Stramaccioni: Dybala in peak form, Roma need left winger to chase the title

Franco Peccenini, who played 152 matches for Roma in the mid-1970s, delivered a glowing assessment of the club's prospects after watching their opening fixture. Having harboured doubts during the summer friendlies about Roma's readiness, Peccenini said that within the first ten minutes against Fiorentina he was convinced the team would have a great season. "Viste tutte all'esordio, secondo me la Roma non ha niente da invidiare a Inter e Napoli," he told Retesport, arguing that if the club could provide Gasperini with another outside forward—something the coach has been actively seeking—no objective would be off limits for Roma. Peccenini reserved particular praise for left-back Lulli, who like him hails from Palestrina. He emphasised the teenager's composure on his debut at a packed Stadio Olimpico, contrasting it sharply with his own early career. "Il mio debutto non ha nulla a che vedere con il suo, perché Lulli ha avuto un esordio grandioso. Personalità, sicurezza, carattere in uno stadio pieno come l'Olimpico, mi ha lasciato esterrefatto," Peccenini said, adding that while Lulli still has refinements to make, "ha enormi potenzialità." He urged the club to let the player work with confidence without pressure. Peccenini reflected on Roma's centenary year and what the club means to him personally. He revealed that on Monday at the stadium, the club presented him with a personalised shirt and did the same for fellow former players including Nela, Scarnecchia and Candela. "Non ho bisogno del pezzo di stoffa per sentirmi romanista. Sono nato e morirò romanista," he said, noting he made 150 appearances in the first team after coming through the youth academy.

Andrea Stramaccioni has praised Roma's performance against Fiorentina, saying the club can position itself as a serious challenger to Inter and Napoli if they add one final piece to complete the left side of attack for Gasperini. Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, Stramaccioni said: "If they add one last piece to make Gasperini happy and complete the left side of the attack, in my view they can position themselves as immediate rivals to Inter and Napoli." Watching Roma live on 24 August, Stramaccioni was struck by their intensity and consistency. "It is rare to see a team play at these rhythms for 90 minutes," he said. Dybala's performance particularly impressed him: the Argentine created three assists from three ball-carrying accelerations and made a defensive recovery in the 75th minute on the halfway line. "In these conditions in our Serie A it becomes very difficult to stop them. And the chemistry with Malen is natural football chemistry." Stramaccioni also highlighted Koné's world-class level, praised Rodrigo Mora's previously missing characteristics, and noted the strength of Roma's Italian spine—Mancini, Cristante, and Pellegrini—all of whom renewed their contracts at Gasperini's insistence. Asked whether the title picture had shifted before matchday one, Stramaccioni acknowledged it is early with transfers and squads still being completed, but said: "Inter and Roma have made a very strong start: they have clear and defined ideas of play."

Andrea Stramaccioni believes Roma need only one more signing to establish themselves as genuine challengers to Inter and Napoli this season. Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, the analyst was impressed by Roma's league debut: "If they add one final piece to make Gasperini happy and complete the left side of the attack, Roma can position themselves as an immediate antagonist to Inter and Napoli." Stramaccioni highlighted the intensity and consistency of Roma's opening performance. "On 24 August it is rare to see a team play at these rhythms for 90 minutes," he said. He singled out Paulo Dybala's creativity and work rate—"three assists following three accelerations with the ball at his feet, and at 75' he made a defensive run to win the ball back on the midfield line"—and praised the natural chemistry between Dybala and Donyell Malen. He also commended Manu Koné as "at world level" and identified Rodrigo Mora as bringing characteristics the squad previously lacked. Stramaccioni emphasised the strength of Roma's midfield and defence, describing the "personality, strength and solidity of the Italian spine" reinforced by Gasperini's priority renewals of Gianluca Mancini, Bryan Cristante and Lorenzo Pellegrini. On the wider title race, he added: "It is early—the market and squads are still to be completed—but Inter and Roma have started very strong: clear and defined ideas of play."

Roman radio stations aired a range of expert opinions on Roma's transfer strategy and recent performance. Piero Torri of Manà Manà Sport said the club has a duty to raise standards by completing the squad. He expects activity in the final week of the window, particularly on the wing: "In this last week something will happen, above all on the outside of attack. There is the intention to do it, but not so much to take: we are looking for someone who can give you quality and more offensive solutions, because Gasp always thinks about scoring goals. Fofana? If I have to listen to what Roma says, he cannot be bought at those figures because of UEFA agreements. Then under other conditions it can be done. Him, Gittens, or the famous mister X." Roberto Pruzzo of Radio Radio praised Gasperini's comments about Paulo Dybala, noting the coach said he could even play in extra time. Pruzzo observed that Rodrigo Mora touched the ball only twice in the first half before being substituted early in the second. The first objective, he said, is to preserve Dybala. Nando Orsi also on Radio Radio stressed that Roma's prospects depend heavily on Dybala's availability: if he plays 15 matches like the recent Monday outing, Roma can be the "Anti-Inter"; otherwise not. Orsi rated Dybala's performance against Fiorentina as his best since joining Roma, and called the existing squad fairly solid, though he cautioned that Napoli's midfield contains numerous elite players.

Roma's radio commentators have dissected the club's transfer position and recent on-field performance in a wide-ranging discussion centred on left-back Jayden Oosterwolde's medical status, midfielder Franck Kessié's availability and an ongoing push to strengthen the forward line. Oosterwolde suffered an injury on 5 August initially thought minor, but subsequent assessments suggest a tendon issue that could sideline him for five to eight weeks, pointing towards a late September or mid-October return. David Rossi of Rete Sport said: "On Oosterwolde there are further medical examinations; the Fenerbahce had sent documents to Roma to say 'look, everything is fine' and that could have raised more concerns at Trigoria. I think Lulli's performance the other night has caused Roma some doubts." The injury timeline and medical uncertainty have reportedly prompted Roma to seek clarity on his availability before finalising any deal. The debate on Kessié centred on whether his reported availability at no cost represents value. Mario Corsi of Tele Radio Stereo argued: "This was El Aynaoui's moment—he played in the cup and was praised as one of his country's best midfielders, and it seems he asked Roma for a starting position. That means he'd have to sit out either Cristante or Koné, and I think Gasperini will never leave those two out right now. For that reason Roma told him to find another solution without any hard feelings. Kessié at no cost I'd agree with, but I don't think he'll settle for one and a half million. For me El Aynaoui is better—he's younger, a different prospect." Francesca Ferrazza of Tele Radio Stereo added: "Kessié is very close to Juventus; you'd have to prize him away from them, but I don't know if that's possible. Kessié is 29 and I checked his injury history—he's never had any particular problems. It surprises me; it probably comes from the player's unhappiness, because Gasperini had said the midfield package was what it was. It surprises me that now this midfield problem emerges, given that Roma already has other things to solve and needs to complete its market." Radio voices also highlighted the possibility of late-window movement on the wing, with alternatives such as Nusa (now out of budget following RB Leipzig's salary restructuring after the Diomande sale), Fofana, and unconfirmed targets discussed. Piero Torri of Manà Manà Sport said Roma has "the intention" to add an attacking winger in the final days of the window, while Roberto Pruzzo of Radio Radio highlighted Paulo Dybala's fitness as "the thing I liked most," noting Gasperini's suggestion the forward could handle extra time.

Devyne Rensch's muscular injury is not as serious as initially feared. An MRI on his left flexor revealed no major damage, with recovery expected to take 7–10 days; he is likely to miss the away trip to Lecce as a precaution after sustaining the problem during the match against Fiorentina. Donyell Malen's strong early-season form has reignited the race for the Serie A top scorer award. The Dutch forward has scored 17 goals in 19 matches for Roma, averaging 0.89 goals per game—a tally matching Lautaro Martínez's winning total in last season's title race, although Martínez reached it across 30 appearances. Malen is now positioned as Martínez's primary rival for the honour this term. Head coach Gasperini continues to manage expectations after Roma's 4–0 victory over Fiorentina. When asked about the title race, he responded dismissively: "You are a broken record." Gasperini's strategy is to capitalize on the fixture schedule and build momentum against Lecce and Atalanta, targeting 7–9 points before entering a more demanding phase of the season. Paulo Dybala has completed his entire pre-match preparation without injury or physical issues—a notable change from previous campaigns. Gasperini has praised his athletic condition but acknowledges that with Champions League, Serie A and Coppa Italia all running, he must carefully manage Dybala's minutes and recovery to maintain peak performance. Meanwhile, Unione Tifosi Romanisti and Associazione Italiana Roma Club have strongly protested the travel ban imposed on Roma supporters for the Lecce fixture. The fan groups argue it is "yet another unjust, discriminatory measure against Roma supporters" and point out that the Questore of Rome reported no incidents at the Olimpico during last season, calling for restoration of the "right to free movement of all citizens."

Roma's radio commentators have dissected the club's transfer position and recent on-field performance in a wide-ranging discussion centred on left-back Jayden Oosterwolde's medical status, midfielder Franck Kessié's availability and an ongoing push to strengthen the forward line. Oosterwolde suffered an injury on 5 August initially thought minor, but subsequent assessments suggest a tendon issue that could sideline him for five to eight weeks, pointing towards a late September or mid-October return. David Rossi of Rete Sport said: "On Oosterwolde there are further medical examinations; the Fenerbahce had sent documents to Roma to say 'look, everything is fine' and that could have raised more concerns at Trigoria. I think Lulli's performance the other night has caused Roma some doubts." The injury timeline and medical uncertainty have reportedly prompted Roma to seek clarity on his availability before finalising any deal. The debate on Kessié centred on whether his reported availability at no cost represents value. Mario Corsi of Tele Radio Stereo argued: "This was El Aynaoui's moment—he played in the cup and was praised as one of his country's best midfielders, and it seems he asked Roma for a starting position. That means he'd have to sit out either Cristante or Koné, and I think Gasperini will never leave those two out right now. For that reason Roma told him to find another solution without any hard feelings. Kessié at no cost I'd agree with, but I don't think he'll settle for one and a half million. For me El Aynaoui is better—he's younger, a different prospect." Francesca Ferrazza of Tele Radio Stereo added: "Kessié is very close to Juventus; you'd have to prize him away from them, but I don't know if that's possible. Kessié is 29 and I checked his injury history—he's never had any particular problems. It surprises me; it probably comes from the player's unhappiness, because Gasperini had said the midfield package was what it was. It surprises me that now this midfield problem emerges, given that Roma already has other things to solve and needs to complete its market." Radio voices also highlighted the possibility of late-window movement on the wing, with alternatives such as Nusa (now out of budget following RB Leipzig's salary restructuring after the Diomande sale), Fofana, and unconfirmed targets discussed. Piero Torri of Manà Manà Sport said Roma has "the intention" to add an attacking winger in the final days of the window, while Roberto Pruzzo of Radio Radio highlighted Paulo Dybala's fitness as "the thing I liked most," noting Gasperini's suggestion the forward could handle extra time.

Andrea Stramaccioni has praised Roma's performance against Fiorentina, saying the club can position itself as a serious challenger to Inter and Napoli if they add one final piece to complete the left side of attack for Gasperini. Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, Stramaccioni said: "If they add one last piece to make Gasperini happy and complete the left side of the attack, in my view they can position themselves as immediate rivals to Inter and Napoli." Watching Roma live on 24 August, Stramaccioni was struck by their intensity and consistency. "It is rare to see a team play at these rhythms for 90 minutes," he said. Dybala's performance particularly impressed him: the Argentine created three assists from three ball-carrying accelerations and made a defensive recovery in the 75th minute on the halfway line. "In these conditions in our Serie A it becomes very difficult to stop them. And the chemistry with Malen is natural football chemistry." Stramaccioni also highlighted Koné's world-class level, praised Rodrigo Mora's previously missing characteristics, and noted the strength of Roma's Italian spine—Mancini, Cristante, and Pellegrini—all of whom renewed their contracts at Gasperini's insistence. Asked whether the title picture had shifted before matchday one, Stramaccioni acknowledged it is early with transfers and squads still being completed, but said: "Inter and Roma have made a very strong start: they have clear and defined ideas of play."

Andrea Stramaccioni believes Roma need only one more signing to establish themselves as genuine challengers to Inter and Napoli this season. Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, the analyst was impressed by Roma's league debut: "If they add one final piece to make Gasperini happy and complete the left side of the attack, Roma can position themselves as an immediate antagonist to Inter and Napoli." Stramaccioni highlighted the intensity and consistency of Roma's opening performance. "On 24 August it is rare to see a team play at these rhythms for 90 minutes," he said. He singled out Paulo Dybala's creativity and work rate—"three assists following three accelerations with the ball at his feet, and at 75' he made a defensive run to win the ball back on the midfield line"—and praised the natural chemistry between Dybala and Donyell Malen. He also commended Manu Koné as "at world level" and identified Rodrigo Mora as bringing characteristics the squad previously lacked. Stramaccioni emphasised the strength of Roma's midfield and defence, describing the "personality, strength and solidity of the Italian spine" reinforced by Gasperini's priority renewals of Gianluca Mancini, Bryan Cristante and Lorenzo Pellegrini. On the wider title race, he added: "It is early—the market and squads are still to be completed—but Inter and Roma have started very strong: clear and defined ideas of play."

Roberto Pruzzo has praised Roma's attacking duo of Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen following the opening match of the season, describing their partnership as making a very good impression. Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, the Roma legend highlighted Dybala's physical condition after Gasperini described him as a "beast" at full-time. "If he has no physical setbacks, as far as quality goes he is one of the best in Serie A, if not the best outright," Pruzzo said. He also noted Malen's prolific form since arriving in Italy, saying the winger scores almost a goal per game, and praised the entire squad's physical readiness. "The whole team seemed tonic to me, in good physical condition." Despite the attacking display, Pruzzo tempered expectations about Roma's title prospects. When asked whether Roma could close the gap on Inter with Dybala and Malen performing at this level, he acknowledged the possibility but warned of the scale of the challenge ahead. "You can get closer but in my opinion Inter start ten points ahead of all the others," he said. "Of course, having Dybala and Malen at these levels is a guarantee." Pruzzo also drew attention to Santiago Castro as another player to watch in Roma's attack. On Rodrigo Mora, he advised caution: "Mora? He needs to be managed."

Roma legend Roberto Pruzzo has praised the attacking partnership of Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen following the opening round of Serie A, though he cautions that Inter remain the clear title favourites. Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, Pruzzo highlighted both players' impact in Roma's first fixture. "I'd say it was very good, even though we already knew the qualities of Dybala and Malen," Pruzzo said. "Of course, if Paulo is in this condition it's even nicer to watch. Malen, since he arrived in Italy, scores almost a goal a match. But it's the whole squad that seemed toned up, physically ready to me." Gasperini described Dybala as physically a "beast" at the end of the match, a description Pruzzo endorsed. "Well, if he doesn't have physical setbacks, in terms of quality he's one of the best in Serie A, if not the best overall," Pruzzo noted. He also flagged Santiago Castro as a player to watch. On Roma's title prospects, Pruzzo said: "They can get closer, but in my view Inter start ten points ahead of everyone else. Of course, having Dybala and Malen at these levels is a guarantee. But I don't forget someone like Castro either. Mora needs to be managed." Pruzzo's assessment reflects Roma's strong opening display while tempering expectations against a dominant Inter side.

Roma made a demolishing start to the 2026–27 Serie A season with a 4–0 victory over Fiorentina, led by a rampant Donyell Malen who scored a hat-trick. The opening day matched Inter's striking power—the Milan club won 4–1 against Monza—but Roma's firepower stood out: the Giallorossi accounted for 8 of the 24 goals scored across the entire matchday. Malen's three-goal display has launched a high-profile long-range contest with Inter striker Lautaro Martinez. Arriving in the capital in January 2026, Malen is operating at a fearsome pace: 17 goals in his first 19 Serie A appearances, averaging 0.895 goals per match. In the history of Italy's top division, only José Altafini and Gunnar Nordahl—both with 18 goals—have matched that rate in their opening 19 games. Under Gian Piero Gasperini, the former Dortmund forward fits seamlessly alongside Paulo Dybala, with further offensive depth provided by Santiago Castro and the young Rodrigo Mora. This complete and versatile attack unit is set to battle Inter's armour. The first head-to-head clash between the two title contenders and their respective strikers falls on 19 September at the Stadio Olimpico, promising a night of intense football.