Roma host Inter at Olimpico in Serie A summit clash; Balerdi and Lulli in line to start

Former Roma and Inter player Amantino Mancini has assessed Sunday's top-of-the-table clash between the two sides, saying the match will be finely balanced. Roma sit level on points with Inter after winning their first four Serie A matches, and Mancini believes both teams are genuine contenders. "The Roma are living through a wonderful moment, with four victories in the first four matchdays, and are joint top with Inter. It will be a very balanced challenge, 50-50," he told TuttoSport ahead of the 18:00 kickoff at the Olimpico. Mancini highlighted Roma's improvement compared to last season, crediting both the quality of new signings and greater mental consistency. "Roma has grown a lot in terms of technical quality, also thanks to the acquisitions made on the market. I also see greater continuity from a mental standpoint," he said. On Roma's title credentials, he added: "They have the qualities and the chances to be protagonists. Now though it will be important to find continuity and maintain this performance over time." Asked about the individual battle between Roma's Donyell Malen and Inter's Lautaro Martínez, Mancini praised both but gave the edge to the Inter forward. "It is a good challenge because they are two strong players, both physically and technically. Malen is a player of great value, but Lautaro seems a bit more consistent to me."

Roma Femminile will contest the Women's Cup final against Juventus at the Stadio Torquato Brescianini in Viareggio at 18:00 on Saturday 19 September, the same day the men's team faces Inter at the Olimpico in a title race clash. The competition concludes less than a week before the start of the league season, pitting two heavyweights of Italian women's football head-to-head in a rematch of last year's final, which Juventus won. Piovani's side arrive in strong form after routing Sassuolo 7–1 in the semi-final. Giugliano and her teammates will look to overturn last season's defeat and claim the trophy this time.

Roma and Inter meet on Saturday 19 September 2026 in a Serie A fixture billed as the competition's flagship match, with both sides unbeaten and on maximum points so far this season. The match takes place at the Olimpico before the international break. Gasperini has announced that all his squad members are available for selection, but is monitoring the fitness of Wesley and Evan N'Dicka, suggesting Leonardo Balerdi will start in defence. Inter will be without Calhanoglu and Stones, with Akanji and Zielinski set to replace them. Both teams will pay tribute to Sandro Mazzola before kick-off. The Inter and Italy legend died at 83 during the night.

Roma and Inter meet in the final match before the international break, with both sides unbeaten and level on points at the top of Serie A. Gasperini has confirmed all his players are available but is monitoring the fitness of Wesley and N'Dicka, suggesting Leonardo Balerdi could start. Inter will be without Calhanoglu and Stones, with Akanji and Zielinski set to replace them. Both teams will pay tribute before kick-off to Sandro Mazzola, the Inter legend and Italy international who died at the age of 83 overnight.

Gian Piero Gasperini has downplayed Sunday's meeting with Inter at the Olimpico as a scudetto decider, calling it instead a significant fixture between two in-form teams but one that arrives too early in the season to carry championship weight. In a wide-ranging interview, the Roma head coach reflected on the club's strong start to 2026-27, the recovery from last season's intense campaign, and the squad's growing cohesion. Gasperini acknowledged Inter's standing as the benchmark in Italian football. "Inter is ahead of everyone, they prove it with the results they are making and those they have made in recent years. They remain a reference point for all the other teams trying to climb and get closer," he said. He stressed that Roma cannot fix their deficiencies in five matches and that meaningful objectives can only be set after around twenty games. Roma's qualification for the UEFA Champions League this season was not guaranteed last year, he noted, and he sees the competition as an opportunity to grow by testing themselves against Europe's elite. On Paulo Dybala, Gasperini said: "It is a great aspect, perhaps for some years he was not able to have this continuity of performance and condition, not only of quality. He is a champion recovered to our football." He praised Dybala and Donyell Malen as complementary forwards, describing Dybala's ability to spot Malen's runs and serve him with precision, combined with Malen's capacity to convert straightforward chances into goals. On young defender Emanuele Lulli, Gasperini sidestepped comparisons to legendary defenders, saying he compares players only with the world's strongest to judge merit fairly and that he introduces young players because they deserve it, not for convenience. He also backed Leonardo Balerdi, saying the defender made a strong impact despite having done only partial pre-season preparation with Roma, evidence of his professionalism. Gasperini identified the club's greatest strength as "a great unity between environment, squad, fans and society. This is something that helps you work well and gives you confidence to achieve the best results." He expressed satisfaction with the new league format this season and noted that Roma fans are content. The squad combines youth and experienced players, each contributing—younger members bringing freshness and established players setting an example through their dedication. Roma face Como before the Real Madrid fixture in the Champions League.

Gian Piero Gasperini spoke to DAZN on the eve of Roma's match against Inter at the Olimpico on 19 September, reflecting on the club's strong start to the season and addressing key themes around the squad's growth, individual performances, and the competitive challenges ahead. Gasperini stressed that while Inter remain the benchmark for Italian football, Roma have emerged with genuine momentum after their 5–2 defeat to Inter last season. He described the recovery as a "grandissima reazione" (very strong reaction) and emphasised that the team has maintained consistency since then. On the new campaign, he noted that Roma benefit from having worked together for a full year: "Rispetto allo scorso anno partivamo avvantaggiati, avendo avuto un anno insieme" (Compared to last year we started with an advantage, having had a year together). He praised the unity binding environment, squad, tifosi and society as the club's greatest strength, and said the new regulations have enhanced the quality of Serie A football, with fans the most satisfied. On individual players, Gasperini said of Paulo Dybala: "È un campione recuperato al nostro calcio" (He is a champion recovered for Italian football), noting the Argentine has finally achieved the consistency of form he lacked in recent years. He stressed that Emanuele Lulli plays because he merits it, rejecting any suggestion of giving opportunities for short-term fixes—"Non lancio giovani per fare sconti o per abbreviare la carriera a qualcuno, lo faccio perché è merito loro" (I don't throw young players in to make shortcuts or cut anyone else's career short; I do it because they deserve it). On Leonardo Balerdi's early impact, Gasperini said the defender "si è presentato preparato al di là che non abbia fatto gran parte della preparazione con noi" (presented himself prepared despite not having done much of the pre-season preparation with us). He praised the partnership between Dybala and Donyell Malen, highlighting Dybala's ability to spot Malen's runs and the winger's capacity to turn straightforward chances into goals. Gasperini cautioned against premature title talk five matches in, instead emphasising realistic objectives: "Si può parlare di obiettivi solo dopo una ventina di partite" (You can only talk about objectives after about twenty matches). Roma's next fixtures are Como, Inter, and Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Roma and Inter meet in the final match before the international break, with both sides unbeaten and level on points at the top of Serie A. Gasperini has confirmed all his players are available but is monitoring the fitness of Wesley and N'Dicka, suggesting Leonardo Balerdi could start. Inter will be without Calhanoglu and Stones, with Akanji and Zielinski set to replace them. Both teams will pay tribute before kick-off to Sandro Mazzola, the Inter legend and Italy international who died at the age of 83 overnight.

Roma and Inter prepare for the Serie A title decider in the fifth round of matches, with Gian Piero Gasperini naming a complete squad for the fixture. Mario Hermoso is fully fit after recovering from a minor training injury, making all players available for selection. The match carries significance in the battle for outright league leadership. Gasperini's squad list includes all defensive options: Rensch, Koulierakis, N'Dicka, Molina, Hermoso, Mancini, Balerdi, Wesley, Lulli and Ghilardi. Midfield personnel comprise Cristante, Pellegrini, De Roon, Koné, Pisilli and Mora.

Gian Piero Gasperini has named 23 players for Roma's Serie A match against Inter, a fifth-round fixture taking place today at the Olimpico. Mario Hermoso returns after sustaining a minor ankle injury in recent days, and Lorenzo Pellegrini is included. Evan N'Dicka, Wesley and Manu Koné have all recovered from issues that sidelined them in recent weeks. Gasperini's squad includes goalkeepers Mile Svilar, Giorgio De Marzi and Pierluigi Gollini. The defence comprises Devyne Rensch, Konstantinos Koulierakis, N'Dicka, Nahuel Molina, Hermoso, Gianluca Mancini, Leonardo Balerdi, Wesley, Emanuele Lulli and Daniele Ghilardi. Midfield options are Bryan Cristante, Pellegrini, Marten de Roon, Koné, Niccolò Pisilli and Rodrigo Mora. The attacking players available are Santiago Castro, Donyell Malen, Matías Soulé and Paulo Dybala.

Roma and Inter prepare for the Serie A title decider in the fifth round of matches, with Gian Piero Gasperini naming a complete squad for the fixture. Mario Hermoso is fully fit after recovering from a minor training injury, making all players available for selection. The match carries significance in the battle for outright league leadership. Gasperini's squad list includes all defensive options: Rensch, Koulierakis, N'Dicka, Molina, Hermoso, Mancini, Balerdi, Wesley, Lulli and Ghilardi. Midfield personnel comprise Cristante, Pellegrini, De Roon, Koné, Pisilli and Mora.

Gian Piero Gasperini has named 23 players for Roma's Serie A match against Inter, a fifth-round fixture taking place today at the Olimpico. Mario Hermoso returns after sustaining a minor ankle injury in recent days, and Lorenzo Pellegrini is included. Evan N'Dicka, Wesley and Manu Koné have all recovered from issues that sidelined them in recent weeks. Gasperini's squad includes goalkeepers Mile Svilar, Giorgio De Marzi and Pierluigi Gollini. The defence comprises Devyne Rensch, Konstantinos Koulierakis, N'Dicka, Nahuel Molina, Hermoso, Gianluca Mancini, Leonardo Balerdi, Wesley, Emanuele Lulli and Daniele Ghilardi. Midfield options are Bryan Cristante, Pellegrini, Marten de Roon, Koné, Niccolò Pisilli and Rodrigo Mora. The attacking players available are Santiago Castro, Donyell Malen, Matías Soulé and Paulo Dybala.

Gian Piero Gasperini has a complete squad to choose from for this afternoon's match against Inter. The head coach regains N'Dicka, who was initially named in the squad for the trip to Torino but withdrew due to injury, and Hermoso, who recovered from a minor knock sustained during the week. Manu Koné will return to the starting line-up after appearing only as a substitute in Piedmont while managing a physical issue. The full squad list includes: Goalkeepers Mile Svilar, Giorgio De Marzi, and Pierluigi Gollini; Defenders Devyne Rensch, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Evan N'Dicka, Nahuel Molina, Mario Hermoso, Gianluca Mancini, Leonardo Balerdi, Wesley, Emanuele Lulli, and Daniele Ghilardi; Midfielders Bryan Cristante, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Marten de Roon, Manu Koné, Niccolò Pisilli, and Rodrigo Mora; and Forwards Santiago Castro, Donyell Malen, Matías Soulé, and Paulo Dybala.