AS Roma Match Reports

Roma have opened ticket sales for their Serie A fixture against Atalanta on September 5 at 20:45 at the Stadio Olimpico. The match is the third round of the season and represents a high-level test for the Giallorossi, arriving after opening fixtures against Fiorentina at home and Lecce away. Tickets went on sale from 12:00 today. Supporters can find all pricing information and purchase tickets via the dedicated page on Roma's official website.

The Stadio Olimpico is sold out for Roma's Serie A opener against Fiorentina on Monday evening, a fixture that marks Gian Piero Gasperini's first competitive match in charge. At the resumption of training on 19 August, Gasperini will assess Rodrigo Mora, who arrived at Ciampino on 18 August, though the Portuguese player is unlikely to start. Paulo Dybala is confirmed as the certain starter, having for the first time since joining Roma played every pre-season friendly. He will be partnered by Matías Soulé, who remains unsettled in the transfer market. In attack, Donyell Malen is favoured over another option but is not yet at full fitness. Mario Hermoso holds an advantage in defensive selection. Niccolò Pisilli and Wesley are expected to return to group training by 20 August. On the right flank, Nahuel Molina will feature after arriving in the capital; he is keen to make his Stadio Olimpico debut. The ground will host 63,000 spectators for the match against the Florentine side.

Roma will open their 2026-27 season at the Olimpico against Fiorentina on Monday, 24 August at 20:45, with director D'Amico still working to finalise the squad ahead of the summer transfer window's closure on Tuesday, 1 September at 20:00. Rodrigo Mora, a left-sided winger described as a long-term target for Gasperini, is close to joining from Porto, and the club expects at least one further reinforcement before the deadline. However, Gasperini is likely to start the campaign with roughly 10 or 11 players from last season's squad. Molina is expected to earn a starting berth against Fiorentina, but the other recent arrivals face obstacles to immediate prominence. Koulierakis is unlikely to displace Mario Hermoso in the defensive hierarchy, and Castro faces a similar challenge against Donyell Malen despite the winger's low-profile preseason. Mora, expected in Italy in the coming days, will need time to integrate into Gasperini's system; Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé are likely to retain their attacking partnership. Lorenzo Pellegrini will miss the opener through injury, while Niccolò Pisilli hopes to return in the squad and Wesley is managing a minor ankle sprain sustained in Saturday's friendly against Borussia Dortmund.

Emanuele Lulli, the 18-year-old right-back, delivered a positive display for Roma in their final pre-season friendly against Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Stadium yesterday, starting and playing 76 minutes. Gasperini has regularly deployed the class of 2007 prospect in recent weeks, with Lulli appearing in progressive minutes across warm-up fixtures: 18 minutes against Cardiff, 20 against Newport, 12 against Brighton, and the full 76-minute outing against Dortmund. The teenager, who turns 19 tomorrow, demonstrated both defensive cover and attacking thrust—precisely what Gasperini demands from his fullbacks. Roma's recruitment focus remains on the offensive flank, though director D'Amico continues work on the fullback contingent. With Tsimikas, Çelik and Angeliño departed, the squad has lacked reinforcement on the wings; only Wesley and Devyne Rensch remain from last season, with Molina arriving yesterday on his Roma debut. Lulli's composed display offers genuine hope of a permanent pathway into first-team contention under Gasperini. Lulli recorded three defensive contributions, two interceptions and three recoveries in addition to one clearance across his 76 minutes, also winning one ground duel and one aerial duel. He registered 88% pass accuracy in the opposition half (7/8) and 82% in his own half (9/11), with 2 of 3 long passes reaching their target. His ball-carrying statistics stand out: 54.9 metres gained (compared to 23.3 for Rensch), including 37.4 metres towards the opposition goal (21.3 for Rensch). Roma continue pressing on Udogie, while moves for Cacciamani and Luis Henrique face complications.

Paulo Dybala produced a masterclass performance in Roma's latest summer friendly against Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Stadium, playing 86 minutes and delivering a complete attacking display. He opened the scoring in the fourth minute with a precise finish from a tight angle, then set up Bryan Cristante's header in the ninth. The display capped a remarkable pre-season for the Argentine, who has excelled throughout the summer schedule in ways he never has before at the club. Across Roma's full pre-season campaign, Dybala has accumulated three goals in matches against Primavera and Trastevere at Trigoria, a brace and an assist in the 3–3 friendly against Cannes, a goal and assist across fixtures in Wales (goals against Cardiff, assist against Newport), and a goal in Germany. He was goalless only at Brighton. Statistically and physically, Dybala appears to have arrived for the 2026–27 season in elite condition—a stark contrast to his previous summers in a Roma shirt. In 2022, after his initial arrival, he featured in only two pre-season matches (against Tottenham, with an assist, and Shakhtar Donetsk) owing to fitness concerns. In 2023 he played four of five friendlies, scoring three goals. The summer of 2024 saw him in four of five tests with one goal, while last summer he skipped all English fixtures due to post-surgical recovery and returned only in the final pre-season match against Neom.

Donyell Malen experienced an emotional reunion with Borussia Dortmund in a friendly match on 15 August, playing the full 90 minutes and more against his parent club AS Roma. The Dutch forward spent four seasons at Signal Iduna Park between 2021 and 2025, making 132 appearances and scoring 39 goals with 20 assists before joining Roma. After the final whistle, Malen exchanged shirts with Dortmund goalkeeper and friend Kobel. When Kobel joked, "Tomorrow at training I'll be wearing this," Malen replied: "I missed the stadium." Kobel responded warmly: "I missed you." Dortmund's official channels marked the occasion, posting: "It was a pleasure to see you again, Don!" Malen commented in turn: "It was nice to see friendly faces again." With the reunion now complete, Roma's attention shifts to their Serie A campaign debut.

Roma drew 2–2 with Borussia Dortmund in their final pre-season friendly at Signal Iduna Park on 15 August, ahead of their Serie A opener against Fiorentina on 24 August. Paulo Dybala and Bryan Cristante gave Roma a two-goal lead early in the match, but Ryerson and Guirassy equalised for Dortmund to secure a draw. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will grant the squad three days' rest following their return to Rome. Training at Trigoria will resume on Wednesday morning. The result provided positive signs for Gasperini as Roma prepare for the new campaign.

Roma's final pre-season friendly ended in a 2–2 draw against Borussia Dortmund on 15 August, with Paulo Dybala and Bryan Cristante scoring for the Giallorossi. The Argentine's performance offered the most encouraging sign of the day as Roma prepared for their Serie A opener against Fiorentina on 24 August. Debutants Nahuel Molina and Konstantinos Koulierakis featured in the closing stages, while the squad showed improvement compared to earlier summer matches, though Gasperini's side remain in preparation mode ahead of the campaign. Mile Svilar made several crucial saves to prevent a defeat, earning 6.5/10 for a demanding performance. Dybala orchestrated Roma's attacking play with precision, unlocking chances with a left-foot finish to open the scoring and crafting a poetic pass for Castro in the box. Cristante doubled the lead with a header just ten minutes after Dybala's opener. Defensively, Gianluca Mancini (6.0), Evan N'Dicka (6.0), and Mario Hermoso (5.5) had mixed afternoons against Dortmund's pressure; Hermoso in particular struggled against Karetsis. Elsewhere, Devyne Rensch squandered a clear opportunity, Matías Soulé showed flashes but lacked sharpness, and Donyell Malen provided service without imposing himself heavily on the match.

Mats Hummels was honoured by both Borussia Dortmund and AS Roma before a friendly between the two clubs on 15 August 2026. The former defender, who spent significant time with both organisations in the latter stages of his career, greeted former Roma teammates and staff members ahead of kick-off. Before the match, Hummels received two commemorative plaques in recognition of the bonds he built with each club. Roma's CEO John Galantic personally presented the Giallorossi's plaque to the ex-centre-back. The friendly offered Hummels an emotional return to the Roma world and a chance to reconnect with the club that formed a key chapter in his recent playing history.

Manu Koné will start for Roma in a friendly against Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park this afternoon, his first appearance from the opening whistle since the World break. The midfielder's return is laden with significance given the transfer speculation that has surrounded him in recent months. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will use the match against the German club to assess Koné's form and chemistry with the rest of the squad as the club weighs whether to keep him as a cornerstone of next season's team or pursue a sale if an attractive offer materialises before the end of the month. Koné has been under close scrutiny since last summer, when Inter made an approach exactly a year ago. Throughout the past season he remained the subject of ongoing speculation, with speculation intensifying in the latter stages of the campaign as Roma explored potential sales to address budget requirements. His performances in five World Cup matches have made him attractive to several clubs this summer. Manchester United, Chelsea and several Arab clubs, notably Al Ahli, have shown interest. Atlético Madrid submitted a concrete offer of €43 million, but Roma rejected it as insufficient.

Roma face Borussia Dortmund in a prestige friendly at Signal Iduna Park on 15 August, kick-off 17:30, in what Gasperini has confirmed will be the club's final warm-up before the Serie A campaign begins. Wesley, the Brazilian full-back, will not travel after sustaining a light ankle sprain on 14 August; he will remain in Rome for treatment with the intention of being available for the Serie A opener against Fiorentina on 24 August. Lorenzo Pellegrini, fresh from a contract renewal, continues his pre-season conditioning programme and is absent from the squad, as is Niccolò Pisilli, who has not yet recovered from injury and is working individually. Nahuel Molina, who has been training at Trigoria for several days, is among the 23 players named by Gasperini and could make his Roma debut from the first minute, particularly given Wesley's absence. Manu Koné, the midfielder, has also been included after mixing individual and group work. Gasperini is expected to field a familiar XI in defence—Svilar in goal behind Mancini, N'Dicka, and Hermoso—with Molina and Rensch on the flanks, Cristante and either El Aynaoui or Koné in midfield, and Dybala and Soulé supporting Malen up front. The Signal Iduna Park is sold out. The women's teams will also play beforehand at Stadio Rote Erde at 13:00. The men's match will be broadcast on DAZN.

Borussia Dortmund will face Roma on 15 August in their final pre-season fixture before competing for the German Super Cup against Bayern Munich on 22 August. Head coach Niko Kovac's side won 3–2 against Arsenal in the Emirates Cup, with goals from Inacio, Gadou, and Karetsas, and will look to maintain that form against the Italian visitors at Signal Iduna Park. Dortmund's summer recruitment has centred on two 2007-born prospects who cost nearly €50 million combined. Gadou, a French centre-back, arrived from Red Bull Salzburg for €19.5 million, while Karetsas, an attacking midfielder capable of playing on the right wing, joined from Genk for €30 million. The club sold Adeyemi to Barcelona for €22 million and loaned Yan Couto to Como, while Brandt and Süle departed as free agents. Kovac deploys a 3–4–2–1 formation that mirrors a pressing approach, with Karetsas and Inacio operating behind striker Fabio Silva. Italian defender Luca Reggiani, born 2008, is part of Dortmund's defensive unit after joining from Sassuolo at age 15. He featured briefly against Arsenal and had more game time in pre-season friendlies against Cerezo Osaka and Tokyo. Schlotterbeck and Emre Can remain sidelined through injury. For both clubs, tomorrow's match marks the final warm-up before competitive action begins.

Roma face Borussia Dortmund in a pre-season friendly in Germany. The fixture echoes a historic encounter: 19 years ago, in the summer of 2007, Roma visited Dortmund and suffered a 4–0 defeat under manager Spalletti. That loss drew criticism of the coach's heavy pre-season preparation, yet the Roma side that year went on to challenge for the Serie A title until the final day against Inter. Roma's recent warm-up matches suggest the current pre-season training load is similarly demanding. The comparison raises the possibility that, as in Spalletti's era, the giallorossi could deliver strong form once the competitive season begins. Gian Piero Gasperini's squad will look to use this fixture as an opportunity to build fitness and cohesion ahead of the 2026–27 campaign.

Roma's English pre-season tour ended in concern after a 3–0 defeat at Brighton laid bare significant defensive lapses and attacking impotence. The performance revealed delays both in physical conditioning and the absorption of tactical patterns, leaving Roma having conceded 11 goals across their last four friendly outings. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini expressed open frustration on the touchline, demanding greater midfield screening and emphasising the urgent need to activate the team's intensity. The match highlighted glaring defensive oversights and minimal cutting edge up front. Devyne Rensch came under constant pressure on the counter-attack from Yankuba Minteh, while Mario Hermoso had an off day in marking Georginio Rutter. Donyell Malen showed signs of being short of match fitness. The attacking partnership of Santiago Castro and Paulo Dybala made little impression on goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. With two weeks remaining before Roma's competitive league debut, Gasperini will have crucial time to accelerate both recruitment and work at Trigoria to correct these problems.

Roma suffered a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Brighton at the end of their pre-season training camp, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini critical of the display. The defence was disorganised and repeatedly caught out, prompting Gasperini to consider wholesale changes at half-time. He identified a fundamental problem: the squad has not yet regained the intensity and competitive edge that brought them third place last season. "It's as if this team struggles to switch back on," Gasperini said, reflecting on a performance he labelled "dire". The coach acknowledged that his rebuild is progressing slower than hoped. Addressing the transfer market, Gasperini outlined the direction Roma will pursue under sporting director D'Amico: signings must be both young and elite. That blueprint already mirrors the club's recent activity—both completed moves and deals that fell through in recent weeks—indicating a clear strategic shift toward building a squad with immediate quality and long-term potential. Gasperini's comments signal his desire to accelerate recruitment, having expected to be further along in the summer window by this point. The Brighton result underscored his concern that the current group lacks cohesion and sharpness as the competitive season approaches.

Roma lost 3-0 to Brighton in a pre-season friendly, extending a run of poor defensive form that has left head coach Gian Piero Gasperini frustrated. The loss follows a similarly disappointing performance against Cardiff, with Gasperini describing yesterday's display as "pessima: una brutta prestazione" (dreadful: a poor performance). The team appeared slow, unmotivated, and lacked concentration throughout. Defence remains the immediate concern. Excluding three friendlies at Trigoria against the Primavera and Trastevere, Roma have conceded 11 goals across their last four outings—an average of 2.75 per match. Gasperini acknowledged the underlying issue, saying: "It's true, we struggle to switch the plug back on." The squad will return to Trigoria from Tuesday, when the coaching staff can begin integrating Molina and Pellegrini into training, though Gasperini warned that Pellegrini will require at least a month to reach full fitness. The manager also addressed transfer strategy in his post-match remarks. He stated that Roma need additional players numerically, noting that director D'Amico is negotiating for young but important prospects. On potential departures, Gasperini deferred to the club's chief executive, saying those questions should be addressed to him rather than the coaching staff.

Roma suffered a 3–0 defeat at Brighton in a pre-season friendly at the American Express Stadium on 8 August, the final test of their training camp in England before returning to the Italian capital. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini acknowledged a disappointing performance but said the squad lacked concentration rather than fitness. He noted that players returning from the World Cup — Evan N'Dicka, Neil El Aynaoui, and Donyell Malen — needed extra time to recover. "It's not really a fitness issue, but more the fact that we played disconnected as a team, certainly not with the right concentration," Gasperini said. "We have some players coming back from World Cup competitions like Ndicka, El Aynaoui and Malen who are a bit depleted. We need to be patient because when you return from these tournaments it takes a little longer to recover." On the transfer front, Gasperini confirmed that midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini will miss at least another month with injury, likely returning in September. He acknowledged that Roma currently have limited squad depth and are pursuing new signings. "If I do the count at this moment we are few," he said, noting that Alessandro Molina has arrived to replace Zeki Çelik and will be seen in action on Tuesday, and that João Bahrim Castro was brought in to replace Artem Dovbyk alongside defender Koulierakis. Gasperini added: "D'Amico is searching and negotiating very young but also very important players. That is the direction."

Roma suffered a second defeat in three pre-season outings, losing 3–0 to Brighton in what Gasperini described as a concerning display two weeks before the season begins. Wesley emerged as the standout performer, while Neil El Aynaoui stepped back from his midweek form, and the defence was repeatedly breached. Gianluca Mancini (5) lost his man on Brighton's third goal and appeared less commanding than usual, while Mario Hermoso (5) was partly culpable for the opening goal and departed with a foot problem. Evan N'Dicka (5.5) offered insufficient security at the back, and Devyne Rensch (4.5) endured a forgettable afternoon at right-back following several indecisions; Koulierakis (6) and Daniele Ghilardi (6) came on at half-time and improved the display, though the match was already decided. Wesley (6) impressed with his physicality and athleticism, particularly a close effort at the 28-minute mark, while Paulo Dybala (5.5) created Roma's most dangerous opportunity despite a subdued showing. Neil El Aynaoui (4.5) was erratic in midfield, losing the ball in an exchange with Rensch that led to Brighton's second goal. Bryan Cristante (5.5), the captain, struggled to control the midfield as his experience might demand. Matías Soulé (5.5) lacked incisiveness despite constant movement. Donyell Malen (5) remained short of match fitness and rarely troubled the goalkeeper. Gasperini rated the performance 5, noting that Roma has conceded eleven goals across the last 360 minutes of pre-season play. Though he acknowledged no points are at stake in August, he expressed disappointment for the 750 Roma supporters in attendance. The transfer market remains underdeveloped, he added, but the squad must perform better ahead of competitive fixtures.

Roma suffered a heavy defeat to Brighton in their final pre-season friendly in England, conceding three goals in the first 50 minutes. The capitulation prompted Gian Piero Gasperini to make immediate changes, with Ziolkowski, Ghilardi and Koulierakis warming up on the sidelines. Hermoso was at fault for the opening goal, leaving too much space for Rutter, while N'Dicka's positioning proved costly for the third. Gasperini turned to his bench and demanded action, declaring: "Cambiamo" (We're changing). The last two substitutes entered within seconds of each other. This was Roma's third consecutive defeat on their UK tour, following a 4-1 loss to Cardiff. Gasperini also identified midfield frailties during the first half, noting the lack of protection in front of the back four. El Aynaoui was withdrawn at half-time without returning for the second period, replaced by Mannini. The full-back had been directly culpable for the second goal when his poor pass to Hermoso allowed Ayari to beat Svilar. Rensch, operating on the opposite flank, also drew Gasperini's ire for a series of misplaced decisions during the opening 45 minutes.

Roma continue their pre-season preparation in England on Saturday 8 August, facing Brighton at the American Express Stadium with kickoff at 16:00. Head coach Gasperini will be without Molina, who will join the squad directly at Trigoria, though Malen is available. Pisilli and Bah remain sidelined through injury. The friendly forms part of Roma's summer training schedule following their time in Wales. Gasperini has confirmed his squad composition for the match, with the unavailability of two key players due to injury requiring tactical adjustments. The match will be broadcast live on DAZN, accessible via the app or official website through smartphone, PC, or tablet.

Roma face Brighton this afternoon at 15:00 local time (16:00 Italian time, live on DAZN) in their most demanding fixture of their British pre-season tour. The match will be Roma's first outing in the new white kit, unveiled in recent days and well received by supporters. Gasperini will use the Brighton encounter to assess his squad's development ahead of the new season. Roma's core squad remains largely unchanged from last season, with the additions of Castro and Koulierakis competing for minutes alongside Hermoso and Malen in the early pecking order. Donyell Malen returns to action after illness and will be hunting his first goal of the summer. The side has yet to keep a clean sheet in pre-season friendlies, though Gasperini is without key midfield personnel for this stretch. Roma continue to pursue Molina and a left-footed left-back—reported as the "Mister X"—to bolster their options. Gasperini's cautious starts in summer pre-season are well documented, and this match will provide a clearer picture of defensive solidity, an area that has troubled Roma across their recent warm-up games.