Roma's dribbling dominance: Malen and Soulé lead Gasperini's attacking charge

AS Roma have established themselves as Serie A's most effective dribbling team this season, recording a successful dribble rate of 61.73% — a dramatic improvement that has placed them ahead of Inter (58.56%), Como (54.14%), Torino (53.88%) and Lazio (53.73%). The turnaround represents a radical shift from the previous season, when Roma finished near the bottom of the same metric with 39.23%. Donyell Malen and Matías Soulé lead Roma's dribbling statistics with 2.6 successful dribbles per match. Malen, who tops the league's scoring charts with 6 goals from Roma's 14, maintains an efficiency rate of 66.7%, while Soulé operates at 51.5%. Manager Gian Piero Gasperini's tactical approach has extended dribbling responsibility throughout the side: Rodrigo Mora averages 2.1 successful dribbles with 60% accuracy despite limited minutes, Wesley completes 1.7 per game at 66.7% efficiency, and defender Daniele Ghilardi has emerged as a surprising contributor with 1.9 dribbles per match at 73% success, reflecting an attacking system that involves defenders in the offensive push. Paulo Dybala trails the trend at 0.9 successful dribbles per match with 30.8% effectiveness, though he compensates through his playmaking, having already recorded 4 assists this season. Looking ahead, Gasperini intends to strengthen the attack further. For the January transfer window, he is seeking a trequartist with strong one-on-one dribbling abilities to increase the unpredictability of Roma's offensive play.

Roma have made an emphatic start to the 2026-27 season, claiming four wins and two draws across their opening six matches without defeat, and their attacking shape under Gian Piero Gasperini is becoming increasingly defined. The side have generated one of Serie A's strongest offensive phases, producing 111 total shots over six matches—an average of 20.6 per game—with 68% coming from the central area, 18% from the left and 15% from the right. Gasperini's system combines aggressive pressing, high tempo and collective play with relentless shot creation, generating 14 goals so far: 12 from open play, one from a set piece and one on the counter. Donyell Malen has emerged as the attacking focal point, already on six goals with 20 shots (10 on target) as Roma's primary reference point in the box. However, the creative engine runs through Paulo Dybala on the right flank. The Argentine leads Serie A for chances created (22) and assists (4), and has completed 201 successful passes, underscoring his centrality to Roma's build-up play. Gasperini's tactical identity also involves using inverted wingers—Wesley, for instance, frequently plays on the left to cut inside onto his right foot, a pattern that generated his goal against Juventus last season in a 3-3 draw at the Olimpico. In the match against Inter, Nahuel Molina, deployed on the left, finished with three shots. While Roma shoot most from the centre, the right flank proves most productive in creating opportunities, generating 39% of offensive chances. The combination of Dybala's creativity and the movement patterns Gasperini has installed suggest Roma's attacking threat remains multifaceted and difficult to defend, grounded in the manager's clear strategic blueprint of aggressive, high-tempo football that prioritises collective movement and continuous offensive production.

Roma's attacking threat from full-back positions has transformed under Gian Piero Gasperini this season, with the discoveries of Emanuele Lulli and the arrival of Nahuel Molina — described as a clear upgrade on Zeki Çelik — providing multiple offensive weapons beyond Wesley alone. Last season the giallorossi often struggled on the wings, but now rank among Serie A's most dangerous teams in wide areas. Lulli has created 4 chances, Molina 7 and Wesley 13 from their full-back positions, totalling 24 opportunities for Gasperini's side. This figure is surpassed in Italy only by Inter, whose wing-backs Dimarco and Diouf have combined for 26.

AS Roma have established themselves as Serie A's most effective dribbling team this season, recording a successful dribble rate of 61.73% — a dramatic improvement that has placed them ahead of Inter (58.56%), Como (54.14%), Torino (53.88%) and Lazio (53.73%). The turnaround represents a radical shift from the previous season, when Roma finished near the bottom of the same metric with 39.23%. Donyell Malen and Matías Soulé lead Roma's dribbling statistics with 2.6 successful dribbles per match. Malen, who tops the league's scoring charts with 6 goals from Roma's 14, maintains an efficiency rate of 66.7%, while Soulé operates at 51.5%. Manager Gian Piero Gasperini's tactical approach has extended dribbling responsibility throughout the side: Rodrigo Mora averages 2.1 successful dribbles with 60% accuracy despite limited minutes, Wesley completes 1.7 per game at 66.7% efficiency, and defender Daniele Ghilardi has emerged as a surprising contributor with 1.9 dribbles per match at 73% success, reflecting an attacking system that involves defenders in the offensive push. Paulo Dybala trails the trend at 0.9 successful dribbles per match with 30.8% effectiveness, though he compensates through his playmaking, having already recorded 4 assists this season. Looking ahead, Gasperini intends to strengthen the attack further. For the January transfer window, he is seeking a trequartist with strong one-on-one dribbling abilities to increase the unpredictability of Roma's offensive play.

Bryan Cristante has been withdrawn from Italy's Nations League squad after sustaining an injury in Roma's Serie A match against Inter, forcing manager Roberto Mancini to call up Samuele Ricci as his replacement. Cristante was originally selected for the campaign but the physical problem forced him to withdraw from the squad for the clash against Belgium, which marks the start of Italy's new Nations League cycle. The absence provides an opportunity to examine Cristante's relationship with the Nations League and Italy's overall performance with and without him. Across 22 Nations League matches in the period examined, Cristante has appeared eight times. In the other 14 occasions, he has been unavailable: 12 times through non-selection and twice through remaining on the bench. When the Roma midfielder has featured, Italy have recorded four wins, two draws and two defeats. In the 14 matches where Cristante did not play, the Azzurri collected seven wins, six draws and just one loss. Looking specifically at the last six Nations League Finals matches analysed, Cristante appeared in exactly half of them—three times—while not being selected twice and remaining on the bench on one occasion. With Cristante on the pitch, Italy faced Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands, securing two victories and one defeat. A notable detail involving Roma's current squad emerged from the Netherlands match: Cristante started that fixture while Donyell Malen started for the opposition. Both players now share Roma's dressing room under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. In the three matches of that cycle where Cristante was not used, Italy recorded two losses against Germany and Spain, alongside a draw against Germany.

Roma have made an emphatic start to the 2026-27 season, claiming four wins and two draws across their opening six matches without defeat, and their attacking shape under Gian Piero Gasperini is becoming increasingly defined. The side have generated one of Serie A's strongest offensive phases, producing 111 total shots over six matches—an average of 20.6 per game—with 68% coming from the central area, 18% from the left and 15% from the right. Gasperini's system combines aggressive pressing, high tempo and collective play with relentless shot creation, generating 14 goals so far: 12 from open play, one from a set piece and one on the counter. Donyell Malen has emerged as the attacking focal point, already on six goals with 20 shots (10 on target) as Roma's primary reference point in the box. However, the creative engine runs through Paulo Dybala on the right flank. The Argentine leads Serie A for chances created (22) and assists (4), and has completed 201 successful passes, underscoring his centrality to Roma's build-up play. Gasperini's tactical identity also involves using inverted wingers—Wesley, for instance, frequently plays on the left to cut inside onto his right foot, a pattern that generated his goal against Juventus last season in a 3-3 draw at the Olimpico. In the match against Inter, Nahuel Molina, deployed on the left, finished with three shots. While Roma shoot most from the centre, the right flank proves most productive in creating opportunities, generating 39% of offensive chances. The combination of Dybala's creativity and the movement patterns Gasperini has installed suggest Roma's attacking threat remains multifaceted and difficult to defend, grounded in the manager's clear strategic blueprint of aggressive, high-tempo football that prioritises collective movement and continuous offensive production.

AS Roma have established themselves as Serie A's most effective dribbling team this season, recording a successful dribble rate of 61.73% — a dramatic improvement that has placed them ahead of Inter (58.56%), Como (54.14%), Torino (53.88%) and Lazio (53.73%). The turnaround represents a radical shift from the previous season, when Roma finished near the bottom of the same metric with 39.23%. Donyell Malen and Matías Soulé lead Roma's dribbling statistics with 2.6 successful dribbles per match. Malen, who tops the league's scoring charts with 6 goals from Roma's 14, maintains an efficiency rate of 66.7%, while Soulé operates at 51.5%. Manager Gian Piero Gasperini's tactical approach has extended dribbling responsibility throughout the side: Rodrigo Mora averages 2.1 successful dribbles with 60% accuracy despite limited minutes, Wesley completes 1.7 per game at 66.7% efficiency, and defender Daniele Ghilardi has emerged as a surprising contributor with 1.9 dribbles per match at 73% success, reflecting an attacking system that involves defenders in the offensive push. Paulo Dybala trails the trend at 0.9 successful dribbles per match with 30.8% effectiveness, though he compensates through his playmaking, having already recorded 4 assists this season. Looking ahead, Gasperini intends to strengthen the attack further. For the January transfer window, he is seeking a trequartist with strong one-on-one dribbling abilities to increase the unpredictability of Roma's offensive play.

Gian Piero Gasperini addressed Roma's commercial partners at Relais Appia Antica, speaking about the club's demanding nature and the squad's recent performance. He said: "I knew that Roma footballically is very demanding and difficult. But beyond results it matters to show you are working seriously, and that is always appreciated." Gasperini called the recent match against Inter "a spectacle" and thanked the business leaders for their confidence in the club. He also unveiled a personal project: a new wine from his vineyard called "Freisa 3-4-3", releasing on 5 October. "The 3-4-3 has been my fortune and I hope it is a good omen: with that system I built almost all my successes," he said. Roma have begun planning for the January transfer window to expand Gasperini's squad options. Among the profiles being monitored is Giorgi Kvernadze, a Georgian winger from Frosinone born in 2003, who has made a strong start to the season. Roma's scouts have closely followed the player, who has recorded 5 goals and 2 assists in Serie A and Coppa Italia. Frosinone appear reluctant to sell easily and have reportedly set the price at around €25 million. Napoli have also shown interest in Kvernadze. In his book "Oltre", Francesco Totti revealed a backstory from Paulo Dybala's arrival at Roma. The club had considered giving Dybala the number 10 shirt and wanted Totti himself to present it during the unveiling. Totti refused bluntly: "The answer was sharp: 'Are you all mad?' If you have the courage, give it to him yourselves. Nothing against the player—I like him very much as a person too." Dybala ultimately chose number 21, avoiding a direct comparison with Totti's legacy. Totti explained he would not oppose seeing the number 10 worn again, but with one condition: "Every day I hope another Totti manifests himself. One born in Rome, grown up in Rome, who chooses Roma for life. That shirt should go to someone who can build a long and deep bond with the club."

Roma have made an emphatic start to the 2026-27 season, claiming four wins and two draws across their opening six matches without defeat, and their attacking shape under Gian Piero Gasperini is becoming increasingly defined. The side have generated one of Serie A's strongest offensive phases, producing 111 total shots over six matches—an average of 20.6 per game—with 68% coming from the central area, 18% from the left and 15% from the right. Gasperini's system combines aggressive pressing, high tempo and collective play with relentless shot creation, generating 14 goals so far: 12 from open play, one from a set piece and one on the counter. Donyell Malen has emerged as the attacking focal point, already on six goals with 20 shots (10 on target) as Roma's primary reference point in the box. However, the creative engine runs through Paulo Dybala on the right flank. The Argentine leads Serie A for chances created (22) and assists (4), and has completed 201 successful passes, underscoring his centrality to Roma's build-up play. Gasperini's tactical identity also involves using inverted wingers—Wesley, for instance, frequently plays on the left to cut inside onto his right foot, a pattern that generated his goal against Juventus last season in a 3-3 draw at the Olimpico. In the match against Inter, Nahuel Molina, deployed on the left, finished with three shots. While Roma shoot most from the centre, the right flank proves most productive in creating opportunities, generating 39% of offensive chances. The combination of Dybala's creativity and the movement patterns Gasperini has installed suggest Roma's attacking threat remains multifaceted and difficult to defend, grounded in the manager's clear strategic blueprint of aggressive, high-tempo football that prioritises collective movement and continuous offensive production.

Lorenzo Pellegrini is stepping up his recovery from a long injury layoff with the aim of forcing his way back into Gian Piero Gasperini's starting plans. The Roma midfielder has not played since 10 April, when he suffered an injury against Pisa and was substituted at half-time—a gap of 184 days that represents the longest absence of his career. After a setback while attempting to recover in time for the derby, Pellegrini underwent surgery in Finland, but he is now accelerating his rehabilitation ahead of the resumption of the Serie A campaign. Gasperini has previously indicated his intention to use the extended break productively, stating: "The long break will be an opportunity to do something more." Pellegrini, who renewed his contract for one year on a salary of €2.5 million per season, is working to reach full fitness and return to the squad rotation. Last season he started in 25 of his 37 appearances, underscoring his importance as one of the senior figures in the dressing room. The club backed his contract renewal significantly, with Gasperini pushing the management hard to retain him. Pellegrini's bid to reclaim a regular role comes amid competition for midfield places from Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora. His rehabilitation will accelerate in the coming days, according to reporting, as he targets readiness for when the campaign resumes and aims to contribute minutes while building match fitness through a busy fixture schedule.

AS Roma have established themselves as Serie A's most effective dribbling team this season, recording a successful dribble rate of 61.73% — a dramatic improvement that has placed them ahead of Inter (58.56%), Como (54.14%), Torino (53.88%) and Lazio (53.73%). The turnaround represents a radical shift from the previous season, when Roma finished near the bottom of the same metric with 39.23%. Donyell Malen and Matías Soulé lead Roma's dribbling statistics with 2.6 successful dribbles per match. Malen, who tops the league's scoring charts with 6 goals from Roma's 14, maintains an efficiency rate of 66.7%, while Soulé operates at 51.5%. Manager Gian Piero Gasperini's tactical approach has extended dribbling responsibility throughout the side: Rodrigo Mora averages 2.1 successful dribbles with 60% accuracy despite limited minutes, Wesley completes 1.7 per game at 66.7% efficiency, and defender Daniele Ghilardi has emerged as a surprising contributor with 1.9 dribbles per match at 73% success, reflecting an attacking system that involves defenders in the offensive push. Paulo Dybala trails the trend at 0.9 successful dribbles per match with 30.8% effectiveness, though he compensates through his playmaking, having already recorded 4 assists this season. Looking ahead, Gasperini intends to strengthen the attack further. For the January transfer window, he is seeking a trequartist with strong one-on-one dribbling abilities to increase the unpredictability of Roma's offensive play.

Roma are monitoring Giorgi Kvernadze, Frosinone's Georgian winger, as a potential solution to their search for a left-sided attacker with a right foot. The 2003-born winger has scored 5 goals and provided 2 assists across Serie A and the Coppa Italia in recent matches observed by Roma scouts. Frosinone have valued Kvernadze at around €25 million and are unwilling to allow him to leave without a substantial offer. Napoli are also tracking his situation. Roma have made an excellent start to the season with 13 points from 15 available, level on points with Inter and Lazio at the top of the table. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has successfully integrated the summer additions — Balerdi, Molina, Mora, Koulierakis and De Roon — into his system. However, the club recognises that further reinforcements are needed, particularly in the wide attacking position, and has begun preparations for the January transfer window. According to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport and confirmed by Il Tempo and Nicolò Schira, Kvernadze has caught the attention of Roma's recruitment staff. The club will face competition from Napoli as they pursue the Frosinone winger ahead of the winter market.