Roma's flying form has sparked title-race optimism among the club's supporters, with actor Carlo Verdone telling Corriere dello Sport that this season could be their moment. Verdone praised head coach Gasperini's work, saying: "It could be the right year, yes. Gasperini is doing a huge job, he's brought out genuinely incredible players and the squad is performing very well." He singled out defender Emanuele Lulli as an unexpected prospect and midfielders Niccolò Pisilli and Leonardo Balerdi for particular praise, with Verdone describing Balerdi—a recent arrival—as "very strong" and predicting Lulli will soon feature for Italy. On the threat posed by Inter, Verdone acknowledged the challenge ahead. "Inter are genuinely frightening, without doubt," he said. "They're a team that becomes a force when they attack—we've seen that in this opening stretch of the season and last season under a good coach like Chivu. But Inter can also give something away, as the Udinese match showed. Roma have the best defence in the league, but the Nerazzurri are always scary."

Gian Piero Gasperini has almost his full squad available for Roma's clash with Inter, with Mario Hermoso back in training after an ankle contusion that forced him to miss Wednesday's session. The Spanish defender is now set to reclaim his place in the back line, though the team's defensive shape remains fluid with three significant selection dilemmas still unresolved. The primary doubt centres on the centre of defence, where Evan N'Dicka holds a slight edge over Leonardo Balerdi following the Argentine's strong performance in Turin. Balerdi's pace in covering and recovery could prove valuable against Inter's attackers in what Roma expect to be an open contest. With Gianluca Mancini likely on the right side of a back three, Hermoso completing the unit, and Mile Svilar in goal, the most probable defensive line is Mancini–N'Dicka–Hermoso, though Balerdi remains a serious challenger to the Ivorian until the final decision. On the right flank, Emanuele Lulli currently leads Nahuel Molina, with the choice complicated by the need to contain Dimarco, one of Inter's primary creative forces. Wesley should retain the left-back role. Midfield offers fewer surprises: Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné remain the leading candidates to start. The real tactical intrigue lies in the attacking third. Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are untouchable; the third attacking role remains open. Matías Soulé is pressing for inclusion, Rodrigo Mora remains an alternative, but Niccolò Pisilli warrants particular attention. Deploying the midfielder in a more advanced position would allow Roma to shift defensively, recreating a three-man midfield line and matching Inter's numerical strength in that area—a solution with significant tactical weight against a team that has troubled Gasperini for years through rotations between fullbacks, wing-backs and centre-backs. Gasperini has termed the match a "bank of prova" (test). Three genuine doubts persist: N'Dicka versus Balerdi, Lulli versus Molina, and Soulé versus Pisilli versus Mora. Roma have not beaten Inter at the Olimpico in ten years, and the tactical detail could prove decisive.

Mario Hermoso trained with the squad on 17 September after missing a session on 16 September with an ankle contusion, and will be available for the upcoming fixture. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini must decide between Evan N'Dicka and Leonardo Balerdi for the centre of defence, with N'Dicka appearing favoured, though Balerdi's defensive recovery pace offers an alternative consideration. Emanuele Lulli and Nahuel Molina are also competing for the right-back position, tasked with containing opposition wide attacks. Gasperini may deploy Matías Soulé in attack or alternatively use Niccolò Pisilli as a number 10, a choice that would allow him to field three midfielders and maintain numerical balance in defensive phases.