AS Roma enter the 2026/27 Serie A season with greater ambition, a demanding schedule and Gian Piero Gasperini still leading the first team. The campaign is the club’s 100th season and its 75th consecutive year in Italy’s top division. Roma will also compete in the Champions League, Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana.
Supporters can reasonably expect Roma to challenge for a Champions League place once again. A genuine title push is harder to predict, since the squad must cope with four competitions and several questions remain over transfers, attacking depth and Gasperini’s relationship with the club’s management.
Gasperini Wants Greater Control at Roma
Gasperini’s tactical plan will remain central to the AS Roma 2026/27 season. His teams usually rely on assertive pressing, flexible defensive structures and quick attacking combinations. Roma showed signs of adapting to those demands during the previous campaign, but the coach publicly called for greater clarity after disagreements behind the scenes.
When discussing the new season, Gasperini said he needed to work according to his own ideas. He also described Roma as a strong squad with solid foundations and argued that its potential was higher than a fifth- or sixth-place finish.
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For Roma, the key issue is alignment between coach and directors. Clear authority over recruitment would allow Gasperini to select players suited to his pressing scheme rather than adapting his football to a mismatched squad.
A Strong Core with Attacking Potential
The current Roma squad contains a productive mix of established leaders and younger players. Mile Svilar provides stability in goal, while Gianluca Mancini, Evan Ndicka and Mario Hermoso offer several defensive combinations.
Manu Koné, Bryan Cristante, Neil El Aynaoui and Niccolò Pisilli give Gasperini options in midfield. Pisilli could receive a larger role after showing his ability to arrive late near the penalty area.
The attack carries the greatest promise. Paulo Dybala remains Roma’s main creative figure, while Matías Soulé can operate from the right or behind the striker. Artem Dovbyk supplies a physical centre-forward option, and Donyell Malen adds pace plus positional flexibility. The registered squad also includes young forwards Robinio Vaz and several defenders tied to long-term contracts.
| Area | Main names | Main question |
| Goalkeeper | Mile Svilar | Can he maintain his consistency? |
| Defence | Mancini, Ndicka, Hermoso | Can Roma defend space behind the press? |
| Midfield | Koné, Cristante, Pisilli | Is there enough creativity under pressure? |
| Attack | Dybala, Soulé, Dovbyk, Malen | Can the leading forwards remain fit? |
Dybala’s availability may have a major effect on Roma’s final position. Soulé and Malen can carry more creative responsibility, but Roma still look more dangerous when Dybala connects midfield with the central striker.
A Difficult Opening Serie A Schedule
The Serie A 2026/27 fixtures give Roma little time to settle. Their league campaign begins at home against Fiorentina, followed by matches with Lecce, Atalanta and Torino. Inter visit the Stadio Olimpico on matchday five, while Roma travel to Napoli during the eighth round.
This opening sequence should provide an early measure of Roma’s progress. Atalanta will test their pressing structure, Inter will examine their title credentials, and Napoli away could expose any weakness in defensive transitions.
The league season starts during the weekend of 22–23 August 2026 and ends on 30 May 2027. Two midweek rounds and three international breaks are scheduled, with a Christmas pause in late December.
Champions League Football Will Test Squad Depth
Roma’s return to the UEFA Champions League raises expectations but also creates selection problems. UEFA lists the club among the participants for the 2026/27 competition, while Roma are not entered in the Europa League.
Gasperini cannot rely on the same 13 or 14 players every week. Roma will need meaningful contributions from Pisilli, Rensch, Ghilardi, Wesley and Vaz, particularly during periods containing European and domestic matches.
The club will also play Napoli in the Supercoppa Italiana semi-final in December. That fixture falls during a crowded section of the calendar, shortly before league matches against Lazio and Juventus.
Roma’s Likely Target for 2026/27
Roma should aim for a top-four Serie A finish and progress beyond the Champions League opening phase. The squad has enough quality to challenge Italy’s leading clubs, but a Scudetto bid would require better consistency, fewer injuries and productive summer recruitment.
Gasperini has already shown confidence in the group’s foundations. If the club supports his tactical plan and the main attackers stay available, Roma can finish inside the Champions League positions. A predicted range of third to fifth appears realistic, with a domestic cup run also possible.
