Stramaccioni: Roma are extraordinary, gap with Inter has closed and momentum helps

Radio pundit Piero Torri has predicted that Evan N'Dicka will start for Roma in the upcoming match against Inter, citing the value of familiarity as potentially decisive. Torri suggested that Leonardo Balerdi would come on during the contest, and if Mario Hermoso does not recover from injury, Balerdi would play centrally with Hermoso moving to the left side. Torri assessed the fixture as crucial for Roma but acknowledged Inter as heavy favourites, noting that the Nerazzurri have dominated Serie A for five or six years while Roma represent something new. He said a draw would be acceptable given the circumstances, though Roma would take to the field intent on victory. Speaking on Radio Manà Manà, Torri said: "The value of familiarity can be decisive. For me even a point can go well. Roma will take to the field to win, but Inter are heavily favoured. For Roma it is a very important match; Inter have been there for 5–6 years. The Giallorossi are the novelty. Roma have many strong players—imagine if Greenwood and Moreira had arrived, we would have been far and away favourites for the title."

Aldair, Roma's legendary defender, has praised the form of the squad under Gian Piero Gasperini, singling out Donyell Malen for particular acclaim. Speaking to Corriere dello Sport, the former captain said many in Serie A now regard Malen as the strongest player in the league. "They are right—I would have struggled against him too," Aldair said. "When he gets the ball he turns immediately and comes at you. Then he is fast and he sees the goal." Aldair believes Roma have improved substantially from last season and can challenge Inter for the title. "Roma is better than last season, they are well physically and mentally and always arrive first to the ball," he said. "Yes, they can fight all the way to the end with Inter. This year Gasp also has more solutions from the bench." He identified Evan N'Dicka as making a particular difference in the defence, though he praised Gianluca Mancini and Mario Hermoso for their consistency. He also highlighted Leonardo Balerdi, noting that Gasperini's system demands an intense high pressing throughout matches. "The game Gasp plays is very difficult—no one can maintain that type of pressure all over the pitch for the entire match," Aldair explained. When asked whether he would have enjoyed playing under Gasperini, the former Roma icon expressed doubt: "I am not so sure I would have played. When I arrived there was still the libero."

Andrea Stramaccioni, a former youth coach at Inter and now a Dazn pundit, has praised Roma's start to the season and believes the gap with the Serie A champions has closed. Speaking to Il Tempo, he highlighted the impact of head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's methods and Roma's improving mentality. "I didn't expect Roma to start at this physical and mental level," Stramaccioni said. "Gasperini grows year on year because he gradually assembles players suited to his football." When asked whether the Scudetto could be a realistic objective, Stramaccioni pointed to the atmosphere at Stadio Olimpico as a catalyst for success. "I was at the Olimpico against Atalanta, and when the environment is in those conditions the squad gets carried along and everything becomes possible," he explained. He acknowledged that Inter remain the team to beat owing to the quality of their squad and their winning habit, but stressed that Roma's mentality has improved significantly in recent weeks. Stramaccioni also compared the attacking partnerships of the two clubs. "Paulo Dybala is the most creative player in Serie A, inventing chances behind a fast player living on the offside line like Malen," he said. "On Inter's side, they have a pairing with two strikers who always play in combination, one for the other, like Lautaro and Thuram."

Paulo Dybala has been invited by the Argentine Football Federation to attend a special celebration honouring Lionel Messi on 6 October, when Argentina face Benin in a friendly. The event will serve as a broader tribute to Messi's career, marking the end of his time with the national team. Dybala and Messi won the World Cup together in Qatar and shared years competing for the Albiceleste. Dybala's attendance remains uncertain, however, due to fixture congestion. Just five days after the Messi tribute on 6 October, Roma will travel to Como in a Serie A fixture. The club must balance player recovery time during the international break with the demands of the upcoming league match, leaving Dybala's departure for Argentina not yet confirmed. Defender Nahuel Molina is also listed among potential invitees to the celebration. Other Roma players called up by Argentina for the same window face a different situation: Santiago Castro, Matías Soulé and Leonardo Balerdi have all been officially included in head coach Scaloni's squad list and will participate in the Argentina gathering as normal.

Roma travel to the Olimpico on Saturday with a perfect record—twelve points from four matches plus a draw in Istanbul—but face one of the season's sternest examinations against Inter and Chivu, a side that has historically troubled Gasperini. The head coach has the full squad available and must resolve three significant lineup decisions. At centre-back, Evan N'Dicka has returned to full fitness but Leonardo Balerdi is in outstanding form; the Ivorian holds a slight edge. On the right flank, Emanuele Lulli and Nahuel Molina are competing for one spot, with Lulli's superior defensive cover making him the favourite alongside Wesley on the left. In attack, Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are guaranteed starts. Matías Soulé leads Rodrigo Mora for the third forward slot, though a surprise could emerge through the possible advancement of either Niccolò Pisilli or Bryan Cristante to bolster midfield cover.

Andrea Stramaccioni, a former youth coach at Inter and now a Dazn pundit, has praised Roma's start to the season and believes the gap with the Serie A champions has closed. Speaking to Il Tempo, he highlighted the impact of head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's methods and Roma's improving mentality. "I didn't expect Roma to start at this physical and mental level," Stramaccioni said. "Gasperini grows year on year because he gradually assembles players suited to his football." When asked whether the Scudetto could be a realistic objective, Stramaccioni pointed to the atmosphere at Stadio Olimpico as a catalyst for success. "I was at the Olimpico against Atalanta, and when the environment is in those conditions the squad gets carried along and everything becomes possible," he explained. He acknowledged that Inter remain the team to beat owing to the quality of their squad and their winning habit, but stressed that Roma's mentality has improved significantly in recent weeks. Stramaccioni also compared the attacking partnerships of the two clubs. "Paulo Dybala is the most creative player in Serie A, inventing chances behind a fast player living on the offside line like Malen," he said. "On Inter's side, they have a pairing with two strikers who always play in combination, one for the other, like Lautaro and Thuram."

Roma legend Aldair has praised Gasperini's squad, singling out Donyell Malen as the strongest player in the team. "They are right to say he is the strongest; I would have struggled against him too," Aldair said. On the title race, he added: "Roma can compete all the way with Inter." He also highlighted the defence, saying: "N'Dicka is making the difference, but Mancini and Hermoso always hold firm. And Balerdi — have you seen him?" Meanwhile, police have issued 16 Daspo (stadium bans) to Curva Sud supporters who were recorded performing a Roman salute during the Roma–Atalanta match on 5 September. The bans will last between one and five years and will prevent these supporters from attending Roma matches both in Rome and abroad. Four of those supporters have also been issued additional restrictions requiring them to report to police stations on match days when Roma play at home. Gasperini has brought a new defensive solidity to Roma. In the 2025–26 season, his team conceded just 0.82 goals per match—the best average of his managerial career. This trend began at Atalanta, where the side finished the 2024–25 campaign with 37 goals conceded. Gasperini now aims to improve that record further.

Roma travel to the Olimpico on Saturday with a perfect record—twelve points from four matches plus a draw in Istanbul—but face one of the season's sternest examinations against Inter and Chivu, a side that has historically troubled Gasperini. The head coach has the full squad available and must resolve three significant lineup decisions. At centre-back, Evan N'Dicka has returned to full fitness but Leonardo Balerdi is in outstanding form; the Ivorian holds a slight edge. On the right flank, Emanuele Lulli and Nahuel Molina are competing for one spot, with Lulli's superior defensive cover making him the favourite alongside Wesley on the left. In attack, Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are guaranteed starts. Matías Soulé leads Rodrigo Mora for the third forward slot, though a surprise could emerge through the possible advancement of either Niccolò Pisilli or Bryan Cristante to bolster midfield cover.

Aldair, Roma's legendary defender, has praised the form of the squad under Gian Piero Gasperini, singling out Donyell Malen for particular acclaim. Speaking to Corriere dello Sport, the former captain said many in Serie A now regard Malen as the strongest player in the league. "They are right—I would have struggled against him too," Aldair said. "When he gets the ball he turns immediately and comes at you. Then he is fast and he sees the goal." Aldair believes Roma have improved substantially from last season and can challenge Inter for the title. "Roma is better than last season, they are well physically and mentally and always arrive first to the ball," he said. "Yes, they can fight all the way to the end with Inter. This year Gasp also has more solutions from the bench." He identified Evan N'Dicka as making a particular difference in the defence, though he praised Gianluca Mancini and Mario Hermoso for their consistency. He also highlighted Leonardo Balerdi, noting that Gasperini's system demands an intense high pressing throughout matches. "The game Gasp plays is very difficult—no one can maintain that type of pressure all over the pitch for the entire match," Aldair explained. When asked whether he would have enjoyed playing under Gasperini, the former Roma icon expressed doubt: "I am not so sure I would have played. When I arrived there was still the libero."