Evan N'Dicka

Roma commentators have praised the team's attacking display and tactical discipline following a win over Atalanta, with radio panelists highlighting Matías Soulé's performance and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's growing imprint on the squad. Mirabella told Radio Romanista that Soulé was the standout performer, noting his immediate impact despite uncertainty over his future. "Today Matías Soulé felt at home," he said. Frequelli credited Mario Hermoso as the best player on the pitch, citing both his contribution to Roma's equaliser and his resilience after contributing to Atalanta's goal. Bighi echoed the praise for Soulé's growth and drew attention to Gasperini's tactical approach: "The manager is working very well. The squad has won not just through passion but through the work Gasperini is doing." Carina told Radio Radio that Roma has finally become "Gasperiniana"—reflecting the same style viewers saw in Gasperini's Atalanta teams. He noted an unusual tactical choice in the match, saying Gasperini won the game by removing two defenders: "If he hadn't taken off N'Dicka and Mancini, Roma would have suffered the second goal, because both struggle against Kristovic and go into difficulty. With Ghilardi and Balerdi, Roma regains the centre." He identified Rodrigo Mora as a player capable of beating defenders one-on-one but requiring development, while flagging the underlying financial burden: "The problem Roma carries with it is the cost: 50 million." Orsi credited Roma's fitness and tactical organisation, noting they have scored 10 goals across their first three matches this season. "Roma merits more than the 9 points in the league table," he said. Pruzzo expressed reservations about Mora, stating: "In a half he doesn't touch ten passes, though on a couple of occasions he did well. If he doesn't improve in level, I have the impression that something else is needed." Di Giovambattista highlighted Paulo Dybala's contribution of four assists in three games and praised the crowd's role in Roma's comeback. Pes told TeleradioStereo that Gasperini's next step must be restoring Dybala's goal-scoring form, adding: "Roma have conviction and hunger. Winning in Istanbul allows you to start a good path. It's a tough stadium to face, but Roma feel they can win the match."

A motorcycle collision involving Rome's police escort overshadowed Roma's build-up to their Champions League debut on Thursday. A 63-year-old local police officer suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries when his motorbike collided with a car at the junction of via Baldo degli Ubaldi and via Pieralice during the convoy to the team bus on Monday. The Roma squad and CEO John Galantic witnessed the crash, with Galantic requesting updates on the officer's condition. An investigation is now under way to determine why a vehicle was moving on a road that should have been closed to traffic. Roma have already turned attention to Thursday's Champions League opener against Fenerbahçe in Turkey. The squad undertook a recovery session at Trigoria on Sunday, with departure to Turkey scheduled for Wednesday ahead of the press conference and final training. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will assess Wesley and Evan N'Dicka, while Paulo Dybala's energy levels are being monitored after he played 96 minutes in Saturday's match. Nahuel Molina could start in place of Emanuele Lulli, favoured by his international experience, though Gasperini appears unlikely to make wholesale changes. Away supporters face further disruption. Following the closure of Roma's allocated section at Lecce, the upcoming trip to Turin is also at risk. Torino have suspended ticket sales pending decisions from the relevant authorities. The National Observatory on Sporting Events has deferred evaluation to the CASMS, which must rule on the away fixture. On the bench, Gasperini was stopped mid-celebration after the winning goal against Atalanta on Saturday. Assistant Mauro Fumagalli held the head coach back as he moved toward the Curva Sud, with the restraint serving a disciplinary purpose: Gasperini was already carrying a yellow card, and an exuberant display risked a red card and suspension for the Torino match.

Roma return to the Champions League for the first time in seven years on Thursday 10 September, travelling to Istanbul to face Fenerbahce in the League Phase's first matchday with a 18:45 kickoff. The match will be broadcast on Sky Sport and available to subscribers via Sky Go. Gasperini's side arrive in buoyant form after a 2–1 comeback win against Atalanta in Serie A, where Hermoso and Soulé scored in the closing stages, and have won their opening three league matches. Roma are expected to line up in a 3–4–2–1 formation with Svilar in goal, a back three of Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso, Wesley and Molina as full-backs, Cristante and Koné in midfield, and Dybala and Soulé supporting lone striker Malen. Molina and N'Dicka remain in contention with alternatives, and the squad picture will become clearer in training over the coming days. Lorenzo Pellegrini is almost certain to remain absent. Fenerbahce will be without Guendouzi, the former Lazio midfielder, who is serving a four-match suspension (two of which are conditional) following a fight during their qualifier against Lyon. The Turkish side reached the League Phase unbeaten through the preliminaries, eliminating Górnik Zabrze, Sturm Graz and Lyon, though they suffered a recent domestic setback when losing the derby to Besiktas after wins over Konyaspor and Samsunspor. In European competition they remain unbeaten across seven matches. Their probable lineup shows Ederson in goal, Semedo, Škriniar, Aké and Brown across the defence, Kanté and Yüksek in midfield, and Asensio, Aktürkoğlu and Nene behind striker Lukaku. This will be the first official meeting between the two clubs. Fenerbahce have won their last three home matches against Serie A sides without conceding, the most recent a 2–0 victory over Lazio in the 2012–13 Europa League quarter-finals. Official team lineups will be announced approximately one hour before kickoff, around 17:45 Italian time.

Gasperini made an audacious substitution deep into Roma's match against Atalanta that changed the course of the game. With Roma trailing by a goal, he withdrew Malen and introduced two defenders—Ghilardi and Balerdi—in place of Mancini and N'Dicka. At first glance, the move appeared reckless: removing an attacking player when a goal was desperately needed. Yet it proved decisive. Twenty minutes from the end, Ghilardi and Balerdi possessed the freshness and stamina that Mancini and N'Dicka had exhausted, allowing Roma to maintain an aggressive shape rather than drop deeper. The strategy worked: Roma continued to press and attack, ultimately finding their goals through Hermoso and Soulé. Sarri's Atalanta had seemed to have victory secured. The visitors had weathered intense pressure and conceded little despite Roma's dominance in the first half—18 shots to one and repeated chances—only for Ederson's goal to shift the momentum entirely. Atalanta twice came close to doubling their lead as Roma retreated. At that moment, the match appeared lost. Gasperini's intervention was a calculated risk rooted in clear tactical thinking: by introducing fresh defenders, he freed his other players to attack without fear. The instruction was explicit—press forward; the defensive line would hold. Krstovic lost his footing, Atalanta lost their reference point, and Roma regained the initiative. The substitution reflected far more than panic. Bringing on two defenders at that juncture demanded precise understanding of the match's requirements and absolute trust in his players. It signalled that Gasperini had read the game—that he knew exactly what Roma needed and possessed the conviction to execute it, even when conventional logic suggested otherwise. The choice proved vindicated.

Leonardo Balerdi made an instant impact on his Roma debut, coming on during a difficult moment as the side trailed 0–1 to Atalanta. The Argentine defender needed only twenty minutes to win over the supporters, commanding the defence and keeping Roma's shape high while providing the security the back line required. Krstovic found no space to operate once Balerdi took the field. Bareldi arrived at Roma with the ambition to be far more than a bit-part player, and his opening performance suggested serious intent. He outplayed Evan N'Dicka, the current starter, in the closing stages of the match, raising the prospect that competition for the centre-back position could intensify if the Argentine maintains that standard. On Instagram, Balerdi shared his joy at the occasion: "There is no better way to begin this story than in this incredible stadium. Winning, together with you." The display was a fairytale debut for a player signed to have a genuine role in Roma's defence.

Roma maintained their position at the Serie A summit alongside Inter by defeating Atalanta 2–1 in an intense encounter at the Stadio Olimpico. Matías Soulé proved decisive, scoring the winning goal in the 48th minute after setting up Mario Hermoso's equaliser in the 44th. Soulé, who had been the subject of potential transfer moves for weeks at his agent's behest before the match, converted past Carnesecchi on the near post to settle the tie and give Gian Piero Gasperini a first victory against his former squad. Roma's rearguard faced sustained pressure, particularly from Krstovic against Evan N'Dicka in the opening stages of the second half. Gasperini's tactical adjustments proved decisive: he withdrew Mancini and N'Dicka to introduce Ghilardi and Balerdi, while Castro replaced Malen in attack. These changes restored defensive stability, neutralised Atalanta's transitions, and created the platform for Roma's decisive push. The reshuffled defence demonstrated the team's capacity to win matches through adaptation rather than relying solely on dominant displays. The victory showcased Roma's resilience in difficult circumstances. Soulé's impact from an advanced central position in the second half underlined his importance after weeks of uncertainty surrounding his future at the club. Gasperini's in-game management earned the rewards, with the structural changes to defence proving crucial in shutting down the opposition's counter-attacking threat and securing a hard-fought three points.