Roma face Newport County in Welsh pre-season fixture

Roma and Inter clash on Saturday at 18:00 at the Olimpico in Serie A's fifth round, both level on points at the top of the table. The match offers Roma a chance to seize sole leadership, while Inter seek a third consecutive victory against the Giallorossi after two wins last season. For Gasperini, it is a chance to break a taboo: he has lost his last ten meetings with Inter. The focal point of the contest will be the left flank, where Wesley and Frederici Dimarco represent contrasting approaches to the same role. Wesley operates as a full-back across the width for Gasperini, tasked with covering ground, creating amplitude and depth in Roma's build-up play. He is more explosive and vertical than Dimarco, inclined toward running with the ball and attacking space through acceleration and incisive insertion. In Gasperini's system he is also required to press high, support attacks and recover quickly in transition—an athletic demand that could prove decisive against Dimarco's style. Dimarco remains one of Inter's principal assets and a cornerstone of the Italian national team. The left-winger brings outstanding technical quality, interpreting the role almost as a playmaking full-back: he attacks constantly, provides finishing passes, delivers precise crosses and poses a standing threat from set-pieces. Last season he was a leading protagonist in Inter's title win, closing the campaign with 6 goals and 18 assists and claiming the Serie A MVP award. His left foot is his primary strength, creating chances from deep or central areas through overlaps and receptions between the lines. He adds intensity, pressure and above-average offensive reading for the position; already this season he has made an impact, notably supplying the assist for Lautaro Martínez in the victory against Napoli. The duel on the flank shapes as one of the match's most compelling individual battles: Wesley will look to exploit pace and depth, while Dimarco will seek to impose technical mastery, crossing and combination play with his teammates.

Leonardo Balerdi has become the focal point of Roma's preparation for Saturday's clash with Inter at the Olimpico after an impressive display on Monday against Torino in place of Evan N'Dicka. His convincing performance prompted Gasperini to view the Argentine defender as a potential starter against the Serie A champions, a promotion that has raised competitive intensity across the defence and the wider squad. Gasperini's team selection will be shaped by who delivers the strongest performances in training at Trigoria: those who maintain full commitment and maximum effort will earn starting places. The likely starting formation will closely resemble the strongest XI fielded last season, built around the established core players. The returning absentees from Monday—N'Dicka, Wesley, and Manu Koné—are set to come back into contention. The intriguing tactical question centres on the left-back slot, where teenage defender Emanuele Lulli has emerged as the focus of recent debate. Lulli's physical test results place him ahead of Nahuel Molina, making him the favourite to start, provided Gasperini prioritises the pace and pressing strength needed to contain Inter's left-side playmaker Dimarco. A third option exists: Wesley deployed on the right with Molina on the left, a setup already tested in training. Elsewhere, Mario Hermoso will mark Nicolò Barella, while Niccolò Pisilli is warming up for a potential late-match impact.

Pierluigi Massa has been appointed to referee Roma's upcoming match against Inter, a decision that has drawn scrutiny from former referee Graziano Cesari. Roma have failed to win in ten matches in which Massa has officiated, a record that has fuelled concern among supporters. The frustration stems partly from the recent Como–Roma fixture, where Wesley was sent off in a controversial decision. Cesari, now a commentator, spoke to Sportmediaset about the appointment, calling it a "conservative" choice by Giancarlo Orsato, who made the designation. "I expected one of either Massa or Marco Guida," Cesari said. "He is an arbitrator of great experience, with excellent knowledge of the players and their characteristics. If the match becomes more intense at an agonistic level, he could face difficulty in managing it. Experience, character and clarity can certainly help him, but that too is an aspect to keep in mind."