Inter could let go of several long-term first-team servants and are targeting a summer move for Roma midfielder Manu Kone according to Thursday’s reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport. 

The Nerazzurri are sitting seven points clear at the top of the Serie A table with 10 league matches of the season left to go, but according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, there could soon be a transfer ‘revolution’ on the horizon. 

Inter have several senior players whose contracts are expiring at the end of the 2025-26 season and are not currently expected to be renewed, including the likes of goalkeeper Yann Sommer, defenders Matteo Darmian, Stefan de Vrij and Francesco Acerbi, and a decision is yet to be made on midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan. 

The Nerazzurri are also hoping to supply Cristian Chivu with ‘fresh blood’ ahead of the 2026-27 campaign. Roma’s Manu Kone was a target in the summer transfer window of 2025, and according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Inter are likely to make another attempt for the Frenchman this coming window.  

Thursday’s report indicates that Inter are also inclined to activate their buy-back option for 20-year-old Club Brugge midfielder Aleksandar Stankovic, son of former Nerazzurri star, Dejan. 

Departures can’t be ruled out, and La Gazzetta dello Sport argues that none of Inter’s first team stars are particularly ‘untouchable’ at this stage, aside from perhaps Lautaro Martinez and Pio Esposito. 

Even an Alessandro Bastoni, Nicolo Barella or a Marcus Thuram could theoretically be allowed to leave if a particularly enticing offer were to come in. Galatasaray are also reportedly persisting with their interest in Hakan Calhanoglu. 

Yann BIsseck is said to have interest from the Premier League and Denzel Dumfries reportedly has a release clause option in his contract valid this summer. 

La Gazzetta dello Sport maintains that these suggestions are purely hypothetical at this stage. But if a big name or two were to leave this summer, Kone, who is likely to cost in excess of €40m would be the primary target. 

La Gazzetta dello Sport 

Inter gets a shake-up

Scudetto, and then there will be a revolution

The club wants a side with more characters, even Barella and Bastoni up for discussion. And, on the market place, Kone and Vicario primary objectives 

Milan’s plans for the Champions League

Kean for the attack

Italy sink 

Our sides a disaster in the Champions League

No team reaches the quarter-finals. The bottom  of the barrel. Look how many points they’ve suffered: The reasons behind the crisis 

Real lessons 

Super Valverde (three goals) to overwhelm City

Rino, you think about it 

The locations of the training bases have already been chosen: Toronto and then Utah 

It’s Bologna-Roma. Gasp plays for a lot, Italiano for everything 

And in the Conference, Fiorentina take on Rakow 

Corriere dello Sport 

A place for one 

The Euroleague derby 

At the Dall’Ara (17.45) the first of two battles for a spot in the quarter-finals

Bologna with Castro, Roma have SuperMalen 

A route to the Champions League also comes up in this competition: One of Italiano or Gasp could save the honor of Italian football

Valverde humiliates Pep 

Champions League: City overwhelmed with three goals from the Uruguayan 

Guardiola, what a lesson in Madrid. Donnarumma saves a penalty from Vinicis (3-0). Psg, five against Chelsea, brace from Kvara (5-2), Arsenal save themselves in Leverkusen (1-1), Bodo continue to amaze: Sporting also capitulate in Norway (3-0)

Fiorentina, the uncomfortable cup 

Survival is the most important thing, but need to get past Rakow in the Conference League to save any further embarrassments 

Spalletti, here’s Vlahovic again 

Returning in Udine 

Dusan back after three months. Senesi intrigue: Juve are also there 

Conte, Mister 600 

He has 597 points in Serie A

Could reach a landmark figure in Napoli-Lecce 

Inter, Alisson or Vicario 

Goalkeepers in the distance 

Sommer heading for farewell: The replacement will arrive from the Premier League

Iran, no World Cup 

The announcement from the minister 

‘The conditions are not there’. Infantino’s gaffe 

Tuttosport 

Juve, the bonus Vlahovic 

DV9 returns in Udine: They need his goals for the Champions League comeback and the new contract … 

Dusan scores right away in a training match: After 105 days of absence, he will start again from the bench, but everyone is waiting for him on the pitch. Contacts over his renewal are intensifying: The salary reaches 6 million with bonuses and objectives, Spalletti lifts the tension. Boga sees himself as a starter, more doubts in goal: And for the future, looking at Martinez from Villa. Inquiry for Lewandowski

The war affects the World Cup. Iran forfeit

The consequence of the conflict and FIFA’s embarrassment 

From Tehran: ‘We can’t play in the United States like this’. The logic would be to replace them with another Asian side (Iraq or the UAE), but with fears of other renunciations, a decision based on overall ranking can’t be ruled out. Sport in Palestine: The Italian parliament writes to the IOC and FIFA. Meanwhile, Verratti is out: Gattuso puts the trust in Locatelli and thinks about Pisilli

Valverde, Real magic. PSG, what a spectacle! 

Fantasy hat-trick from the Uruguayan, City destroyed 

Chelse\ hold them off in Paris, but then Vitinha and the brace from Kvara make it 5-2. Fantastic Bodo: 3-0 against Sporting, looking at the quarter-finals and history 

Bologna and Roma to feel like we’re in Europe 

At 17.45: The derby in the round of 16. Italiano: ‘We want to get through to the end’. Gasp: ‘I’m not thinking about Como.’. Conference League: Fiorentina-Rakow 

D’Aversa studies Serie B and … Juric 

The Serbian’s return looms over safety. The scathing letter from Marengo to Cairo 

Roma are expected to use Donyell Malen, Bryan Zaragoza and Niccolò Pisilli in the Europa League Round of 16, while Bologna look to Thijs Dallinga and Federico Bernardeschi.

It kicks off at the Stadio Dall’Ara at 17.45 GMT (18.45 CET) on Thursday, with the second leg next week at the Stadio Olimpico.

The draw means Italy will have only one representative in the Europa League quarter-finals, as the two Serie A competitors go head-to-head.

Hosts Bologna have Juan Miranda, Charalampos Lykogiannis and Torbjorn Heggem not fully fit, while Lorenzo De Silvestri is not on the UEFA squad list.

Santiago Castro has looked exhausted lately after a run of games in the starting XI, so it seems likely that Dallinga will step into the centre-forward role instead.

He should be flanked by Bernardeschi and Jonathan Rowe, leaving Riccardo Orsolini on the bench.

Coach Vincenzo Italiano confirmed that Tommaso Pobega has a good chance of starting in midfield.

Roma are forced to do without suspended Gianluca Mancini in defence, while Matias Soulé, Paulo Dybala, Artem Dovbyk and Evan Ferguson are all injured.

It leaves limited options in attack, but January signings Malen and Zaragoza can finally play in the Europa League, having been cup-tied for the final league phase matches.

Mario Hermoso took part in training today and could make his comeback in defence, while Bryan Cristante is tipped to take the more advanced role in support of the strikers.

This is a position he can swap around with Pisilli, giving the opposition defenders few reference points.

It might be an all-Italian game, but it is still a UEFA fixture, so the referee is German Sven Jablonski, with Bastian Dankert in the VAR booth.

Bologna vs. Roma probable line-ups

Bologna (4-3-3): Skorupski; Joao Mario, Lucumi, Vitik, Miranda; Ferguson, Freuler, Pobega; Bernardeschi, Dallinga, Rowe

Roma (3-4-2-1): Svilar; Ghilardi, Ndicka, Hermoso; Celik, Koné, Pisilli, Wesley; Cristante, Zaragoza; Malen

Ref: Jablonski (GER)

Remo Freuler could be Bologna’s secret weapon in the Europa League meeting with Roma. ‘I know how Gian Piero Gasperini plays off by heart.’

The first leg of this Round of 16 tie kicks off at the Stadio Dall’Ara on Thursday at 17.45 GMT (18.45 CET).

It is safe to say the two teams have few surprises in store, considering this is an all-Italian derby on the UEFA stage, but some are even more tuned in.

Gasperini and Freuler are old friends

Freuler made 254 appearances under Roma coach Gasperini when they worked together at Atalanta from 2016 to 2022, scoring 20 goals and providing 23 assists.

“I know how Gasperini plays off by heart, even if he too has changed some things in his style over recent years,” Freuler told Sky Sport Italia.

“The foundations are still more or less the same, and I will be very happy to see him again tomorrow.”

Gasperini is keeping a few decisions to the last minute, and now uses two players in the trequartista role supporting a centre-forward, especially as there are so many injuries in attack.

“I know the adjustments he makes too, whether he plays with three upfront or an extra midfielder, I know the thoughts he has in his mind. We’ll see what happens.”

Freuler left Atalanta in 2022 for Nottingham Forest, but returned within a year to Serie A, where he is enjoying a new lease of life with Bologna.

This means he had already departed by the time Atalanta won the Europa League trophy, but he did experience some European success there.

“I remember how we danced after the game against Shakhtar Donetsk, when we qualified for the Champions League Round of 16. I still feel that joy, just as I do our super rapport both on and off the field,” said the Switzerland international.

“The first leg is always an important result so we can go into the decider with confidence. We want to keep going in the Europa League.

“Unfortunately, we picked Roma in the draw, who with all due respect to the others are more difficult to play against than KRC Genk.”

Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar has sent a message of solidarity with Tottenham Hotspur’s Antonin Kinsky. ‘A similar thing happened to me on my Champions League debut.’

The Giallorossi are preparing for the first leg of the Europa League Round of 16 against fellow Italians Bologna, which kicks off at the Stadio Dall’Ara on Thursday at 17.45 GMT (18.45 CET).

Ahead of that clash, Svilar wanted to take a moment to reassure a colleague who was hauled off the pitch just 16 minutes into a disastrous performance against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League last night.

Svilar latest to reassure Kinsky

“A similar thing happened to me eight years ago, I too made a mistake in my Champions League debut, and it took quite a few years for me to get over it,” Svilar told Sky Sport Italia.

“I feel bad for him, but I’ve seen him play many times, and in my view he will become a great goalkeeper. This incident will only help him to reach that level.”

Of course, Svilar was not taken off the pitch after just 16 minutes of the tie, which is what coach Igor Tudor did to Kinsky last night, replacing him with Italy international Guglielmo Vicario.

He was also only 18 years old when making that Champions League bow for Benfica in a 1-0 group stage home defeat to Manchester United in October 2017, and stayed on for the entire match.

Meanwhile, the Roma shot-stopper is focused on the Europa League tie with Bologna, hoping to shore up the defence after conceding five goals in the last two Serie A games.

“It can happen over a long season. On the other side, we are scoring more goals recently, and our defence was solid for such a long time, it will go back to that.”

The team had already been ticking up the results at the end of last season and only narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification under Claudio Ranieri.

How have things changed for the Giallorossi with Gian Piero Gasperini at the helm?

“He likes a more direct approach, without too many passes in defence, as we want to make our quality count going forward.”

Gian Piero Gasperini insists Roma are not prioritising Serie A ahead of the Europa League clash with Bologna, despite an injury crisis in attack. ‘Donyell Malen’s situation is very rare.’

It kicks off at the Stadio Dall’Ara on Thursday at 17.45 GMT (18.45 CET).

The second leg will be at the Stadio Olimpico next week, as we know only one Italian team will make it to the quarter-finals of the tournament.

It is confirmed that the Giallorossi will be without suspended Gianluca Mancini, plus injured Matias Soulé, Paulo Dybala, Artem Dovbyk and Evan Ferguson, but Mario Hermoso is included in the list.

Gasperini has reduced Roma options

“We’ll see tomorrow, at the moment Hermoso is available and could play, but he’s been out for a while, so we’ll see if it’s from the start or off the bench,” explained Gasperini in his press conference.

“At least one Italian team will get through for sure. It’s true the trend for Italian teams in Europe has not been good this season, even worse if we add in the Nazionale struggles, so evidently it’s not a coincidence.

“We all need to dig deep and explain what the problem is, the coaches, clubs, and probably the media too. It’s not about a tactical issue, there’s something deeper that probably stems from the youth academies and the way teams are built.”

Considering he has won the Europa League with Atalanta, but also that Roma have a Serie A battle with Como this weekend for fourth place, which is the priority for them?

“Every game is important, we cannot make calculations, but take them one at a time trying to give our best in each one,” replied the coach.

“The priority is both competitions, perhaps a few weeks ago we also had the Coppa Italia and therefore saw Serie A as the priority, but we never thought about just letting anything go.

“I don’t see any way of giving less in a match situation. It’s possible we won’t play as well in some games as others, but it won’t be by choice.”

The January signings have made a big impact, most notably striker Malen, who will finally get to play in the Europa League with Roma after he was cup-tied for the league phase due to his time with Aston Villa.

“We are scoring more goals, the trend is positive thanks also to the arrival of Malen, who has made us more dangerous in attack,” confirmed Gasperini.

“We have certainly lost several important players in attack, but Malen has given us something extra. Bryan Zaragoza needs time to adapt, he’s only been here for a month, so the situations like Malen who hit the ground running in a new team are very rare.

“With both Dybala and Soulé out, we have had to rotate players in those support roles. Lorenzo Pellegrini has played there most consistently, but Lorenzo Venturino, Robinio Vaz and Stephan El Shaarawy can all play there.”

Has Gasperini spoken to Pellegrini about his future, with the contract running down?

“No, this is not something we need to discuss now, as it’s a fundamental stage of the season, and we need to focus on the pitch.”

Could Malen and Vaz even start together tomorrow?

“Anything is possible,” smiled the coach.

There are strong reports of a significant change behind the scenes for Roma’s business model, but Francesco Totti is only asked to be a brand ambassador without powers.

Over the last few weeks, there have been growing rumours that the club icon could return to the Stadio Olimpico with a directorial role.

Roma not prepared to hand Totti powers

These were boosted when he was spotted back in the stands for some home games, something he had largely tried to avoid after his ill-tempered exit from the club in the summer of 2019.

That was under previous owners, so it was suggested the Friedkin family with help from Claudio Ranieri and coach Gian Piero Gasperini were talking to Totti about a return.

However, Sky Sport Italia now report Roma do want Totti to have a purely ceremonial role as brand ambassador, with no decision-making powers.

This was the kind of thing he had rejected in the past, but might be more amenable towards now.

Meanwhile, there are bigger changes afoot, as Calcio e Finanza claim exclusively that Roma have decided to purchase the Centro Sportivo Fulvio Bernardini training ground in Trigoria, after leasing the land for 20 years.

The structure had originally been sold for €30m in December 2005 as a way of balancing the books.

Davide Massa has been assigned to the Como vs. Roma Serie A fight for fourth place, while Gianluca Manganiello gets Inter-Atalanta, but Daniele Doveri drops to Serie B after the Derby della Madonnina.

The AIA (Italian Referees Association) has confirmed the referees chosen for this weekend’s Serie A matches.

The biggest game of the round is arguably the showdown for Champions League qualification, as Como and Roma are locked together in the table and go head-to-head at the Stadio Sinigaglia on Sunday.

That has been handed to experienced official Massa.

Leaders Inter try to get back on track against Atalanta, which will be officiated by Gianluca Manganiello in another top seven duel.

Notably, there is no Serie A fixture this weekend for Doveri after his work in the Derby della Madonnina, but this does not mean it is a demotion.

Instead, he is trusted with the extremely difficult and important Serie B promotion clash between Monza and Palermo, which could prove decisive for who gets to be in the top flight next season.

Serie A Week 29 referees

Torino vs. Parma (Maresca, VAR Ghersini)

Inter vs. Atalanta (Manganiello, VAR Gariglio)

Napoli vs. Lecce (Abisso, VAR Nasca)

Udinese vs. Juventus (Mariani, VAR Maggioni)

Verona vs. Genoa (Marchetti, VAR Marini)

Pisa vs. Cagliari (La Penna, VAR Paterna)

Sassuolo vs. Bologna (Bonacina, VAR Serra)

Como vs. Roma (Massa, VAR Fabbri)

Lazio vs. Milan (Guida, VAR Chiffi)

Cremonese vs. Fiorentina (Di Bello, VAR Aureliano)

Roma have named their squad list for the Europa League Round of 16 against Bologna, missing big names like Matias Soulé, Paulo Dybala and Gianluca Mancini, but Mario Hermoso is included.

The first leg kicks off at the Stadio Dall’Ara on Thursday at 17.45 GMT (18.45 CET).

The Giallorossi have been dealing with a lengthy injury crisis for some time now, and many of the problems are localised in the attack.

Good and bad news for Roma

This means Dybala, Artem Dovbyk and Evan Ferguson are long-term absentees, while Soulé has again not been included, as he struggles to recover from an inflammation.

The good news for coach Gian Piero Gasperini is that defender Hermoso completed the training session and is in the squad, though it remains to be seen if he will start.

There is more pressure on the defence, as Gianluca Mancini is suspended for the first leg of this Europa League tie.

According to Sky Sport Italia, Bryan Zaragoza is tipped to start in support of Donyell Malen, while Bryan Cristante can be moved into a more advanced role too.

This leaves Manu Koné and Niccolò Pisilli in midfield, benching Lorenzo Pellegrini.

Vincenzo Italiano admits he would gladly have avoided the all-Italian Europa League duel with Roma, but Bologna ‘hope to tease some weaknesses out of them tomorrow.’

It kicks off on Thursday at 17.45 GMT (18.45 CET) at the Stadio Dall’Ara.

The draw was unkind to the Italian teams, as while it means at least there will be one representative in the quarter-finals, it can only be one of the two sides who entered the tournament.

Bologna had a terrible start to 2026 and seemingly had turned a corner with a run of victories, but faltered again at the weekend with their home defeat to rock bottom Hellas Verona.

Italiano would have avoided Bologna vs. Roma

“We have already put that match behind us,” assured Italiano in his press conference.

“Roma have some weaknesses and we hope to tease those out of them tomorrow. As I said before, I had hoped in a different draw, because we could’ve gone far together in this competition, but instead one of the two Italians must go out.

“We are stuttering in our home games lately, but hope to change that tomorrow.”

The coach gave injury updates, as Juan Miranda and Torbjorn Heggem are back in training, but it remains to be seen if either of them could start.

He did hint that Tommaso Pobega has “a very good chance” of being in the starting XI, though Thijs Dallinga could finally give Santiago Castro some rest ahead of the Serie A showdown with Sassuolo.

“Roma defend well and have now found a striker in Donyell Malen who is doing very well, giving their aggressive style of football an outlet. We know him too, as we already played against his Aston Villa earlier in the season.

“Gian Piero Gasperini has set the example for all coaches, winning important trophies both at team and individual level. He continues to exhibit wonderful football and I have incredible respect for him.”

Will the two coaches go out to dinner together?

“We’d need a restaurant that stayed open late, because we’d have so much to talk about!”

The second leg will be at the Stadio Olimpico next week, where the Rossoblu lost 1-0 in the opening game of the Serie A season back in August.

“I am not thinking about the second leg, because after tomorrow we already have another Serie A match to play, so there’s time for that. Obviously, it won’t be an easy atmosphere for us at the Olimpico, but we know that.

“The trouble with an Italian derby is we know each other so very well. It’s a new experience for me too, facing another Italian side in Europe.”

Bologna’s home record has been the most surprising aspect of their campaign so far, as since the start of December 2025 they have amassed just three victories at the Stadio Dall’Ara, two draws and eight losses in all competition.

“I analysed all those games, and some we deserved to lose, with others we could’ve won with a bit more concentration. The attitude is not the issue, but we are paying a heavy price for some distractions, and have the time to make up for it,” noted Italiano.

“We did win five games after that difficult period, and a situation like Verona can happen, in Serie A anybody can beat anyone else, it’s always a struggle. We have more difficulty against teams who let us take control of the game, leading us to become a bit too superficial in our preventative marking.

“Tomorrow is a big opportunity for us to progress in Europe, but we won’t be able to judge the season until the end.”

Former Roma defender Alessandro Florenzi says José Mourinho wanted to bring him back to the Stadio Olimpico in 2021: ‘He knew it wasn’t true that I had argued with everyone.’

Ex-Italy international Florenzi reveals Mourinho wanted to work with him at Roma in 2021 after the Portuguese surprisingly took charge of the Giallorossi.

Florenzi: Mourinho knew I hadn’t argued with everyone at Roma

“He called me; he wondered why I had argued with everyone,” Florenzi told Corriere dello Sport.

“Ask people in Trigoria; it wasn’t true. Mourinho knew it too. He wanted me, and I’d have played for him.”

Florenzi spent nine seasons at Roma, leaving the club in January 2020. He then played for Valencia and PSG, on loan, but when Mourinho was appointed as the new Giallorossi coach in 2021, the Italian had a chance to return to the Olimpico.

After his return from PSG, however, Florenzi joined Milan, first on loan and then on a permanent deal from 2022-23.

The Euro 2020 Italy winner scored 28 goals in 280 games with Roma. He retired at the end of the 2024-25 campaign; so what’s next for him?

“Being a coach must be tough,” he said.

“I can’t say it with certainty now, many people say that a coaching role would suit me, others say I should be a director. I’d like to talk to the players, work with them and help, but I still don’t know in which capacity.”

Florenzi also scored two goals in 49 appearances with the Italy national team. His final appearance was in June 2022, in a 0-0 draw against England.

Bologna winger Federico Bernardeschi reveals Gian Piero Gasperini wanted to bring him to Atalanta in 2022 when he eventually joined Toronto FC from Juventus: ‘ I admit money influenced my decision for 80%.’

Bologna winger Bernardeschi released an interview with Gazzetta just a few days before the Rossoblu’s Europa League meeting with Roma in the Europa League Round of 16.

Bernardeschi returned to Serie A last summer after spending three years at Toronto FC.

Bernardeschi: ‘No easy games’ in Serie A

“I’ve found a different Serie A football; now even the smaller teams are more equipped; technology is helping everyone, and everyone is organised,” the Italian said.

“There’s never an easy game, at any level, from race for survival to Europe.”

The first leg between Roma and Bologna will be played at the Dall’Ara this coming Thursday, but the Giallorossi will be without Paulo Dybala, a former teammate of Bernardeschi at Juventus.

“I’m sorry for Paulo, I’d have been happy to challenge him, even if it’s always better not to play against his left foot,” admitted Bernardeschi.

“But I’ll be glad to see many Azzurri friends. When I joined Juventus, I asked if I could get the no. 10. They said I was too young and should have waited a year. Then Dybala took it, who was already in his third year. I would have preferred to face a foreign club, because, as an Italian, I’d have been happier to see two Italian teams go as far as possible.”

Bernardeschi’s move to Bologna raised eyebrows over the summer, with some in the media suggesting he was no longer suitable for Italian football after such a long spell in Canada.

Bernardeschi, on the other hand, has scored five goals and provided one assist in 32 appearances and has never had doubts about his ability to make an impact at the Dall’Ara.

“I know myself. I didn’t go to Canada to take a walk in the park,” he said.

“I put maximum commitment into everything I do, even if I admit money influenced my decision for 80%, and the remaining 20% was a life choice. I’ve always trained and cared for my body meticulously. I’ve learned from Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus how to be a professional in all aspects and be a great professional. In Bologna, I took a month to readjust. I suffered a knee injury and was forced to skip pre-season. But my physical figures were high in the MLS, and I knew I was competitive.”

Bernardeschi could have even played under Gasperini at Atalanta.

“He called me before moving to Toronto, and I was tempted, but then I made a different choice. I don’t regret it, but I would have loved to work with him; I knew I could add a piece to my career,” the winger concluded.

“Roma looked for me when I was at Juventus, but I said no. I was happy in Turin, and I still have a house there, where I’m Yildiz’s neighbour.”

Source: Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper, March 10, 2026, page 24.

La Gazzetta dello Sport

La Dea, play for all.

Champions League Round of 16: Super Bayern arrive, but Atalanta have hope.

Rummenigge: ‘Hot stadium, they must be respected.’

Max trust

Cardinale ties Allegri down and launches Milan’s comeback.

Inter, magnificent +7

Thuram and Dumfries are ready for Saturday, and Luis Henrique pays.

Fourth spot? Take it with goals

Corriere dello Sport

Juve and Roma out!

Champions League Surprise, Como favourite.

Fixture list and head-to-head, find out Opta’s predictions.

10 games to go and still 18 big games. Gasperini visits Fabregas on Sunday. Spalletti from the risk of -7 to the idea of overcoming. Cesc has 37.78% of chance, Lucio 34.57% and Gian Piero 33.91%.

Napoli, another De Brune is back

Pistilli climbs: Gattuso studies him

Lazio’s redemption: decisive Marusic.

Chivu’s therapy, Scudetto to Inter

Confrontation between Cristian and the team yesterday. From +7 to the silence for Ricci’s handball.

Dea for history, Bayern obstacle

Scamacca against Kane. Palladino’s charge: ‘We want another magical night’

Tuttosport

Dea of Italy: go!

Champions League RO16 First leg: Atalanta-Bayern

Nearly impossible challenge for the only Italian team remaining. Palladinoo: ‘It will be a magical night, we’ll try to go beyond absences, and our fans will drag us. Enjoy it and play for it.’

Either Champions or Champions

Juventus amid renewals and race for the top four. The team receives a message from the owners. Not playing in the wealthies tournament would change the transfer perspectives, even making Spalletti’s future more complicated. Elkann wants to avoid new financial shocks, so the coach and the players have been given even more responsibility. Professor Bava: ‘If they miss out on Champions League, it would be a lot to break even, and Yildiz’s future would be uncertain too.

Allegri, devilries for the title, Chivu’s anxiety

Max’s plans to put pressure on the Nerazzurri. The rival amid phantoms and injuries: Calhanoglu out again.

Toro’s goal: Falcone is Petrachi’s target

La Gazzetta dello Sport 

Milan of dreams 

Inter nullified, Scudetto reopened 

Estupinan decides they derby: Diavolo -7 off the top 

Allegri does the double: ‘They remain the favourites though’. Cardinale’s celebrations. Nerazzurri minimal in spite of the absences. Chivu: ‘We were below par’

Champions League crazy

A three-way race for one spot 

De Rossi beats Roma. Historic Como: They’re fourth. And Juve are -1 behind and believe

Corriere dello Sport 

l’Allegrata 

Scudetto, 10 games to go | Short leash: Max also takes the Derby in the return leg (1-0)

Milan ruthless: -7 points behind and dreaming. Inter buried 

Estupinan delivers defeat to the Nerazzurri, who last lost in Serie A against Allegri on November 23. Chivu: ‘Ricci’s hand in the area? They told me there was a check’

De Rossi puts Roma in trouble 

Genoa shock Gasp: 2-1 

Messias and Vitinha lift DDR’s side, Ndicka not enough. Champions League race: Malen at Fabregas’s house on Sunday 

Juve, Lucio’s turning point 

The fluid front three 

Napoli, the Fab4 return 

After 160 days 

Nicola at risk 

Cremonese beaten by Lecce (2-1)

Tuttosport 

StraMilan 

Inter, derby nightmare: Estupinan reopens the Scudetto fight 

The Ecuadorian was the surprise hero. In the second half, Dimarco misses the equaliser, then chaos at the end: Carlos Augusto denied a goal (but Doveri has already ended the game) and protests over a touch of the hand from Ricci. Allegri gives another lesson to Chivu and goes back to -7 points off the lead. Inter, who have not beaten Milan in seven games, pay for the absences of Lautaro and Thuram: Pio and Bonny dry. Bastoni still subjected to boos

Yildiz, Vlahovic, Boga: Attack on the Champions League 

Roma beaten in Genoa: Juve -1 off fourth place 

The magic of Kenan, the recovery of Dusan and the numbers from Jeremie are the prime assets for Spalletti in the final push. And the schedule could help too: The Bianconeri could profit from the direct clash between Como and the Giallorossi next Sunday. The David case: Disheartened and in crisis: Heading towards a farewell and Lyon step forwards 

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• Read more – De Rossi: I won’t pretend I’m sorry after win over Roma

Roma suffered a 2-1 away defeat against Daniele De Rossi’s Genoa on Sunday.

Today’s loss leaves them fifth in the standings, level on 51 points with fourth-placed Como and just one point above Juventus.

Gasperini comments on Genoa 2-1 Roma

“We approached the game really well; we were determined and solid,” Gasperini told DAZN via TMW.

“We didn’t have many shots on target, and perhaps they had even fewer than we did. We weren’t even lucky in the final minutes, but the team spirit was very high.”

“The incident is quite clear; VAR didn’t intervene. Everyone can see it their own way, but the images are so clear,” Gasperini said.

“If those in charge of VAR aren’t certain about this, they should do another job. You can’t change reality; it’s quite evident. He didn’t impose the penalty, and we shouldn’t consider other interpretations.

“There was great intensity with long balls from any position, quite suitable for a player like Cristante,” Gasperini continued.

“It was really difficult to play the ball on the ground, but the lads were good; it’s not a lucky moment. Svilar made the first save in the second half. Now we have a busy schedule with two games against Bologna.”

Roma’s next game is away at Bologna in the first leg of the Europa League Round of 16. Next Sunday, they’ll host Como at the Stadio Olimpico in what will be a crucial match in the race for the top four.

Genoa coach Daniele De Rossi won’t pretend to be sorry after his Genoa side beat Roma 2-1 and admits he feels ‘ at home’ at Marassi.

De Rossi’s Genoa beat Roma 2-1 on Sunday and the Italian tactician commented on his players’ performances during a post-match interview with DAZN.

“It was worth three points, which are so important and were earned by a strong and healthy group,” De Rossi said.

“In January, after the transfer window, I said I was happy because I had a group with different characteristics in all departments. I know games are not all the same, and opponents are not all the same. When you need intensity like tonight, you need players with those skill sets. I’m happy with the table, but very happy with my players. They deserve this satisfaction, especially those who have played less.”

De Rossi is a Roma legend and a former Giallorossi coach, so how does it feel to beat his favourite club?

“If you decide to do this job, you must know you’ll face Roma sooner or later,” De Rossi replied.

“I don’t want to minimise or say I’m not sorry that they are sorry, but I don’t want to justify myself or pretend I’m sorry. I’m happy, not that Roma lost, but that I won. This will be my fate until the day I’ll hope Roma win 38 games. It’s a target of mine and a dream of many. Perhaps, one day it will happen.

“However, if I have to think about a team similar to Roma, that makes me feel at home, with similar fans, in both good and bad ways; it’s where I am now, and I really like it.”

De Rossi went on to praise his players.

“What they give me is more than what I give them. I try to treat them honestly and equally. I hadn’t noticed the assist [for Vitinha] was from Masini,” he continued.

“I’m not surprised. I like to spend time with these lads, I like to shield them when there are bad games, like against Inter. All we do comes from what they do in training. If you look at Masini, you have to stop him in training because he goes twice as fast as the others. Perhaps, he won’t play in the next game, but this is football. They give everything to me, I give everything to them.”

Daniele De Rossi stunned his beloved Roma to give Genoa a much-needed victory, allowing Como to catch the Giallorossi in joint fourth place.

The Giallorossi were gearing up for the Europa League Round of 16 tie with Bologna, but also knew they needed a result here to hold onto fourth place. Paulo Dybala and Evan Ferguson found out this week they required surgery, with Matias Soulé, Mario Hermoso and Artem Dovbyk out too, plus Wesley suspended. Lorenzo Venturino therefore got his first start aged 19 against his parent club. Daniele De Rossi’s Genoa lost Roma-owned Tommaso Baldanzi to injury, with Brooke Norton-Cuffy and Sebastian Otoa not fully fit either.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Evan Ndicka received an early yellow card for a push on Jeff Ekhator and will be suspended when Roma take on Como next week.

Donyell Malen squirmed away from three for a shot deflected wide, while Junior Messias misplaced the pass that would’ve sent Ekhator clear on goal.

Malen was booked after going for the acrobatic volley on a Gianluca Mancini cross, but only catching Leo Ostigard on the head instead.

Genoa had a huge chance on the stroke of half-time, as Caleb Ekuban came sliding in and got to the Messias cross before Mancini, turning over from seven yards.

Bryan Cristante came on for the restart, but Lorenzo Pellegrini slipped and crashed into Mikel Ellertsson for an inevitable penalty, which was converted centrally into the roof of the net by Messias.

Ekuban fired over from a promising position moments later, but Roma equalised on a corner kick of their own. Mancini’s header was nodded away by Messias, but only into the path of Ndicka for a looping header into the empty net. It was the defender’s third consecutive Serie A match on target.

Malen had the ball in the net just two minutes later, but was offside when gathering the Neil El Aynaoui pass through the middle. Malen’s diving header also went over from 10 yards on another Mancini cross.

A Lorenzo Colombo overhead kick failed to trouble Mile Svilar, but Genoa restored their advantage after a throw-in. It was knocked down by Colombo for Ruslan Malinovskyi, who sent Patrizio Masini down the left, rolled across for Vitinha to come sliding in to tap into an empty net from six yards.

Kostas Tsimikas got into the box and could’ve gone for goal, but instead pulled back from the by-line into an area with no Roma teammates.

Malen saw his strike deflected just wide in the final minute and there was a scramble on a corner, then Svilar made a desperate save one-on-one with Malinovsyki on the counter-attack.

Genoa 2-1 Roma

Messias pen 52 (G), Ndicka 55 (R), Vitinha 80 (G)

08-03-2026 17:00

MatchDay 28

Stadio Luigi Ferraris

Genoa

Roma

2 - 1

Player statistic

1st half

		12'		Evan Ndicka
Patrizio Masini		16'
		40'		Donyell Malen

2nd half

Junior Messias		52'
		55'		Evan Ndicka
Vitinha (Assist: Patrizio Masini)		80'
		89'		Bryan Cristante

Match statistic

35

Possession %

65

11

Total shots

7

5

Shots on target

1

5

Shots off target

2

1

Blocked shots

4

3

Corners

6

1

Offsides

5

11

Fouls

17

Genoa

Roma

Starting lineups

16

Justin Bijlow

Goalkeeper

27

Alessandro Marcandalli

Defender

22

Johan Vásquez

Defender

5

Leo Östigard

Defender

20

Stefano Sabelli

Defender

32

Morten Frendrup

Midfielder

73

Patrizio Masini

Midfielder

18

Caleb Ekuban

Attacker

75'

21

Jeff Ekhator

Attacker

64'

10

Junior Messias

Attacker

64'

77

Mikael Egill Ellertsson

Attacker

79'

99

Mile Svilar

Goalkeeper

2

Devyne Rensch

Defender

70'

5

Evan Ndicka

Defender

23

Gianluca Mancini

Defender

84'

12

Konstantinos Tsimikas

Defender

19

Zeki Celik

Defender

84'

7

Lorenzo Pellegrini

Midfielder

56'

17

Manu Koné

Midfielder

61

Niccolò Pisilli

Midfielder

14

Donyell Malen

Attacker

20

Lorenzo Venturino

Attacker

46'

Substitutes

39

Daniele Sommariva

Goalkeeper

1

Nicola Leali

Goalkeeper

70

Maxwel Cornet

Attacker

14

Jean Onana

Midfielder

15

Brooke Norton-Cuffy

Defender

13

Nils Zätterström

Defender

4

Amorim

Midfielder

99

Mamedi Doucouré

Defender

17

Ruslan Malinovskyi

Midfielder

64'

29

Lorenzo Colombo

Attacker

64'

9

Vitinha

Attacker

75'

3

Aarón Martín

Defender

79'

92

Stephan El Shaarawy

Attacker

95

Pierluigi Gollini

Goalkeeper

97

Bryan Zaragoza

Attacker

4

Bryan Cristante

Midfielder

46'

8

Neil El Aynaoui

Midfielder

56'

87

Daniele Ghilardi

Defender

70'

24

Jan Ziolkowski

Defender

84'

78

Robinio Vaz

Attacker

84'

Roma director Ricky Massara insists Paulo Dybala’s operation ‘will not affect’ the decision to offer him a new contract, while there is squad rotation against Genoa.

It kicks off at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris at 17.00 GMT (18.00 CET).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s Serie A games on the Liveblog.

This is crunch time of the campaign for the Giallorossi, because while the Europa League Round of 16 tie against Bologna is coming up on Thursday, they also face pressure from Como and Juventus to keep hold of a top four Serie A spot.

Massara on Roma changes and Dybala situation

The major surprise is Lorenzo Venturino getting his first Serie A start against his parent club, as he arrived from Genoa in January on loan with an option to buy.

“Venturino has always had a positive impact when called upon, with enthusiasm and confidence, so we are very pleased with what he has been doing,” Massara told Sky Sport Italia.

There was double bad news this week, as both Paulo Dybala and Evan Ferguson required surgery, with Matias Soulé, Mario Hermoso, Artem Dovbyk and suspended Wesley not making the trip either.

“It is true that we have a lot of injuries concentrated in the attack, which is a coincidence that does not help. We’ve got El Shaarawy back, Robinio Vaz is very young and still adapting to a new league after arriving only six weeks ago. There will be time for him, Zaragoza and Venturino to develop over the course of the season.”

Dybala has been ruled out for at least six weeks now with meniscus surgery, so will this influence Roma’s decision on whether or not to offer him a new contract?

“This does not affect the issue, we didn’t talk about Paulo’s contract before the injury and we don’t think it is fair to talk about it now. We just hope he can recover as quickly as possible, this will not affect our rapport with Dybala or the club’s strategy,” assured Massara.

Roma’s medical staff faced criticism for not suggesting an operation earlier, as it seems the meniscus in the knee had been damaged for over a month.

“I don’t wish to get into the medical details, it is always better to try conservative treatment first and focus on the health of the players. That is the priority. At least this resolves the problem and we’ll soon have him fully fit.”

Last week’s 3-3 draw with Juventus felt like a missed opportunity, fumbling a 3-1 lead to concede the equaliser in stoppages and confirming Roma’s poor record in the big games.

Daniele De Rossi admits he must put his love for Roma aside or ‘it wouldn’t allow me to do my job properly,’ and explains his big Genoa changes for this match.

It kicks off at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris at 17.00 GMT (18.00 CET).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s Serie A games on the Liveblog.

The Giallorossi will always be in his heart, first growing up as a supporter in the Eternal City, then as their player coming up through the youth academy to wear the captain’s armband, and again as coach.

“I went to the Olimpico as an away coach, obviously it is a place that belongs in my heart, but I have worked on putting the past aside, or it wouldn’t allow me to do my job properly,” De Rossi told Sky Sport Italia.

“The great thing about the Genoa fans is they make you feel at home here, their passion is remarkable.”

De Rossi changes Genoa to limit Roma

De Rossi has made quite a few surprising changes to his Genoa side this evening, even taking into account that Brooke Norton-Cuffy and Sebastian Otoa are not fully fit.

He leaves Ruslan Malinovskyi, Vitinha and Lorenzo Colombo on the bench, introducing rapid young strikers Jeff Ekhator and Caleb Ekuban, who had never started together before.

“They can run into space, they are pure strikers who like to sneak up behind defenders. Roma play an aggressive style, so we must be balanced, organised, and ready to get behind their defence,” explained the coach.

Stefano Sabelli and Patrizio Masini are also back in the Genoa starting XI, so is he trying to disorient Gian Piero Gasperini?

“Gasperini cannot be easily disoriented, he has been doing this for a lifetime and knows how to play against many different teams. I chose this line-up because these are the players who can interpret the approach I want for this match, which is going to be very different to the one against Torino, so we need different characteristics to draw upon.”