Zago backs Roma to challenge for the title and praises Gasperini as Serie A's best

Paulo Dybala has undergone a striking transformation at Roma this season, shifting from a pure finisher to a playmaker under Gian Piero Gasperini. With four official assists in Serie A — reportedly seven without regulatory technicalities — he has become the league's leading provider. The change reflects reduced obsession with scoring and greater focus on team service, aided by an exceptional physical condition never matched since his arrival at the club and buoyed by new attacking partners including Donyell Malen, who have eased the burden of single-handedly leading the attack. Dybala's resurgence stems principally from his fitness, managed by new athletic staff led by Alessandro Pilati, who arrived from Genoa after 22 years there. He has logged record minutes across Serie A and the Champions League, underpinned by his decision to abandon personal trainers and rely solely on occasional pilates sessions with his wife Oriana. That choice has yielded immediate results alongside strong leadership in the dressing room, evidenced by his decision to cut his salary significantly to remain tied to Roma. This period of enhanced prominence coincides with an invitation from Lionel Messi to participate in what is likely Messi's final match for Argentina, against Benin at the Monumental stadium. Gasperini and his coaching staff, however, prefer to avoid a long and demanding journey on the eve of the league's resumption and Roma's fixture against Como. The plan is to keep Dybala at Trigoria, protect the work accomplished so far, and ensure continuity in the new chapter of the club's campaign.

Roma have entered the title race in earnest, according to Opta's season simulator, which ranks them as the second-most likely Serie A champions with a 21.74% probability of winning the league. After five matchdays and 13 points from a possible 15, the giallorossi sit level with Inter and Lazio at the top of the table, prompting serious questions among supporters about whether the squad can genuinely compete for the Scudetto. Gasperini continues to preach caution, but the numbers are beginning to place Roma in the thick of the title fight. Inter remain the algorithm's primary favourite with a 44.67% chance of winning the championship, a substantial lead ahead of Roma. The gap between Roma and the chasing pack is already significant: Como are given 10.28%, Juventus 8.91%, and Milan 5.46%. Beyond the title race, Opta's projections suggest Roma have a 73.92% probability of finishing in Champions League qualification positions. These figures represent merely a snapshot after just five rounds of play and will shift materially as the season develops, but they underscore how crucial Roma's opening spell has been under Gasperini. Four consecutive victories had brought Roma to a perfect record before the Inter clash at the Olimpico. The 2–2 draw, despite frustration over surrendering a two-goal advantage with goals from Manu Koné in the first half, offered perhaps the most telling signal: Roma proved capable of matching the side the algorithm still regards as the primary title favourite in direct competition. Gasperini's team demonstrated they belong in a fight previously considered beyond their reach at this stage of the campaign.

Gian Piero Gasperini is refusing to ease off during the international break, instead using the coming weeks to prepare Roma for a late-autumn peak when his teams have historically shown their strongest form. While Inter gave their squad six days of complete rest, Gasperini has maintained high-intensity training at Trigoria, though the programme is inevitably shaped by the departure of twelve international players. The squad remaining in Rome includes Mile Svilar, Donyell Malen, Paulo Dybala, Mario Hermoso, Bryan Cristante, Devyne Rensch, Nahuel Molina and Marten de Roon, alongside players requiring specific work—notably Wesley, who must build his athletic base, and Lorenzo Pellegrini, who is returning from a lengthy absence and has already begun an intensive programme to rejoin regular rotation. Gasperini is also considering organizing a friendly match that could involve some youth-team players. Gasperini's approach reflects a precise logic. His teams have consistently shown their best athletic performance between late autumn and early winter, when the benefits of summer preparation become fully absorbed. His most famous precedent came in his first Atalanta season, when six consecutive league wins in November 2016 transformed a team with survival as its target into a Europa League contender. Similar runs followed in 2021 and 2024. Roma have already started well despite not yet operating at full capacity—some new players are still integrating, others building fitness, and Pellegrini has barely begun his season. The stretch ahead will demand depth: the combination of league and Champions League fixtures will produce a sequence of closely spaced matches making it impossible to rely on the same eleven throughout. For this reason Gasperini does not want a pause. He wants a launchpad. The logic is that Roma have already built their league position during the summer; now the coach wants to prepare their bodies for autumn. If the pattern his squads have followed repeats itself, the strongest part of the season may still be to come.

Lorenzo Pellegrini has emerged as Roma's key figure during the international break, remaining the only outfield player yet to feature under Gian Piero Gasperini this season. Despite six matches played, the head coach has called upon 19 of his 20 available outfield players, leaving Pellegrini absent from action. Rather than a tactical decision, the situation reflects the need for one of the club's captains to regain full fitness. Pellegrini's last appearance came in Roma's match against Pisa on 10 April. The break in league action has provided an opportunity for him to undertake specific fitness work to restore his match rhythm ahead of the resumption. Gasperini has shown strong confidence in Pellegrini, having actively pushed for his contract renewal on a fresh one-year deal. The manager's backing carries weight as Pellegrini looks to prove the decision justified. Beyond Roma, Pellegrini has his sights set on returning to the Italy squad under head coach Roberto Mancini, having been absent for two years. The international dimension adds further motivation for the 1996-born midfielder. During these opening days of the break, Pellegrini has notably increased his workload, following a preparation schedule delivered by Gasperini's staff. According to reporting from Simone Valdarchi in the Corriere della Sera, the squad rotation and forthcoming fixtures will give Pellegrini the platform to demonstrate the faith placed in him.

Gianluca Mancini has opened up about his passion for cycling, a long-standing hobby that has become an important part of his life away from football. The Roma defender will appear on the new episode of 'A Ruota Libera', which airs on 23 September on Eurosport, discussing his journey into the sport in a preview clip shared on the broadcaster's social channels. Mancini, currently with the Italian national team, traced the origins of his cycling interest with humour. He explained how he began with a rental bike before deciding to buy his own, recalling that his friends joked he had bought "a gate" because of the old model he chose initially. He described his progression through different bikes and setups, eventually settling on a Canyon model—the same brand used by Mathieu van der Poel—specifically selected for its colour scheme. "Now I wanted the bike of Mathieu van der Poel, the Canyon, with colouring similar to Roma's colours. Great stuff," he said. Mancini credited his cycling friends with transforming his approach to the hobby. "I have wanted the bike of Mathieu van der Poel, the Canyon, with a colour scheme similar to Roma's colours. It's something else. These guys I go cycling with have changed everything for me—they are really passionate about it. They go out every day and give me advice every single day," he reflected, noting that he had initially struggled with manual gears while watching others use automatic systems.

Roma radio stations have dissected the team's opening weeks of the 2026-27 season, focusing on attacking output, midfield deployment, and the defensive lapses that cost them against Inter. Gianluca Piacentini noted that while the team has impressed overall, Santiago Castro has yet to score despite solid performances, and the attacking group has contributed only three goals total—two from Matías Soulé and one from Rodrigo Mora—leaving room for improvement. Donyell Malen, who remained in Rome during the international break, has been the standout performer among the forwards. The consensus is that Roma's attackers, particularly Castro, Soulé and Mora, would have benefited from staying at Trigoria rather than joining their national teams for what several commentators dismissed as unnecessary international fixtures. Francesca Ferrazza explained that criticism of Paulo Dybala's reduced shooting is misplaced: "Now they're criticising Dybala because he doesn't score and doesn't shoot, but in my opinion it's precisely a deliberate choice to shoot less in goal. A choice shared with the manager, by the way. To extend his season and his career, he plays for others more than for himself." The discussion around Lorenzo Pellegrini centred on tactical fit. Lorenzo Pes raised concerns about how Pellegrini will adapt to Gasperini's intensity: "What intrigues me is how he might fit into certain systems. When you play with a trequartista, that is his best position, perhaps in that role he's the best you have, but when you line up differently on the pitch I'm not sure how much he can adapt. Last season he did reasonably well but in a very different Roma—now it's much more intense. Gasperini says he can see him in midfield too, but in that role he's never actually put him there." Mario Corsi challenged the narrative around Gianluca Mancini's role in Inter's goal, pointing out that four Roma defenders were on the pitch yet failed to function as a unit. He argued the real issue is a lack of a player who can beat his man consistently. Piero Torri stressed that after the international break, Roma will need all available players, with Gasperini having stated the team must operate with a squad of 20 across a seven-match stretch. Roberto Pruzzo offered a positive assessment, noting that Malen's presence this season—absent last year—and Dybala's apparent full recovery give Roma credible tools to challenge Inter, especially once the remainder of the transfer window closes. Luigi Salomone suggested that had Roma's previous manager substituted a different forward earlier against Lazio, the result might have shifted dramatically. The international break will resume mid-October, after which Roma face a compressed fixture list in both Serie A and the Champions League that will test squad depth and tactical flexibility.

Gian Piero Gasperini is refusing to ease off during the international break, instead using the coming weeks to prepare Roma for a late-autumn peak when his teams have historically shown their strongest form. While Inter gave their squad six days of complete rest, Gasperini has maintained high-intensity training at Trigoria, though the programme is inevitably shaped by the departure of twelve international players. The squad remaining in Rome includes Mile Svilar, Donyell Malen, Paulo Dybala, Mario Hermoso, Bryan Cristante, Devyne Rensch, Nahuel Molina and Marten de Roon, alongside players requiring specific work—notably Wesley, who must build his athletic base, and Lorenzo Pellegrini, who is returning from a lengthy absence and has already begun an intensive programme to rejoin regular rotation. Gasperini is also considering organizing a friendly match that could involve some youth-team players. Gasperini's approach reflects a precise logic. His teams have consistently shown their best athletic performance between late autumn and early winter, when the benefits of summer preparation become fully absorbed. His most famous precedent came in his first Atalanta season, when six consecutive league wins in November 2016 transformed a team with survival as its target into a Europa League contender. Similar runs followed in 2021 and 2024. Roma have already started well despite not yet operating at full capacity—some new players are still integrating, others building fitness, and Pellegrini has barely begun his season. The stretch ahead will demand depth: the combination of league and Champions League fixtures will produce a sequence of closely spaced matches making it impossible to rely on the same eleven throughout. For this reason Gasperini does not want a pause. He wants a launchpad. The logic is that Roma have already built their league position during the summer; now the coach wants to prepare their bodies for autumn. If the pattern his squads have followed repeats itself, the strongest part of the season may still be to come.

Roma head into the three-week international break in first place after four victories in five matches this season. Head coach Gasperini's side showed solidity against Inter and produced a solid return to Champions League football with a draw at Fenerbahce. During the pause, Gasperini will work with the squad members who remain at Trigoria, including Wesley, Malen and Cristante, who are managing physical knocks, plus players not selected by their national teams. Two friendly matches are scheduled to maintain match rhythm and provide opportunities for young players. Francesco Totti has revealed in his new book *Oltre* that he received playing offers from both Como and Genoa at age 48, with the prospect serious enough to prompt him to train intensively. Ultimately, however, a fundamental conviction prevailed. "Can you play for a team that isn't Roma?" Totti wrote, explaining his decision to turn down the moves. The book also chronicles other chapters from his life since retirement: his gradual rapprochement with Luciano Spalletti after years of silence, facilitated by work together on advertising campaigns; the beginning of his relationship with Noemi Bocchi, from their first meeting to their first kiss near Piazza del Popolo; and the death of his father Enzo, "the Sheriff", which Totti describes as the moment "the world collapsed". On disciplinary matters, the sporting judge issued no suspensions for the fifth round of Serie A but handed down multiple fines for fan misconduct. Roma were fined €3,000, matching Inter's sanction. Juventus received the heaviest penalty at €10,000 for failing to observe a minute's silence dedicated to Sandro Mazzola. Defender Leonardo Balerdi has regained Argentina's confidence following his strong start at Roma. Now at an Albiceleste training camp, Balerdi said: "I had huge hunger to return. Coming back here is a new challenge and I must face it the right way." His rapid integration into Gasperini's defensive system and return to regular football have restored him to Scaloni's squad after missing the World Cup.

Roma continued their conditioning work at Trigoria on 22 September, refusing to ease off during the international break. The squad's next match is scheduled for 11 October against Como, but Gasperini kept the players sharp with athletic sessions despite the pause in fixtures. Among those training were Paulo Dybala and Mile Svilar, alongside several players using the stoppage to rebuild match fitness after recent struggles or late arrivals to the squad. Nahuel Molina, Marten de Roon and Lorenzo Pellegrini were the focus of Gasperini's attention during these weeks without competition. Molina, an Argentine midfielder, suffered fatigue from a long World Cup campaign but had recently rediscovered sufficient form; Gasperini aims to have him at peak condition for a demanding run of fixtures in October. De Roon, who joined late in the transfer window after being sidelined in Maurizio Sarri's plans at Atalanta, follows a similar recovery path. Pellegrini, the captain and number 7, earned his first squad call-up this season in the match against Torino and must complete his athletic rehabilitation after missing the summer preparation alongside his teammates. He will use these weeks without matches to conduct a mini pre-season programme. Also training were Pierluigi Gollini, Devyne Rensch, Vasquez and Giorgio De Marzi under Gasperini's close observation. Three players were absent: Bryan Cristante due to lower back pain, Donyell Malen with a knee complaint, and Wesley sidelined by a muscular strain.

Paulo Dybala has undergone a striking transformation at Roma this season, shifting from a pure finisher to a playmaker under Gian Piero Gasperini. With four official assists in Serie A — reportedly seven without regulatory technicalities — he has become the league's leading provider. The change reflects reduced obsession with scoring and greater focus on team service, aided by an exceptional physical condition never matched since his arrival at the club and buoyed by new attacking partners including Donyell Malen, who have eased the burden of single-handedly leading the attack. Dybala's resurgence stems principally from his fitness, managed by new athletic staff led by Alessandro Pilati, who arrived from Genoa after 22 years there. He has logged record minutes across Serie A and the Champions League, underpinned by his decision to abandon personal trainers and rely solely on occasional pilates sessions with his wife Oriana. That choice has yielded immediate results alongside strong leadership in the dressing room, evidenced by his decision to cut his salary significantly to remain tied to Roma. This period of enhanced prominence coincides with an invitation from Lionel Messi to participate in what is likely Messi's final match for Argentina, against Benin at the Monumental stadium. Gasperini and his coaching staff, however, prefer to avoid a long and demanding journey on the eve of the league's resumption and Roma's fixture against Como. The plan is to keep Dybala at Trigoria, protect the work accomplished so far, and ensure continuity in the new chapter of the club's campaign.

Gian Piero Gasperini is refusing to ease off during the international break, instead using the coming weeks to prepare Roma for a late-autumn peak when his teams have historically shown their strongest form. While Inter gave their squad six days of complete rest, Gasperini has maintained high-intensity training at Trigoria, though the programme is inevitably shaped by the departure of twelve international players. The squad remaining in Rome includes Mile Svilar, Donyell Malen, Paulo Dybala, Mario Hermoso, Bryan Cristante, Devyne Rensch, Nahuel Molina and Marten de Roon, alongside players requiring specific work—notably Wesley, who must build his athletic base, and Lorenzo Pellegrini, who is returning from a lengthy absence and has already begun an intensive programme to rejoin regular rotation. Gasperini is also considering organizing a friendly match that could involve some youth-team players. Gasperini's approach reflects a precise logic. His teams have consistently shown their best athletic performance between late autumn and early winter, when the benefits of summer preparation become fully absorbed. His most famous precedent came in his first Atalanta season, when six consecutive league wins in November 2016 transformed a team with survival as its target into a Europa League contender. Similar runs followed in 2021 and 2024. Roma have already started well despite not yet operating at full capacity—some new players are still integrating, others building fitness, and Pellegrini has barely begun his season. The stretch ahead will demand depth: the combination of league and Champions League fixtures will produce a sequence of closely spaced matches making it impossible to rely on the same eleven throughout. For this reason Gasperini does not want a pause. He wants a launchpad. The logic is that Roma have already built their league position during the summer; now the coach wants to prepare their bodies for autumn. If the pattern his squads have followed repeats itself, the strongest part of the season may still be to come.

Paulo Dybala has emerged as a rejuvenated force for Roma this season, but head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is demanding greater intensity in the final third. The Argentine forward has appeared in all six league and Champions League matches so far, accumulating 497 minutes across both competitions—third among Roma's outfield players behind Bryan Cristante (514 minutes) and Mario Hermoso (509 minutes)—yet remains goalless in his last 13 matches. Gasperini is pushing Dybala for more direct contributions, calling for increased sprints, dribbling and shots on goal as Roma prepare for the resumption of their campaign. Dybala arrives refreshed after a meticulously planned summer of physical conditioning work and targeted preparation during the current international break, his excellent fitness level unlocking a new dimension to his play. The 32-year-old has backed himself with a radical contract restructuring, accepting a 72 per cent salary reduction in exchange for a performance-based renewal built almost entirely around bonus payments. Under the new terms, Dybala earns an additional €100,000 for each match he starts with a minimum 45 minutes on the pitch, up to a maximum of 20 appearances—worth €2 million extra on top of his €2.2 million fixed salary. If he comes off the bench and plays at least 20 minutes, he receives €75,000 per appearance. From the 21st match with at least 45 minutes played, the bonus increases to €150,000 per game. The structure rewards consistency and performance, with more minutes and goals or assists driving higher earnings as Dybala aims to recapture his best form.