Roma seal another four-goal victory; cartoonist Michele marks the win from Oman

Roma face Atalanta at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday 5 September at 20:45 in Serie A matchday 3, with both sides arriving unbeaten after two rounds of fixtures. Gian Piero Gasperini's Roma have won convincingly against Fiorentina and Lecce, while Atalanta, managed by Maurizio Sarri, beat Bologna 1–0 in their last match. The fixture marks Roma's first real test of the new season as they balance their Serie A campaign alongside renewed Champions League participation. Roma's primary concern centres on Evan N'Dicka, whose availability for the centre of defence remains in doubt. Should the Ivorian be unavailable, Gasperini is expected to field Daniele Ghilardi alongside Gianluca Mancini and Mario Hermoso in a three-man defence. Devyne Rensch and Lorenzo Pellegrini are also being monitored, though no Roma players are currently suspended. Wesley will operate on the left flank, with Emanuele Lulli competing with Nahuel Molina for the right-back position. Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné form the midfield base, with Niccolò Pisilli as backup. Mile Svilar continues in goal, while Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are expected to start in attack, with the contest between Rodrigo Mora and Matías Soulé for the remaining forward spot unresolved. Atalanta arrive with a more complex injury picture, absent Matteo Pessina and Sulemana, while Kristensen's participation is uncertain. Sarri will likely deploy a 4–3-3 formation with Marco Carnesecchi in goal. The back four comprises Davide Zappacosta, Kossounou, Scalvini and Bernasconi (or Zappacosta competing with Bellanova). Gaetano anchors midfield with Ederson and Samardzic—who was decisive against Bologna and slightly favoured to start—flanking him. Upfront, Atalanta field a trident of De Ketelaere, Scamacca and Raspadori, though Krstovic and new arrival Kessié remain alternatives to Scamacca. The two clubs have met 142 times across Serie A, with Roma holding a 61–37 advantage in wins, 44 draws, and a 214–166 goal advantage overall. Atalanta won their last meeting at the Olimpico 2–0 on 2 December 2024 when Gasperini was their manager; their most recent fixture on 18 April 2026 ended 1–1. The match will be broadcast live on Dazn via app, website and streaming platforms on smartphones, PCs and tablets. Official team sheets will be announced approximately one hour before kick-off.

Roma demolished Lecce 4–0 at the Via del Mare, delivering a display of tactical and physical dominance that underlined Gian Piero Gasperini's team's excellent current form. The national press unanimously celebrated the performance, with particular praise for Donyell Malen's increasingly devastating form and for squad players who seized their starting opportunities with compelling showings. Malen earned the highest individual rating across the papers surveyed, with marks of 8 to 8.5, while Daniele Ghilardi emerged as a surprise standout, consistently rated between 6.5 and 7.5 in a defensive line that held firm. Bryan Cristante impressed in midfield with ratings of 6.5 to 8, and Paulo Dybala registered 6.5 to 7 before being replaced late in the match. Gasperini himself received widespread commendation, rated between 7.5 and 8 by the publications. The team lined up in a 3-4-1-2 formation. Mile Svilar was steady in goal, Gianluca Mancini and Mario Hermoso anchored the defence alongside Ghilardi, and Manu Koné controlled the midfield before his substitution on 67 minutes. Matías Soulé appeared in an attacking role and was replaced on 60 minutes, as was Wesley. Santiago Castro and Niccolò Pisilli entered from the bench, while Marten de Roon came on in the closing stages.

Roma delivered a four-goal performance at Lecce in a tactical display that showcased Gasperini's developing system. The Giallorossi dominated from the opening whistle, pressing high across the pitch and recovering possession aggressively through Koné, who repeatedly forced turnovers. Gasperini deployed his customary 3-4-2-1 with Soulé on the left and Dybala flanking Malen, while Lecce set up in a 3-5-1-1 with Pierotti supporting Geubbels. Roma mounted sustained pressure from the start, moving the ball with speed and disrupting Lecce's central defensive line through coordinated forward pressing that stole time and space from the opening moment of possession. The right-flank rotations proved particularly effective, with Ghilardi consistently pushing forward to generate width while Roma systematically penetrated down the baseline; on the left, Wesley initially faced heavier pressure from Veiga, with Soulé struggling to gain ground and Hermoso operating primarily in a covering role to shield Mancini from Geubbels' pace—a crucial mismatch the article identified as dangerous for their system. A single vulnerability emerged in Roma's defensive setup: when Mancini operated as a central defender rather than as a full-back alongside the faster N'Dicka, his reliance on aggression and anticipation left him vulnerable to opponents who could draw him forward and then attack the space laterally. Geubbels exploited this channel after 37 minutes, forcing a save from Svilar. The defensive fragility proved temporary. Malen created further chaos by moving between Lecce's three central defenders, causing confusion over coverage and drifting into offside positions repeatedly; Lecce's high defensive line compounded the problem, leading to a devastating 24-minute spell where Roma took command. The second half brought tactical adjustments from both sides: Di Francesco switched to a four-defender formation with three midfielders and three attacking players, while Gasperini repositioned Soulé behind Dybala and Malen in pursuit of Ngom. Stulic replaced the injured Geubbels, removing a significant threat to Mancini's positioning. Mora and Molina entered for Wesley and Soulé, maintaining Roma's 3-4-1-2 structure; Mora scored his first goal in Italy after Mancini supplied an assist from an uncluttered defensive position. Castro and Pisilli replaced Malen and Koné later in the match, continuing the established rotation pattern from the opening league fixture, before De Roon's introduction sealed the victory with Cristante moving into the number-ten role. The performance underlined how Gasperini's squad depth and tactical flexibility allow him broad scope to manage matches creatively and adapt his approach across the 90 minutes.