The lights of the Olimpico are flickering back on after a trip to Sassuolo, and Roma return with a simple task that’s not their typical order of business: stay on top. Sitting tied for first in Serie A
after eight matches, Gasperini’s side have built their rise on something rare in Rome—consistency. The defense has been rock solid, and although the offense has been pretty mediocre, the results undeniable: six wins, only two losses, and a league-best three goals conceded. Tomorrow’s visitors, Parma, arrive in very different circumstances, hovering just above the relegation line and struggling to find the net. On paper, it’s a mismatch. On the pitch, well, the Giallorossi have certainly played down to their competition before.
Gasperini’s challenge here is one of balance. Keep the back line’s discipline intact, but add the sharpness up front that turns control into conviction. The Giallorossi need a performance that reaffirms why they’re top of the league, and preferably one that features several goals. Win this, and the early-season dream starts to look a lot more like a statement.
What to Watch For
Will the Soulé Show Continue?
There’s been a certain hum running through this Giallorossi side every time Matías Soulé has received the ball this season. He creates a spark of electricity that’s impossible not to notice. The Argentine forward has started this season like a man possessed: he’s providing goals, assists, take-ons, and the kind of swagger that can bend a match to his rhythm. In a moment where the Giallorossi have been hunting for goals desperately, his active goal creation has been a saving grace. He has provided a deceptive calm to the side that belongs only to players who already know they’re stars.
Match Details
Date: October 29th
Kickoff: 18:30 CET/1:30 EST
Venue: Stadio Olimpico
Referee: Valerio Crezzini
What makes Soulé stand out right now isn’t just the final product, but the pulse he gives the attack. Others may end up with higher goal tallies this season (at least hopefully), but Soulé has become the one who sets the tempo, stitching together sequences that turn half-chances into full-blooded opportunities. He’s among Serie A’s leaders in expected assists, key passes and dribbles completed: per the latest figures, he’s in the top few percentiles for non-penalty xG and xA. More than that, Eeery time he picks up the ball between the lines, defenders tense up and teammates come alive. He seems to now be mimicking his idol Paulo Dybala, seeing the pitch a beat ahead of everyone else.
As the matches pile up, the defenses tighten, and other forwards begin to rack up the goals, the question becomes whether he can sustain this level. Can Soulé keep driving the rhythm when opponents key even more in on him, when the weight of expectation begins to press? Roma’s ambitions this season may hinge on that answer. Artem Dovbyk and Evan Ferguson may still be looking for their shooting boots, but when they eventually find their rhythm, it’ll likely happen because of Soulé‘s consistent work keeping Roma in matches to start the season, keeping the engine running until they arrived.
With Angeliño Out, Who Steps Up?
With reports suggesting that Angeliño is sidelined and the flank suddenly exposed for AS Roma, all eyes turn to Zeki Çelik, and more curmudgeonly fans might label this a moment of reckoning for a Turk who never became a star at the Stadio Olimpico. Yet for a player like Çelik, these moments feel more like routine than crisis. He may be a star, but his experience, work rate, and underlying numbers suggest he’s well-qualified to plug the gap and continue steadying the line until Angeliño returns. During the 2024-25 Serie A campaign, Çelik made 27 league starts and logged nearly 2,300 minutes, showing his durability and trust from several managers. In that stretch, he recorded over 60 clearances, 37 interceptions, and won 56% of his ground duels. That’s a consistency that doesn’t make headlines but does wins coaches over.
From a tactical standpoint, Gasperini needs a full-back who understands timing. His fullbacks need to know when to push, when to hold, and when to cover. Çelik fits that mold. His passing accuracy sits above 91% in both domestic and international play, and his recovery rate of roughly two balls won per match shows a player who reads danger early and reacts even earlier. He’s also completed over one key pass per game this season, quietly contributing to build-up play even without Angeliño’s overlapping flair.
He may not be the explosive, cross-heavy presence that Angeliño brings, but right now, Roma mainly need stability to balance out Wesley’s firepower on the opposite flank. Çelik offers exactly that. Reliability and defensive discipline matter more than attacking flash in a side already loaded with offensive talent further up the pitch. Expect him to start, to keep things compact, and to provide the foundation from which Roma’s attacking engines can finally spark to life.
