Roma have a new look side with a new manager as the Giallorossi kick off the 2025/26 league

Roma have made the impressive appointment of Gian Piero Gasperini this summer, who has been in charge of Atalanta for nearly a decade or so. The Romans will be expected to return to challenging for UEFA Champions League qualification.

Atalanta were transformed by Gasperini and now Roma will hope for the same, and they are getting very busy in the window with their pursuit of Leon Bailey and Jadon Sancho after the additions of Evan Ferguson, Neil El Aynaoui and Wesley.

Bologna preview: Bologna going again

In the 2023/24 season, Bologna finished fifth and lost manager Thiago Motta as well as key players Riccardo Calafiori and Joshua Zirkzee. In the 2024/25 season, Bologna once again punched above their weight but somehow slipped to ninth.

They have now decided to part company with manager Vincenzo Italiano, replacing him with Fabio Pisacane, and they have once again begun to sell with Dan Ndoye joining Nottingham Forest and Sunderland interested in Jhon Lucumi.

Roma team news: Celik suspended

Roma right-back Zeki Celik begins the season suspended, whilst club captain Lorenzo Pellegrini is also sidelined for the hosts due to a thigh injury sustained in mid-May.

Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Svilar; Ghilardi, Mancini, Ndicka; Wesley, Cristante, El Aynaoui, Salah-Eddine; El Shaarawy, Dybala; Dovbyk.

Bologna team news: Juan Miranda suspended

One of Bologna’s new star signings, Federico Bernadeschi, is a doubt alongside Scotland international Lewis Ferguson, whilst Juan Miranda is missing through suspension.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Skorupski; De Silvestri, Jhon Lucumi, Heggem, Lykogiannis; Moro, Fabbian; Odgaard, Dominguez, Orsolini; Castro.

Roma perhaps have the squad ready made and well built for the high intensity and aggression, almost all out attacking of Gian Piero Gasperini’s style of football.

Bologna are in a bit of flux in this summer’s transfer window and may take time to adapt, but they will remain confident of punishing a learning and potentially open Roma side. Home advantage makes the Romans favourites, but it should be quite a fun watch for the neutral regardless of the match result.