Roma's Invincibility Depends on Condition, Says Orsi; Ferrazza Warns of Torino Trap

Emanuele Lulli will face Alessio Cacciamani on the same flank when Roma visit Torino this evening, a meeting that reflects two contrasting paths taken by Italy's youth systems. Roma pursued Cacciamani throughout the summer as a prospect to support Gasperini, but Torino resisted and manager Ignazio Abate chose to give the teenager playing time instead of selling him. Roma eventually discovered Lulli as an alternative. Lulli's emergence this season cannot be attributed solely to Cacciamani's departure, yet the two stories intertwine meaningfully. The space Roma might have created for a purchased young talent—potentially by moving Wesley to the right—became fertile ground for a player developed at Trigoria. Gasperini first prevented Lulli from joining Avellino on loan in the summer, then granted him the opportunity to prove himself in the Roma first team. Lulli has become one of the pleasant surprises of the season's opening weeks. The narrative extends beyond the match itself. Youth academies produce talent, but talent without opportunity remains only a promise. Cacciamani is emerging because Torino had the courage to retain him and Abate the conviction to play him. Lulli is achieving the same because Gasperini, partly through circumstances created by the transfer market, kept him at the club and gave him his chance to compete. Not every Primavera player will become Serie A material, and every young talent should not be kept out of fear of future regret. Yet before looking elsewhere for what is missing, it is sometimes worth examining what lies within. Tonight Cacciamani and Lulli will face each other. While not a headline-grabbing duel, it could tell one of the match's most important stories: young players can emerge only when someone has the courage to let them play.

David Di Michele has predicted a battle at Torino tonight, describing the fixture between Roma and the Torino side as historically contested and full of intensity. The former footballer was speaking exclusively ahead of the match. Di Michele praised Gasperini's work and emphasised the strength of the squad's collective awareness. He reflected on the modern evolution of full-back play, noting that inverted positions have become standard practice in contemporary football. "Once you played only on your own flank," he said, "but now football has changed. Even when I was playing, various coaches were experimenting with the inverted foot, and I benefited greatly from it because you have more solutions. Certainly with Gasperini I would have found myself well given what my characteristics were." Addressing Gasperini's view that a squad now comprises 20 players of equal quality rather than a division between starters and substitutes, Di Michele acknowledged the shift while noting that first-choice players remain defined when chasing major objectives. "Certainly football has changed, today you need your entire squad—that's clear," he explained. "But if we analyse it, it's obvious that when you come to play for important objectives, the starters are well defined and you change less. Over the course of an entire season it's clear you need everyone, but every team has its own reliability and its own balance with a certain formation. If you remove Dybala you don't have a substitute with the same qualities, for example."

Roma travel to Torino on Monday 14 September—exactly one year after Torino beat Roma 1–0 at the Olimpico on the same date in 2025, when Giovanni Simeone scored in the 59th minute. The story has reversed since: Roma won 2–0 at the Grande Torino on 18 January this year through goals from Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala, a return to the scene with the roles inverted. Torino has become a hunting ground for the Giallorossi. Roma have scored in all of their last 16 away matches at the Grande Torino, amassing 23 goals across those fixtures. To find Roma's last goalless away trip to Turin requires going back to a 0–0 draw on 16 December 2007. In the last five Serie A meetings between the clubs, Torino have managed only one goal—Zapata's strike in a 1–1 draw in September 2023. The all-time head-to-head record in 91 official meetings still favours the hosts: 38 Torino wins, 32 draws and 21 Roma victories. Torino remain Roma's most-played opponent in Serie A with 162 fixtures, yet Roma have recorded more wins against them than any other side—72 victories. Gasperini's Roma arrive with attacking numbers unprecedented in the modern era. They have scored 10 goals in their opening three league matches, a new record in the three-points-for-a-win era. The previous best was nine goals, achieved in 2000–01, 2003–04, 2016–17 and 2021–22. Nine points from nine in the first three games has not been matched since 2021–22 and represents only the sixth time Roma have taken maximum points from their first three matches since 2000–01. Malen has been central to that form: in the 2026 calendar year, the Dutch forward is Serie A's leading goalscorer with 19 goals in 20 appearances, averaging a goal every 92 minutes across 1,754 minutes played. He scored in that January victory at Torino. In the dugout, Ignazio Abate and Gian Piero Gasperini face each other in an official match for the first time as managers.

Roma visit Torino in the fourth round of Serie A on 14 September, seeking to extend their perfect start to the season. The Giallorossi have won their opening three matches and will aim to reach six points and consolidate top spot, though they arrive after drawing their first match of the campaign in Istanbul. Roma's unbeaten streak gives them a strong platform heading into the fixture. Paulo Dybala is available for selection, while Manu Koné is sidelined for the trip.

David Di Michele has predicted a battle at Torino tonight, describing the fixture between Roma and the Torino side as historically contested and full of intensity. The former footballer was speaking exclusively ahead of the match. Di Michele praised Gasperini's work and emphasised the strength of the squad's collective awareness. He reflected on the modern evolution of full-back play, noting that inverted positions have become standard practice in contemporary football. "Once you played only on your own flank," he said, "but now football has changed. Even when I was playing, various coaches were experimenting with the inverted foot, and I benefited greatly from it because you have more solutions. Certainly with Gasperini I would have found myself well given what my characteristics were." Addressing Gasperini's view that a squad now comprises 20 players of equal quality rather than a division between starters and substitutes, Di Michele acknowledged the shift while noting that first-choice players remain defined when chasing major objectives. "Certainly football has changed, today you need your entire squad—that's clear," he explained. "But if we analyse it, it's obvious that when you come to play for important objectives, the starters are well defined and you change less. Over the course of an entire season it's clear you need everyone, but every team has its own reliability and its own balance with a certain formation. If you remove Dybala you don't have a substitute with the same qualities, for example."

Roma face Torino in Serie A on 14 September at 18:30, four days after their Champions League return, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini managing squad rotation following the trip to Istanbul. The starting XI appears largely settled, though midfield and the right flank remain open questions. Svilar will start in goal, with the familiar trio of Mancini, Ndicka and Hermoso in defence; Ghilardi is the alternative. Wesley is expected to hold the left-back spot, while the right side is contested between Lulli and Rensch, with Lulli marginally favoured, though Gasperini indicated in his press conference that his condition would need to be assessed before the match. The main shift could come in midfield. Manu Koné picked up a knee problem against Fenerbahçe, opening the door for Nicolò Pisilli to partner Bryan Cristante; Koné has attempted recovery and remains an option. Dybala and Donyell Malen are set pieces in attack, with Matías Soulé the likely choice to complete the forward line, while Rodrigo Mora stands ready either from the start or as an in-match solution. The probable Roma formation is 3-4-2-1: Svilar; Mancini, Ndicka, Hermoso; Lulli, Cristante, Pisilli, Wesley; Soulé, Dybala; Malen.

Gian Piero Gasperini has named his squad for Roma's away match against Torino, with two significant updates: Lorenzo Pellegrini returns for the first call of the season, and Manu Koné is available after recovering from a knee problem sustained against Fenerbahce. Pellegrini's inclusion marks his first involvement in the 2026-27 campaign. Koné had been sidelined by the injury but is now fit to feature. The squad encompasses the full depth of Gasperini's defence, midfield and attack options for the fixture. Gasperini's full squad list reads as follows: Goalkeepers: Svilar, De Marzi, Gollini. Defenders: Rensch, Koulierakis, N'Dicka, Molina, Hermoso, Mancini, Balerdi, Wesley, Lulli, Ghilardi. Midfielders: Cristante, Pellegrini, De Roon, Koné, Pisilli, Mora. Forwards: Castro, Malen, Soulé, Dybala.

Gian Piero Gasperini has the full squad available for Roma's match against Torino on 14 September. Lorenzo Pellegrini returns to the squad for the first time this season, while Manu Koné has recovered from a knee problem and Emanuele Lulli from a stomach virus that kept him out of training on 12 September. Malen and Dybala will lead the attack, with either Soulé or Mora at their side. The full squad list includes every outfield player across defence, midfield and attack. Gasperini has named 24 players across all positions: three goalkeepers (Svilar, De Marzi, Gollini), eleven defenders (Rensch, Koulierakis, N'Dicka, Molina, Hermoso, Mancini, Balerdi, Wesley, Lulli, Ghilardi), six midfielders (Cristante, Pellegrini, De Roon, Koné, Pisilli, Mora) and four forwards (Castro, Malen, Soulé, Dybala).

Roma kick off their Champions League campaign against Fenerbahce in Istanbul, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini confirming a strong starting lineup. Gasperini has retained the core of Roma's winning run this season, with one change: Devyne Rensch starts at left-back in place of Emanuele Lulli. Paulo Dybala takes his regular place in attack, flanking Matías Soulé behind Donyell Malen in a 3-4-2-1 formation. Rodrigo Mora is unused among the substitutes, expected to come on in the second half if needed. Nahuel Molina's first-team debut from the start is postponed. Roma field: Svilar; Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Rensch, Cristante, Koné, Wesley; Soulé, Dybala; Malen. Among the squad available from the bench are De Marzi, Gollini, Balerdi, Ghilardi, Koulierakis, Lulli, Molina, De Roon, Pisilli, Mora and Castro. Fenerbahce start with Ederson in goal and deploy Muriqi as their centre-forward, supported by Mason Greenwood and Ferdi Aktörkoglu in attacking midfield. The Turkish side's squad includes Raphaël Varane in their defensive ranks.

Roma face Torino in Serie A on 14 September at 18:30, four days after their Champions League return, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini managing squad rotation following the trip to Istanbul. The starting XI appears largely settled, though midfield and the right flank remain open questions. Svilar will start in goal, with the familiar trio of Mancini, Ndicka and Hermoso in defence; Ghilardi is the alternative. Wesley is expected to hold the left-back spot, while the right side is contested between Lulli and Rensch, with Lulli marginally favoured, though Gasperini indicated in his press conference that his condition would need to be assessed before the match. The main shift could come in midfield. Manu Koné picked up a knee problem against Fenerbahçe, opening the door for Nicolò Pisilli to partner Bryan Cristante; Koné has attempted recovery and remains an option. Dybala and Donyell Malen are set pieces in attack, with Matías Soulé the likely choice to complete the forward line, while Rodrigo Mora stands ready either from the start or as an in-match solution. The probable Roma formation is 3-4-2-1: Svilar; Mancini, Ndicka, Hermoso; Lulli, Cristante, Pisilli, Wesley; Soulé, Dybala; Malen.

Roma travel to Turin on 14 September with their full squad available and Lorenzo Pellegrini in the matchday group for the first time this season after a lengthy absence. The squad selection remains fluid ahead of the fixture: the defence is expected to feature Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso, but uncertainty persists across the flanks, midfield and attack. Emanuele Lulli, Devyne Rensch and Nahuel Molina are competing for a starting place on the right, while Niccolò Pisilli and Manu Koné are in contention alongside Bryan Cristante in the middle. Up front, Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora are head-to-head for selection, though Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are guaranteed starting positions. Roma carry an open run of eight consecutive Serie A victories into the match—five secured in the closing stages of last season and three in the opening rounds of the current campaign. Gian Piero Gasperini's side will pursue a ninth straight win to reclaim the league lead. The head coach faces a contrasting duel with opposing manager Ignazio Abate: Gasperini has 640 Serie A matches on his bench, placing him fifth in the all-time standings and closing in on Nils Liedholm's tally of 644. Abate, by contrast, is appearing in only his fourth Serie A match in charge. Roma Primavera, meanwhile, play at home today: at 15:00 they face Como at the Agostino Di Bartolomei ground in Trigoria, with coverage on Sportitalia. The youth side aim to remain unbeaten in the fourth matchday following a comeback victory in the Youth League against Fenerbahce. A starting confirmation is expected for Paratici with Morucci in attack, while Cama is highlighted among young players to watch closely.

Roma face Torino in the late afternoon on 14 September with a full squad available. Gian Piero Gasperini has recalled Lorenzo Pellegrini to the squad for the first time this season after an extended absence, though the manager will need to handle his reintegration gradually. All media outlets agree on the back three protecting Svilar: Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso remain unchanged. The key debate centres on the right-back position. Lulli is favoured by three of the five newspapers surveyed—Corriere della Sera, Il Tempo and Il Messaggero—all of which lineup him alongside Cristante, Pisilli, Wesley in midfield and Soulé, Dybala, Malen in attack. Corriere dello Sport instead selects Devyne Rensch, while Il Romanista opts for Nahuel Molina, who would line up with Manu Koné in place of Pisilli and Rodrigo Mora ahead of Soulé.