Svilar, World Cup left on the sidelines: the stalemate between Belgium and Serbia

Evan N'Dicka and Wesley have returned to full squad training at Trigoria as Roma prepare for their match against Inter at the Olimpico in three days. Both players are now available for selection after recovering from injury, giving head coach Gian Piero Gasperini a double boost ahead of the fixture. Mario Hermoso, however, has stepped back into differentiated training due to a minor ankle contusion. His condition will be monitored over the coming days, though no particular alarm has been raised. Gasperini will use the next training sessions to finalise his team selection and assess Hermoso's full recovery before the Inter match.

Roma continued training at Trigoria on 16 September following their victory against Torino, with head coach Gasperini preparing the squad for an upcoming clash with Inter. The team was nearly at full strength, with Evan N'Dicka and Wesley both returning to group training after missing the Torino match. N'Dicka had sat out due to intestinal flu, while Wesley was absent after sustaining a knock in the match against Atalanta. Mario Hermoso remained unavailable with a slight ankle contusion but is expected to recover without major concern. Gasperini has minimal selection problems as Roma aim to maintain their perfect start to the season and deliver continuity into the Inter fixture. The squad assembled at the training ground with all players available except Hermoso, leaving the manager well-positioned to prepare for what the club sees as one of the most anticipated matches ahead.

Roma's perfect Serie A start continued with victory against Torino to secure four wins in four matches—a run the club has not achieved since the 2014–15 season under Rudi Garcia. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's side are displaying a clear attacking identity matched by defensive solidity, having scored in all four league fixtures and built a goal difference of +11, among the best in Europe at this stage. Only Barcelona have outpaced Roma, with an impressive +17. Roma have conceded just one goal, placing them level with Arsenal among the continent's strongest defences. The excellence runs through the squad's individual performers. Donyell Malen has scored six goals in the opening four matches—an extraordinary return matching the output of elite names like Raphinha and Lamine Yamal of Barcelona, and trailing only Mbappé by one goal. Paulo Dybala's contribution is equally vital: the Argentine has provided four assists, second in the early season standings behind Barcelona's Gordon on five, with Jude Bellingham and others further back on three.

Roma face Inter at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday 19 September with kickoff at 18:00 in a top-of-the-table Serie A clash for the fifth matchday. The fixture marks the final round before a three-week international break that concludes in the first decade of October. Both sides arrive level on attacking metrics: Inter have scored 13 Serie A goals to Roma's 12, with Roma averaging 7.8 shots on target per match against Inter's 8.0. The teams are similarly matched on clear-cut chances created (5.0–5.3) and missed (3.0–3.5) over 90 minutes. The decisive difference lies in defence. Svilar has conceded just one goal, while Inter goalkeeper Martínez has let in six. Roma have added solidity at the back through their new signings, fielding what has become the campaign's standout defensive record. Inter, by contrast, face a goalkeeper making his first Serie A start in Milan, having shown uncertainty early in the season, compounded by injury problems that have unsettled their defensive shape. Saturday's title clash could therefore turn as much on defensive compactness as on attacking prowess.

Roma stayed top of Serie A alongside Inter after four matches with a victory away at Turin, extending their perfect record. Donyell Malen scored again, but the standout feature was a third clean sheet of the campaign: Mile Svilar's record in goal has been breached only by Atalanta's Ederson. The addition of Leonardo Balerdi to an already-settled back line of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso has significantly strengthened the defence. Against Turin's forwards, Balerdi posted commanding numbers: 7 duels won, 11 defensive actions, 6 clearances—more than any other player on the pitch—plus 29 completed passes from 32 attempted, a success rate of 91%. He was combative in close defence and brave in pressing opponents into the attacking third. Gasperini benefits from the fact that Balerdi functions as an extra layer rather than a replacement for the established trio, giving Roma a more powerful shield while opponents face added danger in attack. The defence will face a stern examination on Saturday in a title clash against Inter, whose 13 goals make them the league's leading scorers. Last season Inter scored 6 goals against Roma—nearly one-fifth of all the goals Roma conceded in the entire Serie A campaign—a significant test of the giallorossi's defensive resilience.

Roma extended their unbeaten run to four Serie A matches after victory in Turin, staying joint-top with Inter on maximum points. Donyell Malen continued his goalscoring form, and crucially, Gasperini's side kept a clean sheet against Torino—their third in the league this season. Mile Svilar's record has been breached only by Atalanta's Ederson goal. Leonardo Balerdi has emerged as the key addition to Roma's defence alongside the established trio of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso. Gasperini effectively now has four reliable centre-backs, providing both security at the back and additional tactical flexibility in attack. The defensive unit's strength will be tested severely on Saturday in a top-of-the-table clash at Inter, who boast Serie A's best attack with 13 goals and inflicted six defeats on Roma in the previous season—nearly a fifth of all the goals Roma conceded across the entire league campaign. Bareldi's performance against Torino underlined his value: he won 7 duels, made 11 defensive actions and 6 clearances—more than any other player on the pitch—while completing 29 passes with a success rate of 91%. According to Simone Valdarchi in Il Corriere della Sera, the defender showed aggression in close-range tackles near his own goal and courage in pressing opponents up to the attacking third. His immediate promotion to full integration suggests Gasperini has found a complete solution to Roma's defensive depth.