Turci hails Soulé's leap forward and De Roon's impact at Roma

Former Roma midfielder Angelo Di Livio, speaking to Retesport a few hours before Roma's match against Slovan Bratislava, said the team must play with intelligence and without rushing, as they did against Genoa, which he called the model performance for today. He said there is only one result that matters, and that Bryan Cristante is back tonight, with Gasperini having guaranteed him around twenty minutes, which will be a test for Napoli. Di Livio said the win over Genoa was less attractive because many players had little playing time. He called it an important game and said De Rossi's side did not have a single shot on target in the second half. On Matías Soulé, he said he liked the flashes of quality against Genoa but that the forward had long spells of inactivity. He named Emanuele Lulli as the best player on the pitch against Genoa. On Paulo Dybala, Di Livio was blunt: "Non ci puoi fare affidamento, gioca 4-5 partite e poi rimane fuori." On Lulli, he urged caution, saying the defender could potentially become a star but should be allowed to grow calmly. He noted that against Genoa Lulli won back a lost ball, earned a corner, and showed grit and a fighting spirit. On Daniele Ghilardi, Di Livio said that when trained and prepared well he also has the legs to play as a fifth defender.

Tommaso Turci, journalist and pitchside reporter for DAZN, spoke exclusively to Retesport and praised Roma's progress under Gian Piero Gasperini, with particular praise for Stephan El Shaarawy's teammate Matías Soulé and new-look midfielder Marten de Roon. Turci said Soulé is "making giant steps forward" and described him as becoming a leader and a player for a top team. Turci said Roma look organised and improving but that they are still at the beginning of the season. He stressed that consistency will make the difference, and that the Roma side will become credible for the top of the table once squad players with limited minutes add value, as happened against Genoa and again in the most recent match. He said that the season before gave this group awareness, and that Roma are showing they can stay near the top of the table, though how long that will last remains to be seen. On Inter, Turci said that once they reach full speed they will pull away from the rest by 10-15 points. On Gasperini's reaction to Lulli's goal, Turci said the coach was moved to see the young scorer celebrating in a clumsy way, often looking at the referee to confirm his first goal was valid. Gasperini, who has now recorded 300 wins, congratulated him and then immediately gave the team instructions, even though the goal strongly pointed the match in Roma's favour. Turci praised Soulé's quality in the build-up to that goal, saying it was not just technique but also personality, and that the forward is now physically well and aligned with Gasperini's ideas. Asked which newcomer had impressed him most, Turci said: "De Roon, even though we all knew he would be functional to Gasperini's way of playing. Seeing how he has fitted into the group and the dressing room has made me understand that he is a top player." On the coaching staff, Turci said they are perfectly aligned with Gasperini, naming Raimondi and Gritti, and that Gasperini consults everyone while each member looks after the details during matches. He added: "All the top coaches have a great staff, and he is no exception."

Former Roma midfielder Federico Viviani has spoken exclusively to Retesport, reflecting on his debut against Slovan Bratislava and expressing regret that Luis Enrique did not remain at the club. Viviani made his debut against Slovan Bratislava on 18 August 2011, and it was his first start for Roma at the Stadio Olimpico, in front of more than 60,000 spectators. Having come through the club's youth sector, he described the night as indescribable on a personal level. Viviani said the Roma of 2026-27 is showing it is a very good team after 10 matches, though he noted the season is still long. Asked about the Slovan Bratislava match, he recalled that Roma had many chances that went unconverted, and that the evening was strange, with supporters rightly expecting more. He said the emotion of his personal milestone was swept away by what happened on the pitch afterwards. On Luis Enrique, Viviani said he had been able to speak with former team-mates and that the coach was, in his view, years ahead in managing the group and in his working methods. "For me it was a great experience, he had ways of training and setting the team out that were cutting-edge," he said. He added: "Unfortunately we know how it went... That project was not carried forward, partly by his own choice... Francesco and Daniele, who were great champions, tried to dissuade him, but Luis Enrique did not change his mind. He came out of it drained, as it was his first experience with a first team." Viviani spoke warmly of Gianluca Mancini's teammate Daniele Ghilardi's fellow academy product Daniele Lulli, noting that Lulli shares Viviani's agent and that the club brought him up from childhood. He said: "It always gives great pleasure to see young players come through the youth sector and find continuity in the first team: it is every young player's dream to play for the team they grew up with." He added that scoring his first Serie A goal at the Olimpico must have been a great reward for Lulli. Asked about regrets, Viviani said the only thing that disappointed him was Luis Enrique's departure, because he would have kept him at the club. He said the coach also stood in the way of a possible move for Viviani in January. "The only regret is this: had he stayed, I would have had the chance to work with him, continuing to grow on and off the pitch. He helped me enormously, it was a fundamental experience. I will always be bound to Luis Enrique for the opportunities he gave me." On his future, Viviani said he has started a coaching course and hopes everything goes well. He said the hardest part after retiring is understanding which path is right for you. On Daniele De Rossi, he said: "He was a fundamental part of my growth, above all on a human level and in how he behaved with team-mates. He is an exceptional person as well as a fantastic player. Not one person who knows him could say a bad word about him. I hope he becomes a great coach because he deserves it."

Roma head to Bratislava for their third Champions League match looking for a first win of the campaign, after a draw with Fenerbahce and a defeat to Real Madrid. Gian Piero Gasperini has left Evan N'Dicka and Gianluca Mancini out of the starting line-up, with Daniele Ghilardi and Leonardo Balerdi starting in defence. Donyell Malen leads the attack, with Rodrigo Mora and Lorenzo Pellegrini behind him. Roma line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation: Pierluigi Gollini in goal; Ghilardi, Balerdi and Mario Hermoso in the back three; Nahuel Molina, Marten de Roon, Niccolò Pisilli and Wesley in midfield; Mora and Pellegrini in the attacking pair; and Malen up front. On the bench are Giorgio De Marzi, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Mancini, N'Dicka, Devyne Rensch, Emanuele Lulli, Di Nunzio, Bryan Cristante, Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro. Slovan Bratislava, coached by Yaya Touré, set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Takac starts in goal, protected by Blackman, Bajric, Markovic and Sandro Cruz. Pokorny and Gajdos form the double pivot, with Barseghyan, Ibrahim and Suleman Camara behind Marcelli.

Former Roma midfielder Angelo Di Livio, speaking to Retesport a few hours before Roma's match against Slovan Bratislava, said the team must play with intelligence and without rushing, as they did against Genoa, which he called the model performance for today. He said there is only one result that matters, and that Bryan Cristante is back tonight, with Gasperini having guaranteed him around twenty minutes, which will be a test for Napoli. Di Livio said the win over Genoa was less attractive because many players had little playing time. He called it an important game and said De Rossi's side did not have a single shot on target in the second half. On Matías Soulé, he said he liked the flashes of quality against Genoa but that the forward had long spells of inactivity. He named Emanuele Lulli as the best player on the pitch against Genoa. On Paulo Dybala, Di Livio was blunt: "Non ci puoi fare affidamento, gioca 4-5 partite e poi rimane fuori." On Lulli, he urged caution, saying the defender could potentially become a star but should be allowed to grow calmly. He noted that against Genoa Lulli won back a lost ball, earned a corner, and showed grit and a fighting spirit. On Daniele Ghilardi, Di Livio said that when trained and prepared well he also has the legs to play as a fifth defender.

Tommaso Turci, journalist and pitchside reporter for DAZN, spoke exclusively to Retesport and praised Roma's progress under Gian Piero Gasperini, with particular praise for Stephan El Shaarawy's teammate Matías Soulé and new-look midfielder Marten de Roon. Turci said Soulé is "making giant steps forward" and described him as becoming a leader and a player for a top team. Turci said Roma look organised and improving but that they are still at the beginning of the season. He stressed that consistency will make the difference, and that the Roma side will become credible for the top of the table once squad players with limited minutes add value, as happened against Genoa and again in the most recent match. He said that the season before gave this group awareness, and that Roma are showing they can stay near the top of the table, though how long that will last remains to be seen. On Inter, Turci said that once they reach full speed they will pull away from the rest by 10-15 points. On Gasperini's reaction to Lulli's goal, Turci said the coach was moved to see the young scorer celebrating in a clumsy way, often looking at the referee to confirm his first goal was valid. Gasperini, who has now recorded 300 wins, congratulated him and then immediately gave the team instructions, even though the goal strongly pointed the match in Roma's favour. Turci praised Soulé's quality in the build-up to that goal, saying it was not just technique but also personality, and that the forward is now physically well and aligned with Gasperini's ideas. Asked which newcomer had impressed him most, Turci said: "De Roon, even though we all knew he would be functional to Gasperini's way of playing. Seeing how he has fitted into the group and the dressing room has made me understand that he is a top player." On the coaching staff, Turci said they are perfectly aligned with Gasperini, naming Raimondi and Gritti, and that Gasperini consults everyone while each member looks after the details during matches. He added: "All the top coaches have a great staff, and he is no exception."

Roma head to Bratislava for their third Champions League match looking for a first win of the campaign, after a draw with Fenerbahce and a defeat to Real Madrid. Gian Piero Gasperini has left Evan N'Dicka and Gianluca Mancini out of the starting line-up, with Daniele Ghilardi and Leonardo Balerdi starting in defence. Donyell Malen leads the attack, with Rodrigo Mora and Lorenzo Pellegrini behind him. Roma line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation: Pierluigi Gollini in goal; Ghilardi, Balerdi and Mario Hermoso in the back three; Nahuel Molina, Marten de Roon, Niccolò Pisilli and Wesley in midfield; Mora and Pellegrini in the attacking pair; and Malen up front. On the bench are Giorgio De Marzi, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Mancini, N'Dicka, Devyne Rensch, Emanuele Lulli, Di Nunzio, Bryan Cristante, Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro. Slovan Bratislava, coached by Yaya Touré, set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Takac starts in goal, protected by Blackman, Bajric, Markovic and Sandro Cruz. Pokorny and Gajdos form the double pivot, with Barseghyan, Ibrahim and Suleman Camara behind Marcelli.

Tommaso Turci, journalist and pitchside reporter for DAZN, spoke exclusively to Retesport and praised Roma's progress under Gian Piero Gasperini, with particular praise for Stephan El Shaarawy's teammate Matías Soulé and new-look midfielder Marten de Roon. Turci said Soulé is "making giant steps forward" and described him as becoming a leader and a player for a top team. Turci said Roma look organised and improving but that they are still at the beginning of the season. He stressed that consistency will make the difference, and that the Roma side will become credible for the top of the table once squad players with limited minutes add value, as happened against Genoa and again in the most recent match. He said that the season before gave this group awareness, and that Roma are showing they can stay near the top of the table, though how long that will last remains to be seen. On Inter, Turci said that once they reach full speed they will pull away from the rest by 10-15 points. On Gasperini's reaction to Lulli's goal, Turci said the coach was moved to see the young scorer celebrating in a clumsy way, often looking at the referee to confirm his first goal was valid. Gasperini, who has now recorded 300 wins, congratulated him and then immediately gave the team instructions, even though the goal strongly pointed the match in Roma's favour. Turci praised Soulé's quality in the build-up to that goal, saying it was not just technique but also personality, and that the forward is now physically well and aligned with Gasperini's ideas. Asked which newcomer had impressed him most, Turci said: "De Roon, even though we all knew he would be functional to Gasperini's way of playing. Seeing how he has fitted into the group and the dressing room has made me understand that he is a top player." On the coaching staff, Turci said they are perfectly aligned with Gasperini, naming Raimondi and Gritti, and that Gasperini consults everyone while each member looks after the details during matches. He added: "All the top coaches have a great staff, and he is no exception."

Gian Piero Gasperini has named his squad for Roma's Champions League league-phase match against Slovan Bratislava, the third matchday of the 2026-27 competition. Bryan Cristante is back in the group. The defenders selected are Rensch, Koulierakis, N'Dicka, Molina, Hermoso, Mancini, Balerdi, Wesley, Lulli and Ghilardi. The midfielders named are Cristante, Pellegrini, De Roon, Pisilli, Di Nunzio and Mora.