AS Roma travel to face Lecce at the Via del Mare with two new faces on the bench, Leonardo Balerdi and Marten De Roon, as reported by Rai News. Gian Piero Gasperini's side are aiming for a second consecutive win after their opening victory over Fiorentina, with the match scheduled for 6:30 PM today.
Who are AS Roma's new call-ups?
The Argentine defender Leonardo Balerdi arrived from Marseille to replace Mateusz Ziółkowski, who was sold to Monza. Marten De Roon, a trusted player of coach Gasperini, takes the place of Neil El Aynaoui, who left for Leipzig. Both players are expected to start the match from the bench. Gasperini appears intent on confirming the group that won on the opening day, focusing on continuity.
Goalkeeper Mile Svilar will start, with the defence likely consisting of Gianluca Mancini, Evan Ndicka and Mario Hermoso. Youngster Emanuele Lulli, the 19-year-old from Palestrina, could be confirmed on the right flank, with Wesley on the left. The midfield pair will be Manu Koné and Bryan Cristante. The attack will see Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen alongside Rodrigo Mora, the 19-year-old Portuguese talent who has impressed the manager.
What are AS Roma's transfer market moves?
The club's work in the transfer market is not finished. Robinio Vaz, left out of the squad for Lecce, is close to a transfer to Hull City in the Premier League. Matias Soulé, who is with the team in Salento, is also being followed by Fulham and could leave. To replace any departures, Roma continue to work mainly on Luiz Henrique from Zenit St. Petersburg.
The Brazilian trail is considered very active, but Jamie Leweling from Stuttgart and Englishman Gittens from Chelsea are also in the running. The summer transfer window closes on August 31st, giving the Giallorossi management a few more days to complete the squad. The current team, which can be viewed on our squad page, already shows greater depth than last season.
What is expected from the match against Lecce?
Roma face Lecce under Eusebio Di Francesco, who lines up with an attacking trident formed by Lorenzo Pierotti, Jean-Philippe Krasso (referred to as Geubbels in the source) and Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro (Ndri). The Giallorossi's objective is clear: win to maintain a perfect record and catch up with the leading group of Inter, Milan, Juventus and Lazio, all winners on the opening day.
After the Lecce match, Roma's schedule continues with the derby against Lazio on September 13th, a fixture already visible on our fixtures page. The victory over Fiorentina provided confidence, but the test at the Via del Mare will be important to assess the team's solidity away from home. The updated league standings are always available in the standings section.
How is Gasperini's typical lineup shaping up?
Gasperini seems to have found a balance from the very first matchday. The three-man defence with Mancini, Ndicka and Hermoso offers solidity, while the flanks are entrusted to the youth of Lulli and the experience of Wesley. The midfield with Koné and Cristante balances physicality and constructive quality. The attack with Dybala, Malen and Mora represents the main novelty of this Roma side, a mobile and unpredictable trident.
The bench, with the addition of Balerdi and De Roon, gains experience and tactical options. Balerdi can help both as a central defender and a full-back, while De Roon is a classic defensive midfielder capable of protecting the defence. Their integration will be gradual, but their presence in the group is already an important signal for the squad's depth. The next home match is scheduled against Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico.
